PARIS, and LYON, France, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Nautilus Biotech and
Aventis Pasteur today announced the signing of an agreement to develop
improved producer cell lines for vaccines for three specific undisclosed
targets.
    Nautilus' high throughput Platform Biomics(TM) is ideally suited to
develop high producer specific cell clones to improve productivity for either
vaccines or proteins.
    Under the terms of the agreement, Nautilus will receive full research
funding, milestone payments and royalty payments on product sales.  Aventis
Pasteur will receive exclusive worldwide rights to use the cell lines selected
by Nautilus Biotech to manufacture and commercialize the vaccines.
    "This is our first pharmaceutical partnership signed since Nautilus'
inception," said Manuel Vega, Nautilus CEO.  "The collaboration with Aventis
Pasteur, a world leader in the field of vaccines, strongly validates the
potential of Nautilus' technology and business model.  It is an important step
in our strategy to develop next generation protein pharmaceuticals and
vaccines to deal with serious medical needs."
    "The improvement of cell lines offers an attractive route to improving
industrial production of a range of viral vaccines," said Professor Jeffrey
Almond, Senior Vice President Discovery and External R&D, for Aventis Pasteur.
"We believe that Nautilus' approach is both simple and powerful."

    Nautilus Biotech
    Using its proprietary rational evolution technologies, Nautilus offers to
its partners quality services for protein and cell line improvement.
Nautilus' target markets include protein pharmaceuticals, vaccines, chemicals
and agriculture.  In addition, with its in-house programs, Nautilus is
strongly focused and dedicated to applying its proprietary rational evolution
technologies to improving life through the development of next generation
potential products for human protein pharmaceuticals.  Corporate headquarters
and R&D facilities are in Evry (France), while corporate business development
is driven from its subsidiary in California.
    Additional information concerning Nautilus Biotech can be obtained from
either http://www.nautilusbiotech.com or by e-mail:
contact@nautilusbiotech.com

    Aventis Pasteur
    Aventis Pasteur SA is the largest company in the world devoted entirely to
vaccines.  In 2001, Aventis Pasteur produced 1.3 billion doses of vaccine,
making it possible to protect 500 million people across the globe, which is
over one million per day.  The company offers the broadest range of vaccines,
providing protection against 20 bacterial and viral diseases.  Based in Lyon,
France, Aventis Pasteur is owned by Aventis SA.
    Aventis (NYSE: AVE) is dedicated to improving life by treating and
preventing human disease through the discovery and development of innovative
pharmaceutical products.  Aventis focuses on prescription drugs for important
therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiology, diabetes and respiratory
disorders as well as on human vaccines.  In 2001, Aventis generated sales of _
17.7 billion, invested approx. 3 billion Euros in research and development and
employed approx. 75,000 people in its core business.  Aventis corporate
headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.  For more information, please visit:
http://www.aventispasteur.com and http://www.aventis.com .