Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
J. Thomas Parmeter                             Investors/Media:
President                                      Stephanie Carrington/Jason Rando
Janis Y. Neves                                 The Ruth Group
Director of Finance & Administration           (646) 536-7017/(646_ 536-70025
(858) 558-6064                            scarrington@theruthgroup.com
info@ppti.com                                  jrando@theruthgroup.com

           PROTEIN POLYMER TECHNOLOGIES NAMES DONALD KAPLAN PRESIDENT
                           AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

      SAN DIEGO, April 8, 2004 -- Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc. (OTC
Bulletin Board: PPTI) announced today the appointment of Donald S. Kaplan,
Ph.D. as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective today. J. Thomas
Parmeter will remain Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

      Dr. Kaplan, age 57, has served as Protein Polymer Technologies Senior
Advisor, Adhesives and Sealants, since April 2003, directing product
development for the surgical adhesive and sealant program.  Previously, Dr.
Kaplan was Senior Vice President, Operations and Technology at United States
Surgical Corporation (now a subsidiary of Tyco, Inc.), where he was
responsible for research and development, quality control, regulatory affairs
and manufacturing.  Prior to U.S. Surgical, Dr. Kaplan was Head of Research
and Development at ORMCO, a division of American Hospital Supply and Manager
of R&D for Davis and Geck, then a division of American Cyanamid.  He holds a
B.S. degree from Fairleigh Dickenson University, a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry
from Adelphi University, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical
Engineering at the California Institute of Technology.

      "For the past year, Dr. Kaplan has directed surgical adhesive and
sealant product development where he has successfully advanced the initial
sealant product through its research and formulation development.  As
President and Chief Operating Officer, he will lead Protein Polymer through
its next stage of development with a primary focus on the completion of the
clinical trials for our tissue augmentation products and the continued
development and testing of our surgical sealant and adhesive products,"
commented J. Thomas Parmeter, Chairman.  "In my new role, I will concentrate
on corporate fund raising efforts, financial and investor communications, and
new business development initiatives."

      Dr. Kaplan, President, noted, "Protein Polymer is at a key stage in its
evolution and I firmly believe that over the next two years we will be
positioned to complete





regulatory  approvals,  establish  strategic  marketing  alliances  and commence
product  sales  for  the  tissue  augmentation  and  sealant  products.  Protein
Polymer's  scientific  team has developed a tremendous,  proprietary  technology
base that,  I  believe,  can be  directed  into a wide  variety  of medical  and
surgical products to address very large market opportunities. PPTI, by combining
traditional  polymer chemistry and modern biology into a new class of bio-active
materials,  has the potential to revolutionize the design and utility of medical
devices.  Drawing upon my extensive  background in the  development  of surgical
products, I am delighted to join the PPTI team and look forward to helping build
this medical products company."

      Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc. is a San Diego-based company focused
on developing bioactive products to improve medical and surgical outcomes.
From its inception in 1988, PPTI has been a pioneer in protein design and
synthesis, developing an extensive portfolio of proprietary biomaterials.
These genetically engineered biomaterials are high molecular weight proteins,
processed into products with physical and biological characteristics tailored
to specific clinical performance requirements. Targeted products include
urethral bulking agents for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence,
dermal augmentation products for cosmetic and reconstructive surgery,
surgical adhesives and sealants, scaffolds for wound healing and tissue
engineering, and depots for local drug delivery. To date, PPTI has been
issued twenty-five U.S. Patents on its core technology with corresponding
issued and pending patents in key international markets.

      This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on
management's views and expectations. Actual results could differ materially
from those expressed here; further, the Company is not obligated to comment
specifically on those differences. Risks associated with the Company's
activities include raising adequate capital to continue operations scientific
and product development uncertainties, competitive products and approaches,
continuing collaborative partnership interest and funding, regulatory testing
and approvals, and manufacturing scale up.  The reader is encouraged to refer
to the Company's 2002 and 2003 Annual Report Form 10-KSB and other recent
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are
available from the Company, to further ascertain the risks associated with
the above statements.