RNS Number:9391M
Cambridge Antibody Tech Group PLC
12 November 2001


01/CAT/20

EMBARGOED

07.00 GMT, 02.00 EST Monday 12 November 2001
For Further Information Contact:

Cambridge Antibody Technology

Tel: +44 (0) 1763 263 233                   Weber Shandwick Square Mile
                                            (Europe)
David Glover, Medical Director
                                            Tel: +44 (0) 20 7601 1000
John Aston, Finance Director
                                            Kevin Smith
Rowena Gardner, Head of Corporate
Communications                              Graham Herring
Genzyme                                     BMC Communications/The Trout Group
                                            (USA)
Bo Piela (media)
                                            Tel: 001 212 477 9007
Tel: 001 617 252 7785
                                            Brad Miles, ext 17 (media)
Sally Curley (investors)
                                            Brandon Lewis, ext.15 (investors)
Tel: 001 617 591 7140






CAMBRIDGE ANTIBODY TECHNOLOGY AND GENZYME GENERAL INITIATE PHASE I/II CLINICAL
                               TRIAL OF CAT-192


    Melbourn, UK and Cambridge, Mass... Cambridge Antibody Technology (LSE:
    CAT; NASDAQ: CATG) and Genzyme General (NASDAQ: GENZ) today announce that
    they have initiated a Phase I/II clinical trial to assess the safety and
    efficacy of the human anti-TGFb monoclonal antibody CAT-192 for the
    treatment of diffuse systemic sclerosis.

    Diffuse systemic sclerosis, a form of scleroderma, is a chronic,
    life-threatening disorder caused by the production of excess collagen
    which leads to scarring of the skin and internal organs. Eighty percent of
    those affected by this disease are women between the ages of 25-55. About
    40 percent of all patients with this disorder die within ten years of
    diagnosis. There is currently no effective therapy for the disease, which
    affects an estimated 300,000 people worldwide.

    The partners have begun a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
    trial that evaluates three different dose levels of CAT-192. Each patient
    will receive four infusions administered six weeks apart over the trial
    period. In addition to evaluating safety, the trial will study the effect
    of CAT-192 on several clinical and biologic markers of disease
    progression. A total of 36 patients will be enrolled in the trial, which
    will take place at a total of seven sites in Europe, with the possible
    addition of other sites.

    Cambridge Antibody Technology and Genzyme General have been working in
    partnership to develop and commercialise human TGFb monoclonal antibodies
    for the treatment of diffuse systemic sclerosis since September 2000.

                                    -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 phage
antibody libraries to several companies for target validation and drug
discovery. CAT's partners include: Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Abbott, Genetics
Institute, Wyeth-Ayerst, Human Genome Sciences, Pharmacia, Oxford
GlycoSciences, Genzyme, Immunex, Zyomyx, Elan, Xerion and Merck & Co.

Genzyme General

Genzyme General develops and markets therapeutic products and diagnostic
products and services. Genzyme General has five therapeutic products on the
market and a strong pipeline of products in development focused on the
treatment of genetic disorders and other chronic debilitating diseases with
well-defined patient populations. Genzyme General is a division of the
biotechnology company Genzyme Corporation.

Genzyme(R) is a registered trademark of Genzyme Corporation. All rights
reserved.

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

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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