Chiron Foundation Awards Grants to National Organizations Promoting Improved Quality of Life for Cancer and Lung Transplant Patients.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- The Chiron Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic organization funded by Chiron Corporation (NASDAQ:CHIR), announced today that it has awarded a total of $140,000 to seven organizations for programs assisting people living with cancer, lung transplants and pulmonary related illnesses. The recipients are the Okizu Foundation, Healing Journeys, National Children's Cancer Society, Friends of Cancer Research, Allergy and Asthma Network, American Lung Association of Washington and Second Wind. These grants will assist each organization in its efforts to improve the quality of life for patients through the development of support and education programs and to raise awareness of cancer and pulmonary illnesses through outreach and advocacy.

"We are extremely pleased to support these outstanding organizations' efforts to raise awareness, provide public education and expand their programs," said Jay Grover, president of the Chiron Foundation. "The work of these organizations has a direct impact on patients and their families, which parallels our commitment to improving the lives of those suffering from cancer and lung and respiratory illnesses. As Chiron works to provide treatments for these diseases, we are gratified to know that these organizations are helping those who are currently suffering, especially children."

The Chiron Foundation's grant to the Okizu Foundation, headquartered in Novato, Calif., will support the organization's Oncology Camp, a free summer camping program offered each year at Camp Okizu to 300 children in treatment for or in remission from cancer. Oncology Camp allows these children to experience being part of a close-knit group of friends and enjoy the challenges and excitement of activities that are not typically part of their life during these stages of treatment and recovery. The Okizu Foundation is dedicated to providing recreational therapy, respite and peer-support programs to meet the needs of all members of families affected by childhood cancer.

The Chiron Foundation's grant to Healing Journeys, headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., will support Cancer as a Turning Point, From Surviving to Thriving -- a free two-day program designed to educate, inspire, celebrate and network anyone touched by cancer or other life-altering illness. The implementation of this program furthers Healing Journeys' mission to promote and support healing by exposing patients, family members, friends, support people and health professionals to the integrative approach and practices of healing and accessing their ability to thrive. Healing Journeys was founded in 1994 as a result of a personal cancer experience and has been conducting Turning Point seminars for ten years.

The Chiron Foundation's grant to National Children's Cancer Society (NCCS), headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., will support the expansion of NCCS's Pediatric Oncology Program, which provides financial assistance, emotional support, advocacy and educational programs for families with children suffering from cancer. The financial support provided by the program enables parents to stay with their hospitalized child, and assists with out-of-pocket supplementary expenses. The program also provides professional case managers to work with individual families to handle the emotional upheaval cancer causes in their lives. The NCCS is a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and to reduce the risk of cancer. Since its inception the NCCS has helped over 17,000 families in financial need.

The Chiron Foundation's grant to Friends of Cancer Research (FOCR), headquartered in Washington, D.C., will support an ongoing educational and awareness project focused on opportunities to streamline and accelerate the process whereby potential new cancer treatments are evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The program objective is to make promising treatments available more quickly by working with top cancer research scientists, advocacy leaders and health care professionals to promote more efficient and consistent processes at the FDA for the handling of oncology products. Recently, FOCR's collaborative efforts played a key role in supporting the creation of a new Office of Oncology Products at FDA. FOCR is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness and provides public education on cancer research in order to accelerate the nation's progress toward prevention and treatment of all cancers.

The Chiron Foundation's grant to the Allergy and Asthma Network -- Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), headquartered in Fairfax, Va., will support the organization's Consumer Health Alliance for Safe Medication (CHASM) public education campaign. The goal of the campaign will be to alert vulnerable patients to the actions they can take to ensure the nebulized medications they take for respiratory conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are FDA-approved. Patients are increasingly, without their knowledge, being exposed to health risks associated with unapproved nebulized medications. The campaign underscores the organization's mission to eliminate death and suffering for those living with allergies and asthma, many of whom are children, and to prevent deaths for persons living with chronic respiratory conditions through education, advocacy and community outreach.

The Chiron Foundation's grant to the American Lung Association of Washington (ALAW), headquartered in Seattle, Wash., will assist in the development and mobilization of a King County Lung Cancer Prevention Network to support and encourage informed public health policy development relating to lung cancer and its prevention. Lung cancer is the leading cause of deaths by cancer in both men and women; it kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer every year. The ALAW is a state affiliate of the American Lung Association and is dedicated to assuring lung health for Washington state residents through disease prevention and research, patient education and health policy dialogue.

The Chiron Foundation's grant to Second Wind Lung Transplant Association, headquartered in Largo, Fla., will support the development of a direct mail newsletter for the organization aimed at educating lung transplant recipients and persons on the transplant waiting list on such matters as critical patient education and medical advancements, among others. This project will help patients become better educated on the lung transplant experience, with the hopes of assisting these same patients to obtain a better quality of life. Second Wind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for lung transplant recipients, lung surgery candidates, people with related pulmonary concerns and their families by providing an array of support services. Second Wind's current member base reaches roughly 800 people and is the primary organization that operates solely for the benefit of the lung transplant community.

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.