ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals Expands Scientific Advisory Board SAN DIEGO, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: AVRX) announced today that the Company has expanded the expertise on its Scientific Advisory Board. Edward D. Ball, M.D. has accepted an invitation to join the Board as of March 1, 2004. Dr. Edward (Ted) Ball is Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He is also Program Leader for Translational Oncology at the Rebecca and John Moores Cancer Center of UCSD. Dr. Ball is an expert in blood and marrow transplantation. He pioneered the use of monoclonal antibodies in treatment of leukemia. Dr. Ball's NIH-funded research has focused on the development and clinical application of monoclonal antibodies for the diagnosis and treatment of leukemia and cancer. He is one of the co-founders of Medarex, Inc. (NASDAQ:MEDX), a biopharmaceutical company that uses antibody-based therapies to fight cancer and other debilitating diseases. "We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Ted Ball join our Scientific Advisory Board," said Nicholas Jon Virca, President & CEO of ADVENTRX. "Dr. Ball's experience in thetreatment of cancer and his accomplishments in the discovery and development of products, which have progressed into the clinic and marketplace, will assist us greatly as we move our cancer and HIV drugs into clinical development." Dr. Ball received his M.D. degree at Case Western Reserve University in 1976, and conducted his Hematology/Oncology fellowship at University Hospital of Cleveland and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Before joining UCSD, Dr. Ball served as Director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Program and Chief of Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh. He has published over 200 original scientific articles and book chapters. Dr. Ball was a Scholar of the Leukemia Society of America and received their Stohlman Award. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and is on the executive committee of the International Society of Experimental Hematology. Dr. Ball serves on the editorial board of several journals including "The Journal of Experimental Hematology" and "Bone Marrow Transplantation." ADVENTRX ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical research and development company whose business strategy is to commercialize leading edge medical research throughlicensing agreements with prominent universities and research institutions. The Company focuses its energy in cancer and antiviral research to launch products that either extend the usefulness of current therapies or replace marginal therapies with new approaches to treatment. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are made based on management's current expectations and beliefs. Actual results may vary from those currently anticipated based upon a number of factors, including uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, the timing and success of clinical trials, the validity of research results, and the receipt of necessary approvals from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Contact: The Ruth Group Investors: Stephanie Carrington 646-536-7017 Media: Cynthia Isaac, Ph.D. 646-536-7028 DATASOURCE: ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Investors - Stephanie Carrington, +1-646-536-7017, or Media - Cynthia Isaac, Ph.D., +1-646-536-7028, both of The Ruth Group for ADVENTRX

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