Welichem Biotech Inc. (the "Company") (TSX-V: WBI) announces the filing with Health Canada of a clinical trial application for its lead, anti-inflammatory drug WBI-1001. The application is for a 3-month, double blinded clinical trial in patients with chronic atopic dermatitis at three trial centres. This filing is a direct result of the successful completion of the long-term, IND-enabling toxicology studies announced April, 2009. Results of these long-term toxicology studies support additional, longer term clinical trials of WBI-1001.

"We are very encouraged by the data on this non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug candidate," said Dr. Genhui Chen, Chief Executive Officer. "This application is a significant step forward in our drug development program." Subject to regulatory approval of this application, Welichem plans to initiate the clinical studies in Canada in the Fall of 2009.

As it builds on the successfully completed clinical trials and safety studies of WBI-1001 Welichem's plans for the international phase II/III clinical program are now progressing well.

About WBI-1001

WBI-1001 is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug candidate that has been shown in prior clinical trials to be effective and to have good safety profile. WBI-1001 is a novel, patented drug candidate that is being developed by Welichem as a new treatment for AD, psoriasis and related diseases.

About Welichem Biotech Inc.

Welichem Biotech Inc. is a publicly-traded biotechnology company developing therapeutic drugs in the fields of inflammatory diseases and cancer.

<< ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Tan Xiangdong, Chairman The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. >>

This press release contains forward-looking statements that include our belief as to the potential of our products, such as "results of our toxicology studies support additional, longer term clinical trials of WBI-1001", "the clinical trial application is a significant step forward in our drug development program", "Welichem plans to initiate the clinical studies in Canada in the Fall of 2009" and "Welichem's plans for the international phase II/III clinical program are now progressing well". Certain risks and uncertainties such as our ability to manage our financial resource to implement the clinical trials, to receive approval from Health Canada for the clinical trial application, to implement the clinical trials according to the scheduled time, and to ultimately successfully commercialize the products could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE: Welichem Biotech Inc.

Genhui Chen, CEO, Tel.: (604) 432-1703, Email: gchen@welichem.com