Chiron Corporation Donates 9.5 Million Vaccine Doses to Polio Global Eradication Initiative * Delivery will fulfill company's pledge to help eradicate polio thr

EMERYVILLE (USA) Aug 7 (PROTEXT/ots) - Chiron Corporation(Nasdaq: CHIR) announced today that the company's vaccinebusiness unit will donate 9.5 million doses of poliomyelitis(polio) vaccine to the polio Global Eradication Initiative duringthe summer months. The donation will fulfill Chiron's 1996commitment to donate 30 million doses of polio vaccine to theInitiative for international vaccination campaigns.

"Chiron Vaccines made an ambitious pledge to help eradicatethis crippling disease, and we are so proud to demonstrate thatwe will fulfill that pledge," said John Lambert, president,Chiron Vaccines. "At Chiron, we are committed to making adifference in people's lives. We feel that this vaccine programis one very tangible way to live up to our commitment."

The Global Eradication Initiative, launched in 1988, isspearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), RotaryInternational, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control andprevention (CDC) and UNICEF. Chiron Vaccines joined theinitiative in 1996, and provided more than 20 million doses ofpolio vaccine to the WHO and UNICEF between 1997 and '98.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted 2005 as aglobal eradication date for polio. The donation announcementmade by Chiron coincides with the June 21 announcement by theEuropean Regional Commission for the Certification ofPoliomyelitis Eradication that Europe is officially polio-free."Polio-free Europe is one tremendous step toward eradication ofthis disease," said Lambert. "However, polio is an extremelyinfectious disease, and the growing mobility of the world'spopulation creates the risk that polio will be re-introduced tocountries where it has previously been eradicated. Through thedonation of high-quality vaccines, Chiron is pleased to behelping ensure that the Eradication Initiative achieves its goalof European eradication by 2005."About Chiron Vaccines

Chiron Vaccines, the fifth largest vaccine business in theworld, currently markets more than 30 novel and conventionalvaccines for adults and children throughout the world. . Themission of Chiron Vaccines is to bring to the market, throughinnovation and creativity, biological solutions needed for theprevention and treatment of infectious disease. Every second, 25people across more than 70 countries of the world are vaccinatedwith a Chiron vaccine.About Chiron Corporation

Chiron Corporation, headquartered in Emeryville, California,is a global pharmaceutical company that leverages a diversebusiness model to develop and commercialize high-value productsthat make a difference in people's lives. The company has astrategic focus on cancer and infectious disease. Chiron appliesits advanced understanding of the biology of cancer andinfectious disease to develop products from its platforms inproteins, small molecules and vaccines. The companycommercializes its products through three business units:Biopharmaceuticals, vaccines and blood testing. For moreinformation about Chiron, visit the company's website athttp://www.chiron.com.ots Original Text: Chiron Behring GmbHContact:In the United StatesJohn GallagherChiron Corporation (USA)Media Relations Manager+1.510.923.6905In GermanyDr. Brigitte WolterChiron Behring GmbH & Co (Germany)Head of Public Affairs / Corp. Comm.+49 6421 39 3265

This news release contains forward-looking statements,including statements regarding sales growth, product developmentinitiatives, new product marketing, acquisitions and in- and out-licensing activities, that involve risks and uncertainties andare subject to change. A full discussion of the company'soperations and financial condition, including factors that mayaffect its business and future prospects, is contained indocuments the company has filed with the SEC, including the form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, and the form 10-Q forthe quarter ended March 31, 2002, and will be contained in allsubsequent periodic filings made with the SEC. These documentsidentify important factors that could cause the company's actualperformance to differ from current expectations, including theoutcome of clinical trials, regulatory review and approvals,manufacturing capabilities, intellectual property protections anddefenses, stock-price and interest-rate volatility, and marketingeffectiveness. In particular, there can be no assurance thatChiron will increase sales of existing products, successfullydevelop and receive approval to market new products, or achievemarket acceptance for such new products. There can be noassurance that Chiron's out-licensing activity will generatesignificant revenue, nor that its in-licensing activities willfully protect it from claims of infringement by third parties. Inaddition, the company may engage in business opportunities, thesuccessful completion of which is subject to certain risks,including shareholder and regulatory approvals and theintegration of operations.Consistent with SEC Regulation FD, we do not undertake anobligation to update the forward-looking information we aregiving today.

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