Dendreon Corporation Appoints Israel Rios, M.D., Vice President of Clinical Affairs.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

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SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2003

Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq:DNDN) today announced that Israel Rios, M.D., has joined the company as vice president of clinical affairs.

Rios joins Dendreon from Berlex Laboratories, Inc., the U.S. affiliate of Schering AG, Germany (NYSE:SHR), where he most recently served as vice president of oncology development.

Rios brings more than 25 years of industry experience in clinical development. At Berlex, Rios was responsible for U.S. clinical development operations and oversaw the efforts of a 30 member staff that led to the filing of the biologics license application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the blockbuster drug Betaseron(R), interferon a-1b. Worldwide sales of Betaseron(R) (Betaferon(R) in Europe), exceed $650 million. Rios also oversaw the clinical affairs activities in the U.S. for Campath(R), a humanized monoclonal antibody for chronic lymphocytic leukemia approved by the FDA in 2001.

"Dr. Rios joins Dendreon at an important time as we continue our efforts to move closer to bringing our therapeutic prostate cancer vaccine, Provenge(TM) -- currently in Phase III clinical development -- to market," said Mitchell, H. Gold, M.D., chief executive officer. "Israel has a long history of success in seeing products through the regulatory process and into the market. We are very fortunate to add Israel to our management team at this time, and his extensive clinical development experience will greatly benefit our company."

Prior to joining Berlex in 1993, Rios served as director of anti-infective clinical research for Marion Merrell Dow, Inc. He also held various positions at Bristol-Myers Company, including director of clinical research. Rios completed a residency in internal medicine and an internship at Mount Sinai Hospital, Hartford, Conn., and received his M.D. and B.S. from Central University of Venezuela.

Dendreon Corporation is a biotechnology company developing targeted therapies for cancer. Dendreon currently has multiple therapeutic vaccines in clinical trials and preclinical development. Dendreon's product pipeline also includes monoclonal antibodies and a pathway to small molecules. Dendreon has established important alliances with industry leaders Genentech, Inc. and Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. For more information, visit www.dendreon.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, particularly those risks and uncertainties inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics. Factors that may cause such a difference include reliance on key employees, especially senior management, risks related to Dendreon's limited operating history, risks associated with completing Dendreon's clinical trials, the risk that the results of a clinical trial, including Phase III trials of Provenge, will not support applying for or approval of a biologics license by the FDA, the uncertainty of Dendreon's future access to capital, the risk that Dendreon may not secure or maintain relationships with collaborators, and dependence on intellectual property. Further information on the factors and risks that could affect Dendreon's business, financial condition and results of operations, are contained in Dendreon's public disclosure filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov.