SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jun 11, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) announces that Steven A. Lacy, Ph.D. has joined Exelixis as senior director, preclinical development, responsible for managing key functions critical to the rapid and efficient advance of promising clinical candidates from research into clinical development. Dr. Lacy has more than twelve years of experience in drug development and has led preclinical development activities in pharmaceutical as well as biotechnology companies. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.

"Steve's expertise spans the design and implementation of all aspects of preclinical evaluation of novel compounds to be tested in humans, up to and including the preparation of regulatory filings. He brings to Exelixis qualities of integrity and judgment based on real-world experience," said Jeffrey Latts, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer. "Steve's talents will help our development team build momentum as we move aggressively toward our first proprietary IND filing, advance additional compounds from research into preclinical testing, and finalize the development and regulatory strategies for our rebeccamycin analog cancer drug."

Dr. Lacy's extensive prior experience includes senior positions at Pharmacyclics, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., ALZA Corporation and ICI Americas Inc., where he was involved with a broad range of global development and regulatory activities for multiple products in therapeutic areas including cancer, viral and ophthalmic diseases. Dr. Lacy earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biological Sciences from Union College, Schenectady NY, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Cornell University, Ithaca NY. He has authored numerous scientific publications and abstracts and holds multiple professional memberships in national and international toxicology organizations.

Exelixis, Inc. is a leading genomics-based drug discovery company focused on product development through its expertise in comparative genomics and model system genetics. These technologies provide a rapid, efficient and cost effective way to move from DNA sequence data to knowledge about the function of genes and the proteins they encode. The company's technology is broadly applicable to all life sciences industries including pharmaceutical, diagnostic, agricultural biotechnology and animal health. Exelixis has partnerships with Aventis CropScience (now, Bayer), Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Dow Agrosciences, Elan Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Protein Design Labs, Schering-Plough Research Institute and Scios Inc. and is building its internal development program in the area of oncology. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.exelixis.com.

    NOTE:  Exelixis and the Exelixis logo are registered U.S. trademarks.

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SOURCE Exelixis, Inc.

CONTACT:          Jane M. Green, Ph.D., VP, Corporate Communications of Exelixis,
                  Inc., +1-650-837-7579, or jmgreen@exelixis.com

URL:              http://www.exelixis.com
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