Human Genome Sciences appoints James H. Davis senior vice president, general counsel and secretary

Business Wire, May 9, 1997

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 1997--Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) announced that James H. Davis, J.D., Ph.D., will join the company on May 14, 1997 in the newly created position of senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, reporting to Melvin D. Booth, president and chief operating officer.

Davis comes to HGS from the intellectual property law firm of Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P., where his practice focused on providing an integrated analysis of legal issues affecting the commercialization of new technologies including intellectual property rights, regulatory compliance and licensing.

Prior to joining Finnegan, Henderson in 1995, Davis served as general counsel, vice president of research and development and a director of Crop Genetics International Corp., which he had joined in 1988 as general counsel and vice president of development and regulatory affairs. Earlier in his career, Davis was a partner with Weil, Gotshal & Manges, which he joined in 1986, with a practice principally concentrated on counseling and litigation relating to environmental, health, food, drug and cosmetic issues. From 1983 to 1985, he served with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. His career began at Wald, Harkrader & Ross, which he joined as an associate in 1979.

"Jim Davis will help HGS more aggressively pursue growth and protection of the company's exceptional patent estate, which is one of our most important assets and now consists of six issued patents and nineteen notices of allowance," said William A. Haseltine, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer. "His background and experience will also help us manage the regulatory and good manufacturing practices issues we will face as we continue our rapid progression from drug discovery to drug development."

Booth added, "Mr. Davis has an exceptional range of legal experience including patents and trademarks, joint ventures, licensing, regulatory compliance and good manufacturing practices. Moreover, HGS' high rate of growth has produced extraordinarily challenging work for the company's legal department. With the many strengths and talents Jim brings, including his experience with regulatory agencies, we are delighted that he is joining us."

Davis received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry from Yale University in 1973, his Ph.D. in theoretical and organic chemistry from California Institute of Technology in 1976, and J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1979. He has published and lectured widely on the subjects of intellectual property valuation, licensing and patent processes and policies, managing the regulatory process, liability, environmental issues, and chemistry. Davis is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, Virginia State Bar, Maryland State Bar, U.S. Supreme Court Bar, American Bar Association, American Chemical Society, and Sigma Xi.

Human Genome Sciences is a company with the mission to develop products to predict, prevent, detect, treat and cure disease based on its leadership in the discovery and understanding of human and microbial genes.

CONTACT: Human Genome Sciences Inc., Rockville

William A. Haseltine, Ph.D.

Melvin D. Booth

301/309-8504