Chiron to Discuss Plans for Phase III Clinical Development of Tifacogin

Chiron to Discuss Plans for Phase III Clinical Development of Tifacogin
March 18 Conference Call to Cover Trial Design and Timing of Study 


EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 2  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chiron Corporation  today
announced that it will discussits upcoming Phase III trial for tifacogin in
patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia in a conference call on
Thursday, March 18, at 10:00 a.m. EST.  Plans to initiate the trial were
announced in October 2003.  This educational call will provide the opportunity
to learn more about the target indication, trial design and timing of the
study.

To access the live call, log on to http://www.chiron.com/webcast. Please connect
to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure
adequate time to download any necessary software. Alternatively, please call
800-374-0907 (U.S., Canada) or 706-643-3367 (international). Replay is available
approximately two hours after the completion of the call through 11:55 p.m. EST,
March 25, 2004. To access the replay, call 800-642-1687 (U.S., Canada) or
706-645-9291 (international). The conference ID number is 5900960.

About Tifacogin

Tifacogin is a recombinant form of tissue factor pathway inhibitor, or TFPI.
Clinical studies suggest that the expression of tissue factor, a naturally
occurring protein, significantly contributes to blood clotting and inflammation
of the lungs associated with severe community-acquired pneumonia. Tifacogin
interferes with the activity of tissue factor andmay be an effective
treatment.

About Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Severe community-acquired pneumonia is a serious infection of the lungs
affecting approximately 300,000 patients in the United States annually.
Mortality rates for patients admitted to the ICU with severe community-acquired
pneumonia often exceed 30 percent. No drugs are currently approved for the
reduction of mortality in severe community-acquired pneumonia. Current therapy
includes routine antibiotics and supportive care.

About Chiron

Chiron Corporation, headquartered in Emeryville, California, is a global
pharmaceutical company that leverages a diverse business model to develop and
commercialize high-value products that make a difference in people's lives. The
company has a strategic focus on cancer and infectious disease.  Chiron applies
its advanced understanding of the biology of cancer and infectious disease to
develop products from its platforms in proteins, small molecules and vaccines. 
The company commercializes its products through three business units: 
BioPharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Blood Testing.  For more information about
Chiron, visit the company's website at http://www.chiron.com/.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements
regarding product development initiatives, new product indications and new
product marketing, that involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to
change. A full discussion of the company's operations and financial condition,
including factors that may affect its business and future prospects, is
contained in documents the company has filed with the SEC, including the form
10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, and the form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2002, and will be contained in all subsequent periodic
filings made with the SEC. These documents identify important factors that could
cause the company's actual performance to differ from current expectations,
including the outcome of clinical trials, regulatory review and approvals,
manufacturing capabilities, intellectual property protections and defenses,
stock-price and interest-rate volatility, and marketing effectiveness. In
particular, there can be no assurance that Chiron will successfully develop and
receive approval to market new product or achieve market acceptance for such new
products.

Consistent with SEC Regulation FD, we do not undertake an obligation to update
the forward-looking information we are giving today. 

DATASOURCE: Chiron Corporation



CONTACT:  Corporate Communications & Investor Relations for Chiron,

media, [phone], or investors, [phone]



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

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