Human Genome Sciences Announces $40 Million Milestone Payment Related to Albufer

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Human Genome Sciences Announces $40 Million Milestone Payment Related to

Albuferon Development

PR Newswire Europe (inc. UK Disclose) - Aug. 28, 2007

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Human Genome Sciences,

Inc., today announced that it will receive a $40 million payment from

Novartis in September 2007 for the previously reported successful completion

of a Phase 2b trial of Albuferon® (albinterferon alfa-2b) in

treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010612/HGSLOGO )

" This $40 million payment will bring the total milestone payments received

from Novartis under our Albuferon co-development and commercialization

agreement to $132.5 million, " said H. Watkins, President and Chief

Executive Officer, HGS. " Novartis and HGS are also sharing clinical

development costs equally. From a strategic perspective, our collaboration

with Novartis is proceeding very well. Our companies are jointly committed

to the highest quality of clinical development, and we are working closely

together to bring Albuferon to market as rapidly as possible. "

HGS also reported in a separate press release issued earlier today that it

has completed enrollment ahead of schedule in the first of two pivotal Phase

3 trials of Albuferon in chronic hepatitis C, and now expects to have Phase

3 data available by the spring of 2009, with filing of global marketing

authorization applications anticipated by the fall of 2009.

Under a co-development and commercialization agreement entered into in June

2006, HGS and Novartis will co-commercialize Albuferon in the United States

and will share clinical development costs, U.S. commercialization costs and

U.S. profits equally. Novartis will be responsible for commercialization in

the rest of the world and will pay HGS a royalty on those sales. Clinical

development, commercial milestone and other payments to HGS could total as

much as $507.5 million, including $92.5 million received to date and the $40

million payment expected in September 2007.

About Albuferon

Albuferon is a novel long-acting form of interferon alpha created by HGS

using its proprietary albumin fusion technology. Albuferon results from the

genetic fusion of human albumin and interferon alpha. Human albumin is the

most prevalent naturally occurring blood protein in the human circulatory

system, persisting in circulation in the body for more than 20 days.

Research shows that genetic fusion of therapeutic proteins to human albumin

decreases clearance and prolongs the half-life of the proteins. Recombinant

interferon alpha is approved for the treatment of hepatitis C, hepatitis B

and a number of cancers.

About Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus.

An estimated 170 million people worldwide are infected with the virus,

including nearly 4 million people in the United States. When detectable

levels of the hepatitis C virus persist in the blood for at least six

months, a person is diagnosed as having chronic hepatitis C. The hepatitis C

virus can cause serious liver disease in a significant proportion of people

who are infected, leading to cirrhosis, primary liver cancer and even death.

About Human Genome Sciences

The mission of HGS is to apply great science and great medicine to bring

innovative drugs to patients with unmet medical needs.

The HGS clinical development pipeline includes novel drugs to treat

hepatitis C, lupus, anthrax disease, cancer and other immune-mediated

diseases. The Company's primary focus is rapid progress toward the

commercialization of its two key lead drugs, Albuferon for hepatitis C and

LymphoStat-B® (belimumab) for lupus. Phase 3 clinical trials of both drugs

are under way.

In June 2006, HGS announced that the U.S. government exercised its option

under an existing contract to purchase 20,000 doses of ABthrax

(raxibacumab) for the treatment of anthrax disease. Other HGS drugs in

clinical development include two TRAIL receptor antibodies for the treatment

of hematologic and solid malignancies.

For more information about HGS, please visit the Company's web site at

http://www.hgsi.com/. For more information about Albuferon, please visit

http://www.hgsi.com/products/albuferon.html. Health professionals or

patients interested in Albuferon clinical trials or other studies involving

HGS products may inquire via the " Contact Us " section of the Company's web

site, http://www.hgsi.com/products/request.html, or by calling (301)

610-5790, extension 3550.

HGS, Human Genome Sciences, ABthrax, Albuferon and LymphoStat-B are

trademarks of Human Genome Sciences, Inc.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of

Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking

statements are based on Human Genome Sciences' current intent, belief and

expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and

are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to

predict. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking

statements because of the Company's unproven business model, its dependence

on new technologies, the uncertainty and timing of clinical trials, the

Company's ability to develop and commercialize products, its dependence on

collaborators for services and revenue, its substantial indebtedness and

lease obligations, its changing requirements and costs associated with

facilities, intense competition, the uncertainty of patent and intellectual

property protection, the Company's dependence on key management and key

suppliers, the uncertainty of regulation of products, the impact of future

alliances or transactions and other risks described in the Company's filings

with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Company will

continue to face risks related to animal and human testing, to the

manufacture of ABthrax and to FDA concurrence that ABthrax meets the

requirements of the ABthrax contract. If the Company is unable to meet the

product requirements associated with the ABthrax contract, the U.S.

government will not be required to reimburse the Company for the costs

incurred or to purchase any ABthrax doses. Existing and prospective

investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking

statements, which speak only as of today's date. Human Genome Sciences

undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in

this announcement whether as a result of new information, future events or

circumstances or otherwise.

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.

CONTACT: Jerry Parrott, Vice President, Corporate Communications,

+1-301-315-2777, or Kate de Santis, Director, Investor Relations,

+1-301-251-6003, both of Human Genome Sciences, Inc.

Web site: http://www.hgsi.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/121115.html

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