News Release

New Patent Issued

Date: 2000/01/17

International Wex Technologies Inc. ( the "company") is pleased to announce that our Beijing office has received notice from the Chinese National Intellectual Property Bureau of the People's Republic of China, that approval of our patent for the compound known as Tetrodin(HT) has been granted.

This new patent serves to reinforce the level of protection provided by our existing patents in the U.S.A. and Switzerland. Further details will be available on the final issue day.

IWT has developed a patented new product named Tetrodin(HT). Tetrodin(HT) is a non-narcotic pharmaceutical that has proven to be a safe and effective treatment for all opiate (heroin, opium, morphine, methadone, etc.) addictions. Tetrodin(HT) functions very well in both primary withdrawal treatment and abstinence maintenance (longer term use) of drug addiction.

For additional information on Tetrodin(HT), view the IWT website at http://www.wextech.ca or call Howard Milne , V. P. Shareholder Communications, at 604-683-8880 or 1-800-722-7549.

Per: Donna Shum, Corporate Secretary