RNS Number:6281P
Cambridge Antibody Tech Group PLC
8 January 2002



02/CAT/01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12.00 GMT, 07.00 EST Tuesday 8 January 2002
For Further Information Contact:

Cambridge Antibody Technology                Weber Shandwick Square Mile
                                             (Europe)
Tel: +44 (0) 1763 263233
                                             Tel: +44 (0) 20 7950 2800
John Aston, Finance Director
                                             Kevin Smith
David Chiswell, Chief Executive Officer
                                             Graham Herring
Rowena Gardner, Head of Corporate
Communications
Human Genome Sciences, Inc

Ellen S. Baron, PhD, Senior VP Business      BMC Communications/The Trout Group
Development                                  (USA)

Tel: 001 301-309-8504                        Tel: 001 212 477 9007

Jerry Parrott, VP Corporate Communications   Brad Miles, ext 17 (media)

                                             Brandon Lewis, ext 15 (investors)
Tel: 001 301-315-2777

Kate de Santis, Director Investor Relations


Tel: 301-251-6003



 CAMBRIDGE ANTIBODY TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES ANNOUNCE SECOND DRUG
                                 PARTNERSHIP

 - Human antibody to TRAIL Receptor 1 to be developed for cancer treatment -



Melbourn, UK and Rockville, Maryland, USA... Cambridge Antibody Technology
(NASDAQ: CATG; LSE: CAT) and Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI)

today announce that Human Genome Sciences has exercised an option to enter
into an exclusive development partnership on a human monoclonal antibody to
TRAIL Receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1). The antibody is being evaluated as an anti-cancer
drug by Human Genome Sciences. TRAIL Receptor 1, which was discovered by Human
Genome Sciences, is preferentially expressed on many solid tumours.

Human Genome Sciences and CAT announced a broad collaboration and product
development alliance in March 2000. Under the terms of this agreement, Human
Genome Sciences is to develop and sell the TRAIL-R1 antibody. CAT is entitled
to receive licence fees, clinical development milestones and royalties on
product sales from Human Genome Sciences.

Dr. David Chiswell, CAT's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are
delighted about the rapid progress that has been made with this collaboration
with Human Genome Sciences, and with this programme in particular. The
TRAIL-R1 antibody is the first antibody product candidate that has been
isolated directly from CAT's libraries without needing further optimisation,
and we isolated and delivered this antibody to Human Genome Sciences in just
six months. Another significant feature of this antibody is that it is
directed to a cell-surface receptor protein; all the CAT-derived antibody
product candidates already in clinical trials are directed to the soluble
cytokine class of proteins."

William A. Haseltine, PhD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Human
Genome Sciences, said, "The TRAIL-R1 antibody is the second antibody drug
candidate resulting from our collaboration with Cambridge Antibody Technology
for which we have taken an exclusive option. The first was LymphoStat-BTM, now
approved for Phase 1 clinical trials in autoimmune diseases. Our two groups
have established a very productive working relationship."

TRAIL Receptor 1 is a so-called "death receptor." It is a member of the tumour
necrosis family of receptors. Binding of the natural ligand TRAIL to this
receptor triggers cell death. The new antibody mimics the effect of TRAIL and
triggers the death of cells that express TRAIL Receptor 1. The antibody is
expected to have antitumour properties as many tumours express the receptor.

                                    -ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT)

  * CAT is a UK biotechnology company using its proprietary technologies in
    human monoclonal antibodies for drug discovery and drug development. Based
    near Cambridge, England, CAT currently employs around 250 people.
  * CAT is listed on the London Stock Exchange and on NASDAQ since June
    2001. CAT raised #41m in its IPO in March 1997 and #93m in a secondary
    offering in March 2000.
  * CAT has an advanced platform technology for rapidly isolating human
    monoclonal antibodies using phage display systems. CAT has extensive phage
    antibody libraries, currently incorporating more than 100 billion distinct
    antibodies. These libraries form the basis for the Company's strategy to
    develop a portfolio of antibody-based drugs and to utilise antibodies as
    tools for target validation. Six human therapeutic antibodies developed by
    CAT are at various stages of clinical trials.
  * CAT has alliances with a large number of biotechnology and
    pharmaceutical companies to discover, develop and commercialise human
    monoclonal antibody-based products. CAT has also licensed its proprietary
    human antibody phage display libraries to several companies for target
    validation and drug discovery. CAT's collaborators include: Abbott, AMRAD,
    Elan, Eli Lilly, Genetics Institute, Genzyme, Human Genome Sciences,
    Immunex, Incyte, Merck & Co., Inc, Oxford GlycoSciences, Pharmacia,
    Pfizer, Wyeth-Ayerst, Xerion and Zyomyx.

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.

  * Human Genome Sciences is a company with the mission to treat and cure
    disease by bringing new gene-based drugs to patients
  * HGS and Human Genome Sciences are registered trademarks of Human Genome
    Sciences, Inc.

Ligand

  * A molecule or compound capable of binding to a receptor.

Receptor Protein

  * A molecule, typically located on or inside a cell with which a
    difference molecule, known as a ligand, may interact to produce or inhibit
    a biological response.



Application of the Safe Harbor of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995: This press release contains statements about Cambridge Antibody
Technology Group plc ("CAT") that are forward looking statements. All
statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press
release may be forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

These forward looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding
CAT's present and future business strategies and the environment in which CAT
will operate in the future. Certain factors that could cause CAT's actual
results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the
forward looking statements include: market conditions, CAT's ability to enter
into and maintain collaborative arrangements, success of product candidates in
clinical trials, regulatory developments and competition.
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