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Contact:
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Mark R. Vincent
CuraGen Corporation
Director of Corporate and Investor Relations
1-888-GENOMICS
www.curagen.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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          CuraGen and Abgenix Scientists Develop Fully Human Monoclonal
                              Antibodies to PDGF D

New Haven, CT -- May 2, 2002 -- CuraGen Corporation (NASDAQ: CRGN), an
integrated, genomics-based pharmaceutical company, announced today that CuraGen
and Abgenix scientists have successfully developed highly-specific, fully human
monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that precisely bind to PDGF D, a member of the
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) family. Importantly, these antibodies are
specific to PDGF D and do not bind to other members of the PDGF family. PDGF D
is a newly discovered growth factor that has proliferative activity on a wide
variety of cells that express PDGF receptors. Recently, CuraGen demonstrated
that PDGF D is associated with a number of diseases in the areas of Oncology and
Inflammation. Thus, antagonism of PDGF D through the use of fully human mAbs is
a potentially important method for treating unmet diseases in Oncology and
Inflammation.

These antibodies, as well as the role of PDGF D in Oncology, are revealed in the
May 1, 2002 issue of Cancer Research, a publication of the American Association
for Cancer Research. An online abstract of the paper is accessible on the
Internet at http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/62/9/2468.
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PDGF D was shown to be dysregulated in cancers and cause tumor formation when
inappropriately expressed in an in vivo disease model. The publication also
describes the generation by Abgenix of fully human mAbs to PDGF D. Using these
mAbs, a test was developed by Abgenix to show that a high percentage of cancer
patients had elevated levels of PDGF D circulating in their sera. Thus, use of
this test can help determine the optimum clinical patient population that should
receive a therapeutic PDGF D mAb drug.

"At CuraGen, we have systematically analyzed the human genome and have
identified a number of previously undiscovered genes that correlate with disease
progression and have applicability as new antibody targets. PDGF D is an example
of a protein that we discovered which is associated with a number of diseases in
the areas of Oncology and Inflammation. We continue to make progress in
understanding the role of PDGF D in disease and are developing neutralizing mAbs
against this target for therapeutic use. The development of PDGF D mAbs is an
important example of one of the 17 mAbs we are currently evaluating with
Abgenix," stated Henri Lichenstein, Ph.D., Director of Drug Development for
CuraGen Corporation.


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CuraGen's proteins, antibody and small molecule drug targets are derived from
the Company's proprietary database of over 8200 pharmaceutically tractable genes
and proteins. The world's existing drugs were developed based upon 350
gene-based targets. To date, CuraGen scientists have identified and are
evaluating new gene-based targets that include 131 proteins, 226 antibody
targets, and 261 small molecule targets.

CuraGen scientists are developing a pipeline of products across four disease
areas including obesity and diabetes, cancer, inflammatory diseases, and central
nervous system disorders. This pipeline includes a portfolio of potential
protein, antibody, and small molecule therapeutics to treat previously unmet
medical needs. By utilizing disease models, human clinical specimens, drug
response models, large-scale data mining of proprietary sequence and pathway
databases, and human genetics, CuraGen scientists have initiated 193 drug
development projects. Of these projects, CuraGen scientists have identified 67
potential protein therapeutics and have advanced five as validated candidates.
In the area of antibody development, CuraGen has elected 96 antibody targets
with Abgenix, and is evaluating 17 fully human monoclonal antibodies as
potential therapeutics. Lastly, CuraGen's understanding of the human genome and
genetic basis of disease has enabled CuraGen and Bayer scientists to initiate 30
small molecule target projects and successfully complete screening against six
of these targets.

About CuraGen Corporation

CuraGen Corporation (NASDAQ: CRGN) is a genomics-based pharmaceutical company.
CuraGen's integrated, functional genomic technologies and Internet-based
bioinformatic systems are designed to generate comprehensive information about
genes, human genetic variations, gene expression, protein interactions, protein
pathways, and potential drugs that affect these pathways. The Company is
applying its industrialized genomic technologies, informatics, and validation
technologies to develop protein, antibody, and small molecule therapeutics to
treat obesity and diabetes, cancer, inflammatory diseases, and central nervous
system (CNS) disorders. CuraGen is headquartered in New Haven, CT. Additional
information is available at www.curagen.com.
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This press release may contain forward-looking statements including statements
about continuing to make progress in understanding the role of PDGF D in disease
and are developing neutralizing mAbs against this target for both therapeutic
and diagnostic uses. Such statements are based on management's current
expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements. CuraGen cautions investors that there can be no
assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially
from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements as a result
of various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: CuraGen's
expectation that it will incur operating losses in the near future, the early
stage of development of CuraGen's products and technologies, uncertainties
related to preclinical and clinical testing and trials, uncertainties and
adverse results relating to CuraGen's ability to obtain regulatory approval for
its products in development, uncertainties surrounding the availability of
additional funding, CuraGen's reliance on research collaborations and strategic
alliances, the actions of competitors, the development of competing
technologies, CuraGen's ability to protect its patents and proprietary rights,
patent infringement actions and uncertainties relating to commercialization
rights. Please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2001 for a description of these risks. We disclaim any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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