XOMA to Host Conference Call to Present Initial Results From XOMA 052 Clinical Trial in Behcet's Disease

BERKELEY, Calif., June 10, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA), a leader in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies, announced that the company will host a webcast conference call on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time to present preliminary results from a clinical trial evaluating XOMA 052 in patients with uveitis of Behcet's disease. Joining members of XOMA's management team on the call will be Professor Ahmet Gul, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul University, Turkey, and principal investigator for this XOMA 052 clinical trial. The webcast conference call coincides with Dr. Gul's presentation on the same day at the annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Rome, Italy, a poster titled, "Safe, Rapid-onset and Sustained Biological Activity of IL-1 beta Regulating Antibody XOMA 052 in Resistant Uveitis of Behcet's Disease: Preliminary Results of Pilot Trial."

The webcast can be accessed via the Investors section of XOMA's website at http://investors.xoma.com/events.cfm and will be available for replay until close of business on September 17, 2010.

Behcet's Disease and Uveitis

Behcet's disease is an orphan disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels, or vasculitis. Approximately half of Behcet's patients develop uveitis, or inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, which can result in partial vision loss or total blindness. The cause of the disease, for which there is no known cure, is unknown, but overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 beta, has been considered to play a critical role in BD.

About XOMA

XOMA discovers, develops and manufactures novel antibody therapeutics for its own proprietary pipeline as well as through license and collaborative agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and under its contracts with the U.S. government. The company's proprietary product pipeline includes:

  --  XOMA 052, an anti-IL-1 beta antibody in Phase 2 clinical development for
      Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with
      potential for the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory conditions.
  --  XOMA 3AB, an antibody candidate in pre-IND studies to neutralize the
      botulinum toxin, among the most deadly potential bioterror threats,
      under development through funding provided by the National Institute of
      Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health
      (Contract # HHSN266200600008C).
  --  A preclinical pipeline with candidates in development for several
      diseases.

In addition to its proprietary pipeline, XOMA develops products with premier pharmaceutical companies including Novartis AG, Schering Corporation, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

XOMA's technologies have contributed to the success of marketed antibody products, including LUCENTIS(R) (ranibizumab injection) for wet age-related macular degeneration and CIMZIA(R) (certolizumab pegol) for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

The company has a premier antibody discovery and development platform that incorporates an unmatched collection of antibody phage display libraries and proprietary Human Engineering(TM), affinity maturation, Bacterial Cell Expression (BCE) and manufacturing technologies. BCE is a key breakthrough biotechnology for the discovery and manufacturing of antibodies and other proteins. As a result, more than 50 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have signed BCE licenses, and several licensed product candidates are in clinical development.

XOMA has a fully integrated product development infrastructure, extending from pre-clinical science to approval, and a team of about 215 employees at its Berkeley, California location. For more information, please visit http://www.xoma.com.

The XOMA Ltd. logo is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5960

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained herein concerning product development and capabilities of XOMA's technologies or that otherwise relate to future periods are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on assumptions that may not prove accurate. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to certain risks inherent in the biotechnology industry and for companies engaged in the development of new products in a regulated market.

These risks, including those related to inability to comply with NASDAQ's continued listing requirements; the generally unstable economic conditions; the results of discovery research and pre-clinical testing; the timing or results of pending and future clinical trials including the design and progress of clinical trials; safety and efficacy of the products being tested; action, inaction or delay by the FDA, European or other regulators or their advisory bodies; and analysis or interpretation by, or submission to, these entities or others of scientific data; changes in the status of existing collaborative and licensing relationships; the ability of collaborators, licensees and other third parties to meet their obligations; XOMA's ability to meet the demands of the United States government agency with which it has entered into its government contracts; competition; market demands for products; scale-up and marketing capabilities; availability of additional licensing or collaboration opportunities; international operations; share price volatility; XOMA's financing needs and opportunities; uncertainties regarding the status of biotechnology patents; uncertainties as to the costs of protecting intellectual property; and risks associated with XOMA's status as a Bermuda company, are described in more detail in XOMA's most recent filing on Form 10-K and in other SEC filings. Consider such risks carefully when considering XOMA's prospects.

CONTACT:  XOMA Ltd.
          Company and Investor Contact:
          Fred Kurland, Chief Financial Officer
          510-204-7200

          Canale Communications
          Media Contact:
          Carolyn Hawley
          619-849-5375
          carolyn@canalecomm.com

Released June 10, 2010