News Release

Human Genome Sciences and Abgenix enter a broad collaboration to create fully human antibody therapeutics

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Porter Novelli

Contact: Kurt Leutzinger Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Abgenix Inc. (510) 608-6575 and Marion E. Glick Porter Novelli 212/601-8273 Arthur Mandell Senior Vice President, Corporate and Business Development Human Genome Sciences 301/309-8504 and Kate de Santis Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Human Genome Sciences 301/251-6003 HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES AND ABGENIX ENTER A BROAD COLLABORATION TO CREATE FULLY HUMAN ANTIBODY THERAPEUTICS ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND and FREMONT, CALIFORNIA-- December 1, 1999 -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) and Abgenix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABGX) announced today a broad collaboration and technology exchange to identify dozens of novel human antibody drug candidates for development and commercialization. Under this multi-year agreement, HGS has the right to use Abgenix's XenoMouse (TM) technology to generate fully human antibody drug candidates using HGS' proprietary novel targets. HGS has identified and characterized thousands of fully-cloned expressed secretory proteins that provide a source of novel antigens. HGS will develop and commercialize independently antibody-based drugs arising from this collaboration. Abgenix also has an option in the future to develop and commercialize independently products derived from HGS antigens. HGS and Abgenix will pay reciprocal milestones and royalties for products developed and commercialized. In addition, the two companies will work together on certain antigens applying their complementary expertise to jointly develop additional antibody drugs. Abgenix and HGS intend to select up to two targets of interest each year for shared development and commercialization. Both Abgenix and HGS have built a product development capability in recent years. Abgenix has multiple proprietary antibody product candidates under development internally and is conducting three clinical trial programs for graft-versus-host disease, psoriasis and cancer. HGS has three drugs undergoing clinical trials in the areas of tissue repair and oncology. "Combining Abgenix' XenoMouse technology with Human Genome Sciences' rich cache of genomics-derived targets creates a powerful platform for generating new therapeutic antibody products," stated R. Scott Greer, President and CEO of Abgenix. "We see this collaboration with HGS as an attractive way to build the proprietary product side of our business." "We are very pleased to work with Abgenix to identify antibody product candidates. We believe this moves HGS forward in its mission to use its own proprietary assets for the creation of new drug products that fill unmet medical needs," said William A. Haseltine, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HGS. "The combination of Abgenix's antibody technology with HGS' extensive collection of proprietary, well-characterized antigens will provide both companies with a very fertile source of product opportunities. This agreement adds a significant new dimension to HGS' drug discovery capabilities." Arthur M. Mandell, Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development for HGS, commented, "Our expanding portfolio of products in human clinical development, along with HGS' emerging pre-clinical pipeline, will be enhanced by the availability of the Abgenix XenoMouse technology. Antibodies represent an exciting and growing new class of drugs with many new antibody-based products on the market. The collaborative spirit of our working relationship should be one of the key ingredients for success." Antibodies are naturally-occurring proteins that the body's immune system uses to combat many diseases. As therapeutic products, antibodies have several potential advantages over other therapies. The highly specific interaction between an antibody and its target may, for example, reduce unwanted side effects that may occur with other therapies. Fully human antibodies are desirable because they avoid the risk of rejection present with mouse or partial mouse antibodies. Abgenix is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and intends to commercialize antibody therapies for the treatment of such conditions as transplant-related diseases, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases and cancer. Abgenix developed XenoMouse technology to enable the rapid generation of high affinity, fully human antibody product candidates to essentially any disease target appropriate for antibody therapy. Abgenix has collaborative arrangements with multiple pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies involving its XenoMouse technology. For more information on Abgenix, visit the company's web site at www.abgenix.com. Human Genome Sciences is a company with the mission to develop products to predict, prevent, detect, treat and cure disease based on its leadership in the discovery and understanding of human and microbial genes. HGS and Human Genome Sciences are registered trademarks of Human Genome Sciences, Inc. For additional information on Human Genome Sciences, Inc., visit the company's web site at www.hgsi.com. Copies of HGS press releases are also available by fax 24 hours a day at no charge by calling 800/758-5804, ext. 121115. Any statements released by Human Genome Sciences, Inc. that are forward looking are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Editors and investors are cautioned that forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may affect the company's business prospects and performance. These include economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. Statements made in this press release about Abgenix's XenoMouse technology, product development activities and collaborative arrangements other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements and are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including risks associated with the success of clinical trials, the progress of research and product development programs, the regulatory approval process, competitive products, future capital requirements and the extent and breadth of Abgenix's patent portfolio. Please see Abgenix's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information about risks that may affect Abgenix. # # #

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