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Human Genome Sciences Reports on Progress Toward Commercialization.

Article Excerpt
- New Division to Identify Early Stage Pipeline Opportunities and Monezite Intellectual Property and Technology Assets -

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today will report on the company's continuing progress toward commercialization at a meeting of financial analysts and investors in New York. Senior executives will report on clinical development and other milestones achieved to date and still to come in 2005. (A webcast of today's Human Genome Sciences Analyst and Investor Meeting may be accessed at http://www.hgsi.com/, beginning at 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010612/HGSLOGO )

During the meeting, Human Genome Sciences executives will highlight the following key points:

* The company currently has seven drug candidates in clinical development. Three of these are in Phase 2 clinical trials, including: LymphoStat-B(TM) for systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis; Albuferon(TM) for chronic hepatitis C; and HGS-ETR1 for non- small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A fourth drug candidate, HGS-ETR2, is expected to enter Phase 2 trials in 2005 to evaluate its potential use in the treatment of specific cancers. An additional three compounds are in Phase 1 clinical development, including: HGS-TR2J for cancer, CCR5 mAb for HIV/AIDS, and ABthrax(TM) for anthrax infection. * The company plans to complete and report the results of an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of LymphoStat-B in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Fall 2005. * The results of three ongoing Phase 2 trials of HGS-ETR1 also are anticipated in 2005. * Albuferon will enter a Phase 2b trial in the near future to evaluate its use in combination with ribavirin in treatment-naA[macron]ve patients with chronic hepatitis C. * Human Genome Sciences has reorganized its research group and created a new division, CoGenesys(TM), to identify and sustain early stage pipeline opportunities and monetize the company's accumulated intellectual property and technology assets. * The Development Sciences and Research division will focus on support for clinical programs, including assay and pharmacology support, biomarker development ad research on potential new indications for current drug candidates. * The company has expanded its manufacturing capability and is nearing completion of a large-scale manufacturing facility to support its increasing need for protein and antibody production capacity related to the continuing progress of its product candidates and, eventually, their initial commercialization. * Human Genome Sciences continues to maintain a strong balance sheet, with $859 million in cash and equivalents as of the end of the first quarter 2005.

H. Thomas Watkins, Chief Executive Officer, said, "We have made substantial progress to date in 2005. We completed and reported the positive results of Phase 2 clinical trials of LymphoStat-B in rheumatoid arthritis and Albuferon in chronic hepatitis C. In these trials, both compounds met their primary safety and efficacy endpoints. We reported the positive results of ongoing Phase 1 trials of both HGS-ETR1 and HGS-ETR2 in advanced cancers. We completed enrollment in Phase 2 trials of HGS-ETR1 in colorectal cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We initiated a Phase 1 trial of CCR5 mAb in HIV/AIDS. We reorganized our research group. We also increased our manufacturing capacity to support the progress of our compounds in clinical development.

"In the remaining months of 2005, we will continue our progress toward commercialization. We plan to complete Phase 2 clinical trials of LymphoStat- B in systemic lupus erythematosus and HGS-ETR1 in non-small cell lung and colorectal cancers and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We plan to complete the interim analysis of an ongoing Phase 2 trial of Albuferon in combination with ribavirin in treatment-experienced patients, and we expect to initiate a larger Phase 2b trial of...

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