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                                   Scios Inc.
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                               [SCIOS LETTERHEAD]

CONTACT:

Wendy Carhart
Scios Inc.
408/616-8325

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

                  SCIOS TO PRESENT p38 KINASE INHIBITOR PROGRAM
              AS EXAMPLE OF NEXT GENERATION ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENT

SUNNYVALE, CA, January 25, 2000 - Scios Inc. (NASDAQ: SCIO) announced today that
Dr. George  Schreiner,  Vice  President of  Cardiorenal  Research,  will present
details  of  Scios'  p38  kinase   inhibitor   program  this  week  at  the  SMi
Pharmaceutical   Conference   "Advances  in  Anti  Arthritic   Agents."  In  his
presentation,  Dr. Schreiner will describe the p38 kinase inhibitor program,  as
an  example  of  the  next  generation  of  anti-inflammatory   drugs  targeting
rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

Scios plans to file an Investigational  New Drug (IND) application with the U.S.
Food and Drug  Administration  during 2000, and begin Phase I clinical trials in
rheumatoid  arthritis during the second half of 2000. Scios has developed highly
potent and orally active small molecule  inhibitors of p38 kinase that block the
synthesis and action of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). An inhibitor of TNF in pill
form should  permit the  effective  treatment  of  rheumatoid  arthritis  with a
convenient and tolerable form of administration.

Dr. Schreiner noted that  "Revolutionary  changes in the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis  have taken  place with the  ability to lower TNF  through  injectable
proteins.  Scios is developing  small  molecules that may have the same clinical
benefits in reducing the symptoms and progression of this disease, with the ease
of taking a pill once or twice a day. The Arthritis  Foundation  estimates  that
2.1 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis."

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                                                                January 25, 2000
                                                                     Page 2 of 2

Scios Inc.

Scios is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery,  development, and
commercialization of novel human therapeutics.  Scios has commercial or research
and   development   relationships   with   Chiron   Corporation,    The   DuPont
Pharmaceuticals   Company,   Eli  Lilly  and   Company,   GenVec   Inc.,   Kaken
Pharmaceutical  Co., Ltd., and Novo Nordisk A/S of Denmark.  Scios'  Psychiatric
Sales and Marketing Division  successfully  markets seven psychiatric  products,
including co-promotion  arrangements with Janssen  Pharmaceutica's  Risperdal(R)
(risperidone)  and SmithKline  Beecham's  Paxil(R)  (paroxetine  hydrochloride).
Additional  information  on  Scios  is  available  at its web  site  located  at
www.sciosinc.com  and in the Company's  various  filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

The  statements  in this  press  release  that  are  not  historical  facts  are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and include the
risk of timely and successful  completion of the p38 kinase  inhibitor  program,
the risks  associated with  development and  commercialization  of the Company's
products, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed
by Scios with the SEC,  including the  Company's  annual report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1998 and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q.

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