SciClone and Sigma-Tau Sign ZADAXIN Partnership For

Italy, Spain and Switzerland / SciClone Continues Discussions forAdditional U.S./European Partnerships SAN MATEO, Calif. (ots-PRNewswire) - SciClone Pharmaceuticals(Nasdaq: SCLN) announced that it has entered into a strategicpartnership with Italy-based Sigma-Tau S.p.A., one of the leadingpharmaceutical companies in Southern Europe, for late stagedevelopment and commercialization of SciClone's lead product,ZADAXIN(R) thymosin alpha 1, an immune system enhancer for thetreatment of hepatitis and cancer. In Italy, Sigma-Tau haslicensed and is successfully marketing Glaxo Wellcome'sinterferon for the treatment of hepatitis and cancer. Under the terms of the deal, Sigma-Tau received semi-exclusiveZADAXIN development and marketing rights in Italy and Spain, andexclusive rights in Switzerland. The Sigma-Tau Group of companiesmade an up-front equity investment in SciClone at a premium tothe market. ZADAXIN currently is approved in Italy as an influenza vaccineadjuvant. The envisaged therapeutic indications of ZADAXIN inItaly include hepatitis B, hepatitis C and cancer. Sigma Tau willbe responsible for clinical development and submission of ZADAXINmarketing applications in Italy. "We look forward to adding ZADAXIN as an important new drug toour product portfolio," said Claudio Cavazza, President of Sigma-Tau. "Europe shares the growing concern worldwide about hepatitisand cancer. ZADAXIN is a proven immune enhancement drug aroundthe world that fits well into our development programs." "Sigma-Tau is a strong partner for these important Europeanmarkets," said Donald R. Sellers, SciClone's President and ChiefExecutive Officer. "This deal allows us to accelerate our revenuetimetable in Italy, the fifth largest pharmaceutical market inthe world, and expand registration activities into severalEuropean countries. Importantly, this partnership permits theessential flexibility required for additional partneringefforts." SciClone remains in discussions with potential partners fordevelopment and commercialization of ZADAXIN in the U.S. andEurope. ZADAXIN is approved for marketing in 13 countries, principallyas a treatment for hepatitis B and hepatitis C: Argentina,Cambodia, the People's Republic of China, Italy, Kuwait, Mexico,Myanmar, Peru, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Venezuelaand Vietnam. SciClone has filed for ZADAXIN marketing approval in19 additional countries. Sigma-Tau is one of the leading pharmaceutical groups inItaly. Therapeutic areas on which the company's research anddevelopment are focused include oncological, neurological,cardiovascular, gastroenterological and immunologicalindications, among others. Sigma-Tau has operating subsidiariesin Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Germany and theUnited States and maintains a presence in all of the world'smajor pharmaceutical markets through either licensees orrepresentative offices. In 1998, Sigma-Tau produced consolidatedrevenues of approximately $450 million. Press releases andcorporate information from Sigma-Tau are available on theInternet at www.sigma-tau.it. SciClone Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharmaceutical companythat acquires, develops and commercializes specialist-orienteddrugs for treating chronic and life-threatening diseases, such ashepatitis B, hepatitis C, cystic fibrosis, cancer and immunesystem disorders. Press releases and corporate information fromSciClone Pharmaceuticals are available on the Internet atwww.sciclone.com or by calling the Company's Investor RelationsDepartment at 800/724-2566. SciClone's common stock is listed onthe Nasdaq National Market(R) under the symbol SCLN. The information in this press release includes certainforward-looking statements concerning the Company's currentexpectations regarding future events, including prospectiveZADAXIN partnering arrangements in the U.S. and Europe and futurebenefits to the Company and its shareholders from development andcommercialization of ZADAXIN in Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Dueto market factors and the nature of product development and theregulatory approval process, the forward-looking statementscontained in this press release are subject to risks anduncertainties, including those reflected in the Company's filingswith the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly itsAnnual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.ots Original Text Service: SciClone Pharmaceuticals Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Shawn K. Singh, Senior VicePresident of SciClone Pharmaceuticals, 650-358-1451 Company NewsOn-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/775865.html or fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 775865 Web site: http://www.sigma-tau.it Website: http://www.sciclone.com

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