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Dendreon Corporation and Gambro team up for US cell collection network for commercialization of cancer vaccine therapy

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Dendreon Corporation and Gambro team up for US cell collection network for commercialization of cancer vaccine therapy Stockholm, Sweden, October 24, 2001 Gambro AB (Stockholmsbörsen: GAMBaST, GAMBbST), a leading international medical technology and healthcare company, today announced that Gambro and Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq: DNDN) will team up to support the commercialization of Dendreon's therapeutic vaccines. Gambro Healthcare's US network of clinics will serve as cell collection centers and Gambro BCT's COBE SpectraTM Apheresis System, will be used for the cell collection procedure. The collected cells serve as a raw material component in the prodution of Dendreon's cancer vaccines. "We are excited about the opportunity to team with Dendreon and expand our business to serve this new group of patients. These new patient services fit within the strategic direction of Gambro Healthcare, which is focused on providing value-added services that leverage our core competencies and our clinical network," says Larry Buckelew, President of Gambro Healthcare US. David Perez, President of Gambro BCT said, "Gambro BCT's Spectra apheresis system is the premier device for stem cell collection. This superior technology, along with the clinical and technical expertise of Gambro BCT and Gambro Healthcare, provides a basis for our Therapeutics business strategy: delivering valued blood therapy innovations to improve clinical outcomes for patients. It is also an outstanding opportunity for collaboration between Gambro Healthcare and Gambro BCT." The agreements will provide Dendreon with a network of cell collection centers to support clinical development and commercial production of Dendreon's therapeutic vaccines, including its lead product ProvengeTM. Dendreon recently announced the completion of patient enrollment in the first of its Phase III clinical trials of Provenge in patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer. "This agreement solidifies a key element of our Provenge commercialization strategy," said Christopher S. Henney, Ph.D., D.Sc., Chairman and CEO of Dendreon. "By tapping into Gambro's vast clinical network and cell collection expertise, we will be able to streamline Provenge therapy to enhance convenience and accessibility for patients and physicians." Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American men. More than one million men in the United States have prostate cancer, with 198,000 new cases and 31,500 deaths estimated in 2001. There is currently no treatment that increases the long-term survival of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Dendreon Corporation (www.dendreon.com) is dedicated to the discovery and development of novel products for the treatment of cancer through its innovative manipulation of the immune system. Dendreon is a leader in the development of therapeutic, dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines. In addition to Provenge, Dendreon has two therapeutic vaccines in clinical trials - MylovengeTM, for the treatment of multiple myeloma, in Phase II trials; and APC8024, for the treatment of breast, ovarian and colon cancers, in Phase I trials. Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, particularly those risks and uncertainties inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics. Factors that may cause such a difference include risks related to Dendreon's limited operating history, risks associated with completing Dendreon's clinical trials, the risk that the safety and/or efficacy results of a clinical trial will not support an application for a biologics license, the risk that the FDA will not approve a product for which a biologics license has been applied, the uncertainty of Dendreon's future access to capital, the failure by Dendreon to secure and maintain relationships with collaborators, dependence on the efforts of third parties, and dependence on intellectual property. Further information on the factors and risks that could affect Dendreon's business, financial condition and results of operations, are contained in Dendreon's public disclosure filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov. For further information please contact: Karin Avasalu, Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel. +46-8-613 65 99, +46-70-513 65 99 Pia Irell, Investor Relations Director, Corporate Finance, tel. +46-8- 613 65 91, +46-70-513 65 91 Kevin Smith, President Gambro Inc., Investor Relations US, tel. +1-303 231 4750 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/24/20011024BIT00840/bit0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/24/20011024BIT00840/bit0001.pdf