CancerVax Corporation Files Shelf Registration Statement.

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- CancerVax Corporation (NASDAQ:CNVX) today announced that it has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 which, when declared effective, will permit CancerVax, from time to time, to offer and sell up to $80 million of common stock.

CancerVax plans to use the proceeds from subsequent offerings to continue the clinical development of its lead specific active immunotherapeutic (SAI) product candidate, Canvaxin(TM), to initiate clinical trials of SAI-EGF, its lead SAI product candidate that targets the EGFR signaling pathway, to further the preclinical development of its other product candidates, including its anti-angiogenic antibodies and peptides, and product candidates based on its T-oligonucleotide technology, and to fund other working capital and general corporate purposes.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About CancerVax Corporation (www.cancervax.com)

CancerVax Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel biological products for the treatment and control of cancer. CancerVax's lead product candidate, Canvaxin(TM), is one of a new class of products being developed in the area of specific active immunotherapy, also known as therapeutic cancer vaccines. Canvaxin(TM) is currently being studied in two international Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of patients with Stage III or Stage IV, or advanced-stage, melanoma. In addition to Canvaxin(TM), CancerVax has licensed three specific active immunotherapeutic product candidates targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway, including SAI-EGF, which has been studied in Phase 2 clinical trials. CancerVax plans to identify and develop new product candidates based on its proprietary specific active immunotherapy, anti-angiogenesis and T-oligonucleotide, or telomere homolog oligonucleotide, technology. CancerVax's corporate headquarters and research and development facility is located in Carlsbad, California, and its biologics manufacturing facility is located in the Los Angeles area.

Forward-Looking Statements

CancerVax cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intended use of the proceeds from any subsequent offerings. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by CancerVax that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in CancerVax's business including, without limitation: CancerVax's dependence on the success of its lead product candidate, Canvaxin(TM); the progress, timing and success of its clinical trials of Canvaxin(TM) and its other product candidates; the potential that results of Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of Canvaxin(TM), which were evaluated using retrospective survival analyses that may be subject to potential selection biases, may not be predictive of future results of CancerVax's ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials; the impact of government regulation, which may increase the cost and uncertainty associated with gaining regulatory approval of Canvaxin(TM) and its other product candidates; CancerVax's dependence on clinical investigators and medical institutions to enroll patients in its clinical trials and other third parties to perform related data collection and analysis, which may increase costs or delay the completion of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in developing, testing, producing and marketing its technologies and product candidates; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization, or that could result in recalls or product liability claims; its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations; and other risks detailed in CancerVax's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including CancerVax's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and CancerVax undertakes no obligation to revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

CancerVax(R) is a registered trademark of CancerVax Corporation.

Canvaxin(TM) is a trademark of CancerVax Corporation.