Tanox, Inc. Receives Grant From The Peanut Foundation for Clinical Studies On Peanut

Tanox, Inc. Receives Grant From The Peanut Foundation for Clinical Studies On Peanut Allergies

Pharmaceutical Company Conducting Patient Trials Across U.S.

HOUSTON, June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanox, Inc. (Nasdaq: TNOX) and The Peanut Foundation today
announced the presentation of a $95,000 grant from The Peanut Foundation in support of Tanox's
on-going Phase I/II clinical trials of Tanox's drug candidate Hu-901 in the treatment of
subjects with histories of severe allergic reactions to peanut products. Participants are
currently being enrolled for trials at six locations in the United States, in Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York.

Hu-901 is a humanized anti-immunoglobulin E, or anti-IgE monoclonal antibody that Tanox is
developing to prophylactically treat severe peanut allergy. Tanox believes anti-IgE
antibodies, such as Hu-901, have potential applications in treating all IgE-mediated diseases,
including peanut and other food allergies.

According to a recently published survey, peanut or tree nut allergy affects about 3 million
people in the United States, 1.1% of the U. S. population. Patients with severe peanut allergy
suffer gastrointestinal, skin and respiratory symptoms, and may also suffer potentially
life-threatening anaphylaxis in response to ingesting peanuts. Current treatment is avoiding
peanuts and their derivatives, which are used in preparing many food products. Complete
avoidance requires constant vigilance and is difficult because prepared food labeling does not
always identify peanut-derived ingredients. Accidental exposures can result in serious allergic
reactions and sometimes death. Approximately 2 to 4% of children and 1 to 2% of adults in the
United States suffer from food allergies. There is no approved preventative therapeutic for
food allergies. If Hu-901 is shown to effectively reduce sensitivity to peanuts, Tanox may
also investigate its use in other food allergies.

"We are extremely pleased to gain the support of The Peanut Foundation for this important
clinical study," said Dr. Nancy Chang, Tanox's Chief Executive Officer. "We plan to use the
proceeds from the grant to increase awareness of the study among peanut sensitive individuals
and to help defer costs at clinical sites."

"We are very excited about the potential use of Hu-901 to treat patients with severe peanut
allergies. The Peanut Foundation is dedicated to improving peanut nutrition and health benefits
through research funding and consumer education," said Mr. Howard Valentine, Director of The
Peanut Foundation.

Tanox identifies and develops therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to address significant unmet
medical needs in the areas of immunology, infectious diseases and cancer. E25, Tanox's most
advanced product in development, is an anti-immunoglobulin E, or anti-IgE, antibody. Tanox
holds patents around the world covering the use of anti-IgE antibodies for the treatment of
IgE- mediated diseases. Tanox is developing E25 in collaboration with Novartis and Genentech.
E25 has successfully completed Phase III clinical trials in both allergic asthma and seasonal
allergic rhinitis (hay fever). A BLA for E25 has been submitted to the FDA and a submission
for marketing approval has been filed with health authorities in the EU, Switzerland,
Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, Tanox is developing a number of monoclonal antibodies
to treat other allergic diseases or conditions, such as severe allergic reactions to peanuts,
autoimmune diseases, HIV and to restore the suppressed immune !
systems of chemotherapy patients.

Statements in the Company's press releases, reports and information disclosures about its
products, including E25 and Hu-901, and their prospects for development and commercialization,
other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements and are subject to a
number of uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those
suggested in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual events or
results include risks associated with obtaining regulatory approval for and market acceptance
of the Company's products, performance by the Company's present and future collaboration
partners, the outcome of pending litigation, the uncertainty of preclinical and clinical
testing results, the Company's limited experience and capability in manufacturing and marketing
the Company's products, the Company's ability to enter into future collaborations, competition
and technological change, the strength of the Company's patent !
portfolio, the Company's ability to manage growth and to attract and retain key personnel, the
Company's access to additional financings in the future, and existing and future government
regulations. Other risks that may affect the Company include the variability of royalty,
license and other revenues, timelines that are subject to change, and the unpredictability of
decisions by the FDA and other regulatory agencies, including decisions regarding whether
sufficient data and compliance with other requirements exist to support product licensure.

This release and other information about Tanox, Inc. can be found on the World Wide Web at [url="http://www.tanox.com."]http://www.tanox.com.[/url]

SOURCE Tanox, Inc.

CO: Tanox, Inc.; Peanut Foundation

ST: Texas, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York

IN: MTC

SU:

06/13/2000 07:00 EDT [url="http://www.prnewswire.com"]http://www.prnewswire.com[/url]

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Stay Safe,

[email]"Chris@PeanutAllergy.Com"[/email]