Chiron Foundation Awards Five Grants to Emeryville and Oakland Community Organizations; Grants Reaffirm Foundation's Commitment to Enrich Lives in Local Communities.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- The Chiron Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic organization funded by Chiron Corporation (Nasdaq:CHIR), announced today that it has awarded $60,000 to five local organizations for five programs providing essential social services to the Emeryville and Oakland, Calif., communities. The recipients are the Better Health Foundation, Center for AIDS Services, Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter, and Oakland Public Library Foundation. The grants support programs that work toward positive social change by providing education and health and human services to those in need, particularly at-risk children and youth.

"The Chiron Foundation is committed to supporting ongoing efforts to strengthen and revitalize communities and better the lives of people in the areas where Chiron employees live and work," said Jay Grover, president of the Chiron Foundation. "Chiron has a rich tradition of giving back to our local communities through our philanthropic efforts and the individual and collective efforts of our employees. We are extremely proud to be aligned with organizations that share our dedication to making a difference in the well-being and vitality of our surrounding neighborhoods."

Local Social Services Community Support

Chiron's grant to the Better Health Foundation, located in Oakland, Calif., will support the organization's Robert Louie Family Cancer Support Program, which provides education, referral services, and social and emotional support for children with cancer and their families through local support groups. The Better Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing people with the knowledge and support services needed to make informed health decisions.

Chiron's grant to the Center for AIDS Services, located in Oakland, Calif., will support the organization's program to provide daily meals to terminally ill patients. The center is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Alameda County. It serves as a community resource committed to preventing the spread of HIV through education and improving the lives of low-income people living with AIDS by providing direct personal-care services free of charge.

Chiron's grant to Crisis Support Services of Alameda County, located in Oakland, Calif., will support the organization's "Teens for Life" program, an interactive education program focusing on suicide prevention. The goal of the program is to give students the tools they need to get help for themselves or someone they know who may be struggling with depression or suicidal feelings. Chiron's grant will provide funding for outreach to Emeryville, Calif., middle-school and high-school students. Crisis Support Services of Alameda County is a counseling and mental health services organization serving more than 10,000 youth in 38 different schools through school-based educational presentations and programs.

Local Education Services Community Support

Chiron's grant to the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter, headquartered in San Francisco, will support disaster preparedness education in East Bay schools through the presentation of the Red Cross' safety program, "Together We Prepare Schools." Specifically, Chiron's grant will provide funding for the initial outreach and training to elementary and middle school students in the areas of Emeryville, West Oakland and Richmond, Calif. The program will train students on how to prevent, prepare and respond to various types of emergencies, including natural disasters (fire, earthquake, flood), terrorism, violent incidents and other tragic events. The American Red Cross is the nation's premier emergency response organization.

Chiron's grant to the Oakland Public Library Foundation, located in Oakland, Calif., will support literacy-related programs in the library, including adult literacy, early childhood education, and academic assistance for elementary and secondary school students. Specifically, the funding will be used to develop an after-school tutoring and mentoring program targeting low-income Oakland neighborhoods. The Oakland Public Library Foundation is an organization created to enhance the Oakland Public Library as a community resource by funding special projects and building an endowment for the support of the library.

About the Chiron Foundation

Established in 2004, the Chiron Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization committed to improving lives through better healthcare, empowering lives through better education and enriching lives through better communities. The foundation awards grants in three major focus areas: health and medicine, education, and community. For further information about the Chiron Foundation, please visit www.chiron.com/foundation.

About Chiron

Chiron delivers innovative and valuable products to protect human health by advancing pioneering science across the landscape of biotechnology. The company works to deliver on the limitless promise of science and make a positive difference in people's lives. For more information about Chiron, please visit www.chiron.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change. A full discussion of the company's operations and financial condition, including factors that may affect its business and future prospects, is contained in documents the company has filed with the SEC, including the form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and will be contained in all subsequent periodic filings made with the SEC.

We do not undertake an obligation to update the forward-looking information we are giving today.