ILEX Oncology and Clinical Research Group Form Strategic Alliance.

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 22, 1998--ILEX(tm) Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ:ILXO) today announced that it has formed a strategic alliance with Clinical Research Group Inc. (CRG), the largest Site Management Organization (SMO) focused exclusively in oncology in the United States.

The alliance greatly expands ILEX's access to cancer patients for clinical trials and enhances ILEX's position as the industry's foremost provider of drug development services in oncology.

CRG's 61 member sites treat more than 63,000 new cancer patients per year. The CRG sites, known as Oncology Research Group, have earned a track record of high performance in three key areas: 1) quick study startup; 2) dependable patient accrual; and 3) clean data.

Last year, CRG sites conducted more than 60 research studies for major pharmaceutical and biotech companies. CRG estimates that nearly 20 percent of all pharmaceutical and biotech companies with oncology products in clinical development are clients of CRG.

"Our relationship with CRG is an excellent complement to our existing affiliation with Physician Reliance Network (PRN)," said Richard Love, president and CEO, ILEX Oncology. "CRG's member practices are primarily in the Northeast, while PRN's are located in the Midwest, Northwest and Southwest. Through this additional geographic diversity, we have the most extensive preferred access to clinical trial sites of any drug development company," said Love.

Last year ILEX entered into an agreement with PRN, one of the largest oncology physician practice management companies in the United States.

ILEX Oncology Inc. is a drug development company focused exclusively on the development and marketing approval of drugs for the treatment and prevention of cancer. ILEX provides pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies compounds for their pipeline through its Products subsidiary, as well as drug development and manufacturing services on a contract basis via a Services subsidiary.

ILEX's close association with cancer research and treatment institutions allows access to both the opinion leaders and patients necessary for the development of oncology drugs.

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements, (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, competitive risks and those risks and uncertainties discussed in filings made by ILEX Oncology Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This release and other information about ILEX(tm) Oncology can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ilexoncology.com.

CONTACT: ILEX Oncology Inc., San Antonio

Beth Shapiro, 210/949-8223

or

Ann Stevens, 210/949-8230

or

Clinical Research Group Inc.

John G. Corcoran, 610/527-6417 ext. 209