Semi-Annual Changes to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index

Semi-Annual Changes to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index 


NEW YORK, May 14  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
("NASDAQ")  (BULLETIN BOARD: NDAQ)  announced today the results of the semi-
annual re-ranking of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index(R) , which will become
effective with the market open on Monday, May 24, 2004.

The re-ranking will result in 26 securities being added to the Index.  All
securities are classified according to the FTSE Global Classification
System(TM) as biotechnology or pharmaceutical.  The securities that meet the
classification criteria then must meet other Index eligibility criteria
including listing on the NASDAQ National Market and meeting minimum
requirements for market value, average daily share volume and seasoning as a
public company.  The Index is ranked on a semi-annual basis in May and
November.  For more information about the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, including
eligibility criteria, visit http://www.nasdaq.com/.

All securities being added to the Index will be phased into NASDAQ's Closing
Cross effective Wednesday, May 19, 2004.

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is the basis for the iShares Nasdaq
Biotechnology Index(SM) Fund (AMEX:IBB), which seeks investment results that
generally correspond to the price and yield performance of the NASDAQ
Biotechnology Index before fees and expenses.  In addition, options based on
the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index and the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund
trade on various exchanges.

NASDAQ(R) is the largest U.S. electronic stock market.  With approximately
3,300 companies, it lists more companies and, on average, trades more shares
per day than any other U.S. market.  It is home to category-defining companies
that are leaders across all areas of business including technology, retail,
communications, financial services, transportation, media and biotechnology.
NASDAQ is the primary market for trading NASDAQ-listed stocks.  Approximately
51% of NASDAQ-listed shares traded are reported to NASDAQ systems.

For more information about NASDAQ, visit the NASDAQ Web site at
http://www.nasdaq.com/ or the NASDAQ Newsroom(SM) at
http://www.nasdaqnews.com/.

The FTSE Global Classification System is compiled by FTSE International
Limited.

FTSE(TM) is a trademark of the London Stock Exchange Plc and The Financial
Times Limited and is used by FTSE International Limited under license.

iShares are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co.  Barclays Global
Fund Advisors serves as an advisor to iShares and is a subsidiary of Barclays
Global Investors, N.A., neither of which is affiliated with SEI.  For a
prospectus, call 1-800-iSHARES (1-800-474-2737).

  IShares are not FDIC Insured.
  Have No Bank Guarantee.
  May Lose Value.


  Company Briefs



AEterna Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:AELA) has a portfolio of marketed and
development-stage biopharmaceutical products.  The Company's products include
Neovastat, an angiogenesis inhibitor in clinical trials for renal cell and
non-small cell lung cancers, and Cetrotide, an IVF product.

Bioveris Corporation (NASDAQ:BIOV) develops, manufactures, and markets products
in the biodefense, life sciences, and industrial markets.  The Company develops
biological detection systems based on its proprietary technology, which is used
in applications such as clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical research, life
science research, biodefense testing, and testing for food safety.

Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRIS) develops therapeutics for the regeneration and
restoration of human tissues and organs.

Cypress Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:CYPB) provides products that improve the
diagnosis and treatment of Functional Somatic Syndromes and other related pain
and central nervous system conditions.

Depomed, Inc. (NASDAQ:DEPO) develops new and proprietary oral drug delivery
technologies. The Company has developed a system designed to be retained in the
stomach for an extended period of time while it delivers the incorporated drug
or drugs. Depomed has also developed a system designed to reduce
gastrointestinal irritation.

DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. (NASDAQ:DOVP) is a biopharmaceutical company focused
on the discovery, acquisition, development, and commercialization of novel
drugs.  The Company is focused on drug candidates for cardiovascular, central
nervous system, and urological disorders.  DOV has several product candidates
that address therapeutic indications with significant unmet needs.

Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ:DYAX) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery, development and commercialization of antibodies, small proteins and
peptides as therapeutic products for unmet medical needs, particularly in the
areas of inflammation and oncology.  The company currently has two recombinant
proteins, DX-88 and DX-890 in phase II clinical trials.

Forbes Medi-Tech Inc. (NASDAQ:FMTI) researches, develops, and commercializes
pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products derived from forest industry
by-products.  The Company is currently developing cholesterol- lowering agents
to be used with pharmaceutical therapeutics and food supplements to combat
heart disease, and technology that converts plant sterols into pharmaceutical
fine chemicals.

Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:GENE) is a biopharmaceutical
company committed to the clinical development and commercialization on
therapeutics to address unmet medical needs.  The Company's products include
anti-infective therapeutic drugs.

Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:GLFD) is a biopharmaceutical company that
develops polymer-based therapeutics for cancer.  The Company also develops
novel products for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases. 
Guilford is developing products for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases,
stroke, severe head trauma, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and
cocaine addiction.

Genelabs Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNLB), a biopharmaceutical company,
discovers and develops drugs.  The Company's principal drug discovery program
is based on proprietary enabling technologies for creating gene-specific, small
organic, DNA-binding molecules.

Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) develops tools for the large-scale analysis of
genetic variation and function.  The Company's BeadArray technology uses fiber
optics to achieve a level of array miniaturization that allows for a new scale
of experimentation. Illumina is developing disposable BeadArray cassettes,
reagent kits, and instruments.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:KERX) is a biopharmaceutical company
focused on the acquisition, development, and commercialization of novel
pharmaceutical products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases,
including diabetes and cancer.  Keryx is developing KRX-101 (sulodexide), a
novel first-in-class oral heparinold compound for the treatment of diabetic
nephropathy.

LifeCell Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFC) develops and commercializes tissue
regeneration and cell preservation products.  The Company's dermal tissue graft
AlloDerm is used in the treatment of third-degree burns, periodontal surgery
and reconstructive surgery.  LifeCell's development programs entail various
cell preservation methods.

Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAXM) develops drugs and therapies for
cancer and infectious diseases.  The Company's focus is to develop novel
products that include pharmacoeconomic and disease management benefits, such as
out-patient therapy, improved clinical efficiency, higher level of safety,
cost-effective treatment, and improved patient compliance.

Myogen, Inc (NASDAQ:MYOG) is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers,
develops and commercializes small molecule therapeutics.  The Company focuses
on treatments for cardiovascular disorders.

Northfield Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLD) is developing an alternative to
transfused blood for use in the treatment of acute blood loss.  The Company's
PolyHeme blood substitute product is a solution of chemically modified
hemoglobin derived from human blood.

Nuvelo, Inc. (NASDAQ:NUVO) researches and develops novel biopharmaceutical
products from its proprietary genes discovered using its
screening-by-hybridization platform.  The Company also develops molecular
diagnostic tests by identifying genetic markers associated with response to
cancer therapies, with the goal of optimizing patient care.

Orchid BioSciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORCH) develops and commercializes genetic
diversity technologies, products, and services.  Genetic diversity information
is used to facilitate the development and effectiveness of drugs and increase
the success of tissue transplants.  The Company's technologies apply to the
healthcare, forensics, paternity testing, and livestock breeding fields.

Pharmacyclics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCYC) is a pharmaceutical company developing
products to improve upon current therapeutic approaches to cancer,
atherosclerosis, and retinal disease.  The Company's products are patented
agents derived from its technology platform for designing and synthesizing
energy-potentiating drugs.

Pharmion Corporation (NASDAQ:PHRM) is creating a global pharmaceutical company
focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing products for the treatment
of hematology and oncology patients. The Company has established regulatory,
development and sales and marketing organizations covering the US, Europe, and
Australia.

Serologicals Corporation (NASDAQ:SERO) is a global provider of products and
enabling technologies, which are essential for the research, development and
manufacture of biologically-based life science products.  The Company's
products are used in a wide variety of innovative applications within the areas
of oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiology and in the study of molecular
biology.

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGEN) discovers and develops monoclonal
antibody-based drugs to treat cancer and related diseases.  The Company's
technologies increase the potency and efficacy of monoclonal antibodies with
specificity for cancer.

Vasogen Inc. (NASDAQ:VSGN) researches and develops immune modulation therapies
for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and other inflammatory disorders. 
Vasogen's lead product is currently in pivotal phase III clinical trials for
the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) and peripheral arterial disease
(PAD).

VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) develops and manufactures therapies for the treatment
of men with erectile dysfunction.  The Company is currently marketing MUSE and
ACTIS in the United States and has license agreements with other companies to
market its products internationally.  VIVUS is also conducting clinical trials
for another treatment.

ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGEN) discovers, develops, and commercializes
therapeutic proteins for the treatment of human disease.  The Company's
products include Novolin, NovoRapid, NovoSeven, and GlucoGen.

Source: Bloomberg 

DATASOURCE: NASDAQ



CONTACT:  Media: Wayne Lee, [phone], or Issuers and Investors:

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