Advanced Photonix Inc. Provides Additional Clarification of Potential Acquisition of Jenner Biotherapies Inc.

Business Editors

CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2000

Advanced Photonix Inc.(R)(AMEX:API), the leading developer and manufacturer of large area avalanche photodiodes (LAAPD), today provided the following additional information concerning a potential acquisition of Jenner Biotherapies Inc. and announced the appointment of two additional non-employee directors.

Hayden Leason, chairman of the board of directors of both API and privately held Jenner has provided certain information concerning Jenner, a development-stage biotechnology company, to the board of directors of API for evaluation.

Such information includes details of the development status of five compounds in the area of cancer vaccines, vaccine administration and immune system responses to cancer cells. One of the vaccine products is in a Phase II clinical trial, and a macrophage activator for immune system response has completed a Phase III clinical trial. The other products are in earlier development stages.

In connection with the review of the potential acquisition of Jenner, the board of directors has appointed Stephen P. Soltwedel and Richard D. Kurtz to serve on API's board of directors.

Soltwedel is currently vice president and chief financial officer of Filtertek Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ESCO Electronics (ESE), an $80 million injection molder specializing in filtration to the automotive, medical and commercial markets.

He joined Filtertek in 1972 and was elected vice president, secretary and treasurer of Filtertek Inc. and its sister corporation, Filtertek de Puerto Rico Inc. in 1979. In 1992, Filtertek (NYSE:FTK) was sold to Schawk Inc. and subsequently sold to ESCO Electronics. Soltwedel has a BBA degree in accounting from Madison Business College.

Kurtz is currently vice president Sales & Marketing of Filtertek Inc. and strategic business director -- Medical Business Unit. He joined Filtertek in 1988 in the Sales and Marketing Group. Prior to joining Filtertek, Kurtz held sales and marketing positions with companies in the aerospace, consumer, automotive and industrial markets. Kurtz received his MBA from Eastern Michigan University and his BA in economics from Michigan State University.

A special committee of the board of directors composed of Soltwedel and Kurtz has been formed to review and evaluate the terms of any proposal for an acquisition which API may submit to Jenner. It is anticipated that no proposed acquisition will be submitted for shareholder approval unless the special committee determines to recommend such proposal as being fair to the public shareholders of API.

As of the date hereof, no proposal to acquire Jenner has been made by API. While API believes it likely that it will formulate and make such a proposal based upon its review of information furnished by Jenner, there can be no assurance that API will be able to formulate an acceptable acquisition proposal or that any such proposal will be acceptable to Jenner or that a transaction will be consummated.

This release includes "forward-looking" statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risks of successful drug development and commercialization; the risk of achieving an acquisition agreement and the risks and uncertainties of completing a successful business combination, including financial, accounting and management issues.