CancerVax to Webcast Corporate Presentation at SG Cowen Annual Healthcare Conference.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 2004

CancerVax Corporation (NASDAQ: CNVX) announced today that President and CEO David F. Hale will present a corporate overview on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 at 11:15 a.m. (EST) during the SG Cowen 24th Annual Healthcare Conference. Mr. Hale's presentation will provide an overview of the Company's pipeline of biological products for the treatment and control of cancer, including Canvaxin(TM), a specific active immunotherapeutic product candidate currently being evaluated in two ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of advanced-stage melanoma.

A live recording of CancerVax's presentation will be available at http://ir.cancervax.com. To access the presentation, click on the link entitled "Event Schedule" on the left side of the screen. The webcast will be available for 30 days.

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. The Company'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 IV, or advanced-stage, melanoma. The Company is also finalizing the design of a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with Stage III colon cancer. In addition to Canvaxin(TM), the Company plans to identify and develop new product candidates based on its proprietary specific active immunotherapy platform, its anti-angiogenesis technology platform, and its in-licensed human monoclonal antibodies. CancerVax's corporate headquarters and research and development facility is located in Carlsbad, California and its biologics manufacturing facility is located in Los Angeles, California.

CancerVax cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. 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, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; 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; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; 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 Prospectus on Form 424 (b)(4) filed on October 30, 2003 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2003. 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 news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

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

Canvaxin(TM) is a trademark of CancerVax Corporation.