Chiron to Testify to Congress on Influenza Vaccine

Chiron to Testify to Congress on Influenza Vaccine
President and CEO Howard Pien to Appear at U.S. House of Representatives
Government Reform Committee Hearing Today 


EMERYVILLE, Calif., Feb. 12  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chiron Corporation  today
announced that president and chief executive officer Howard Pien will appear
before the U.S. House of Representatives Government Reform Committee in
Washington, D.C., today as part of an oversight hearing to examine this year's
influenza season and pandemic preparedness.  Chiron will highlight the
importance of strong cooperation between health agencies and private sector
companies at all levels.

"Chiron is committed to meeting demand for flu vaccine in the United States,
today and tomorrow," said Mr. Pien.  "Strengthening our public health
infrastructure -- to increase immunization rates in the inter-pandemic years --
is the single most important initiative today to prepare for tomorrow's
pandemic."

Today's hearing will take place immediately following the committee's 10 a.m.
EST business meeting.  Mr. Pien's testimony will follow those of Dr. Julie
Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dr.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases; and other witnesses.

In a written statement submitted to the committee, Mr. Pien discussed Chiron's
commitment to expanding flu vaccine production.  Chiron projects that it will
produce approximately 50 million doses of Fluvirin(R) flu vaccine in 2004, the
vast majority of which will be destined for the United States.  If sufficient
demand for influenza vaccine exists, Chiron plans to increase its production
capacity and supply of influenza vaccine to the United States even further in
subsequent seasons.

Mr. Pien also discussed Chiron's investment in the development of a cell
culture-based flu vaccine and the company's pandemic preparedness plans.  The
cell-culture vaccine production process offers potential advantages to current
egg-based vaccines, including flexibility, and could offer significant benefits
in a flu pandemic situation.  Chiron's influenza cell-culture research program
has completed Phase II clinical trials in Europe.

"Chiron is investing in bringing innovation to the U.S. market," said Mr. Pien. 
"This month we plan to file an IND application for our cell-culture flu vaccine,
which is viewed as the best way to defend against a possible future pandemic."

In his discussion of the 2003-2004 flu season, Mr. Pien noted that the estimated
83 million Americans immunized represented the highest immunization rate ever
for flu, a milestone in public health.  He advocated measures to minimize the
burden of disease caused by the annual flu epidemic, including an adequate
supply of flu vaccine in non-pandemic seasons, appropriate mechanisms to ensure
delivery of the vaccine to target populations, and high public awareness of the
need for immunization to ensure increased immunization.

Chiron produced 38 million doses of Fluvirin for U.S. distribution for the
2003-2004 flu season, approximately 50 percent more than in the previous flu
season.  In total for the 2003-2004 flu season, Chiron produced 75 million doses
of its four brands of flu vaccine for the global market,with production in
Liverpool, United Kingdom; Marburg, Germany; and Siena and Rosia, Italy.

About 10 to 20 percent of the U.S. population contracts flu each year.
Vaccination not only decreases the risk of illness for the vaccine recipient but
also helps prevent the spread of the flu virus and limits its role in the
potential development of life-threatening complications.  In an average year in
the United States, flu kills 36,000 people, primarily in the over-65 population,
and hospitalizes 114,000 people.

About Flu and Chiron's Flu Vaccines

Influenza (flu), a contagious disease caused by the influenza virus, affects the
respiratory tract, often resulting in symptoms in the nose, throat and lungs, as
well as fever, headache, tiredness and body aches.  It can also lead to
complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, or sinus and ear infections or
exacerbate chronic conditions.  In the Northern Hemisphere, flu season typically
begins in November and peaks between December and March.

Flu vaccination provides protection from flu within about two weeks of
administration and may last for as long as a year.  The vaccine protects up to
80 percent of vaccinated people from contracting flu, and vaccinated people who
do contract flu generally develop milder cases than unvaccinated people. Flu
vaccines, the majority of which are made from inactivated (killed) flu strains,
are updated each year to address changes in the viruses.  People who are
allergic to eggs, who have had a severe reaction to a flushot in the past, or
who have previously developed Guillain-Barre syndrome in the six weeks after
receiving a flu vaccination should consult their doctors before receiving flu
vaccination.

Chiron Vaccines is the world's second-largest flu vaccines company, with four
leading brands.  Fluvirin(R) is a triple-antigen flu vaccine, approved for sale
in more than two dozen countries including the United States, the United
Kingdom, and a number of countries in Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. 
Outside the United States, Chiron Vaccines markets Agrippal(R) S1, Begrivac(TM)
and Fluad(R) flu vaccines.

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, capital investments, sales growth and
new product marketing that involve risks and uncertainties andare 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 actualperformance to differ from current
expectations, including product development activities such as clinical trials,
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 increase sales of
existing products, successfully develop and receive approval to market new
products, 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.

NOTE:  Fluvirin, Agrippal, Begrivac and Fluad are trademarks of Chiron
Corporation. 

DATASOURCE: Chiron Corporation



CONTACT:  Chiron Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, media,

[phone], or investors, [phone]



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

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