RNS Number:2073J
Cambridge Antibody Tech Group PLC
26 March 2003



03/CAT/11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

07.00 GMT, 02.00 EST, Wednesday 26 March 2003

For further information contact:

Cambridge Antibody Technology

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 471 471                    Weber Shandwick Square Mile (Europe)

Peter Chambre, Chief Executive Officer       Tel: +44 (0) 20 7067 0700

John Aston, Chief Financial Officer          Graham Herring

Rowena Gardner, Director of Corporate        Tim Jackaman
Communications
                                             BMC Communications/The Trout Group
                                             (USA)

                                             Tel: 001 212 477 9007

                                             Brad Miles, ext 17 (media)

                                             Brandon Lewis, ext.15 (investors)





CAMBRIDGE ANTIBODY TECHNOLOGY - HUMIRATM ROYALTIES



Cambridge, UK... As announced earlier this year, Abbott Laboratories received
FDA approval to market HumiraTM earlier than expected on 31 December 2002.
Humira was isolated and optimised by Cambridge Antibody Technology (LSE: CAT;
NASDAQ: CATG) in collaboration with Abbott, and CAT will receive a royalty fee
based on Humira sales. CAT's entitlement to royalties in relation to sales of
Humira is governed by an agreement dated 1 April 1995 between Cambridge Antibody
Technology Limited and Knoll Aktiengesellschaft (now a subsidiary of Abbott
Laboratories).



The agreement allows for offset, in certain circumstances, of royalties due to
third parties against royalties due to CAT, subject to a minimum royalty level.
Abbott has indicated to CAT that it wishes to initiate discussions regarding the
applicability of these royalty offset provisions for Humira. CAT's view is that
these offset provisions do not apply; however this view has not been confirmed
by Abbott. The proposed discussions with Abbott could lead to a range of
possible outcomes. However if the royalty offset provisions were to apply this
could result in a reduction in net royalties from Humira receivable by CAT
compared with market expectations.



The first royalties are due from Abbott in October 2003.



- ENDS -



Notes to Editors

Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT):

CAT is a UK-based biotechnology company using its proprietary technologies and
capabilities in human monoclonal antibodies for drug discovery and drug
development. Based near Cambridge, England, CAT currently employs around 290
people.

CAT is a leader in the discovery and development of human therapeutic antibodies
and has an advanced proprietary 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.

HumiraTM is the leading CAT-derived antibody. Six other CAT-derived human
therapeutic antibodies are at various stages of clinical trials.

CAT has alliances with a large number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology
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
collaborators include: Abbott, Amgen, Amrad, Chugai, Elan, Genzyme, Human Genome
Sciences, Merck & Co, Pharmacia and Wyeth Research.

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.

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.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

MSCEAKDKADSDEEE