EXHIBIT 99.1

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Contact:    Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  Noonan/Russo Communications, Inc.
            Leonard Bell, M.D.             Ernie Knewitz (Media)
            Chief Executive Officer        (212) 696-4455 Ext. 204
            (203) 272-2596

            Rx Communications
            Rhonda Chiger (Investor)
            917-322-2569
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    ALEXION PROMOTES DAVID W. KEISER TO PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Cheshire, Conn., March 19, 2002 -- Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:ALXN)
announced today that the Board of Directors of the Corporation have elected Mr.
David W. Keiser to the newly created position of President and Chief Operating
Officer. Mr. Keiser, 50, was most recently Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of Alexion. Additionally, Mr. Keiser has been elected as a
Director of the Corporation, expanding the total membership of the Board to
eight.

"David's responsibilities have continued to markedly increase since he joined
Alexion shortly after its founding. This promotion reflects his outstanding
contributions to the company's growth and the expanded role he will assume in
the company's evolution," stated Leonard Bell, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of
Alexion. "Among David's many operational and strategic contributions is his
recent initiative and leadership in the successful restructuring of our
pexelizumab alliance with Procter & Gamble. As our lead drug pexelizumab
continues in the Phase III pivotal PRIMO-CABG trial, David's focus will
increasingly move toward building the necessary infrastructure to expand
Alexion's business from the discovery and development stage to
commercialization. On a personal level, I am grateful for David's continued
commitment and look forward to working with him on an even closer basis as he
assumes these greater responsibilities."

"David has been instrumental in helping build Alexion during his tenure with the
company," stated John H. Fried, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board of Directors. "The
Board of Directors has benefited from his wisdom and insights, and I am
delighted that he has now taken on the additional responsibility of President of
the Corporation and as a member of the Board. I look forward to continuing to
work with him in his new capacity."

Mr. Keiser has been Alexion's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer since 1992. Prior to joining Alexion, Mr. Keiser held various positions
with G.D. Searle & Company from 1986 to 1992, most recently as Senior Director
of Asia Pacific Operations and prior to that position as Senior Director of
Product Licensing. From 1978 to 1985, Mr. Keiser held international general
management and business development positions at Mundipharma AG and at F.
Hoffmann La Roche, in Basel, Switzerland. Mr. Keiser received his B.A. from
Gettysburg College.

Alexion is engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutic products
aimed at treating patients with a wide array of severe disease states, including
cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders, inflammation and cancer. Alexion's two
lead product candidates, pexelizumab and eculizumab, are currently in eight
clinical development programs. Alexion is developing pexelizumab, an antibody
fragment, in collaboration with Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals.


Together the firms have initiated a Phase III clinical study with pexelizumab in
cardiopulmonary bypass patients, and are currently conducting two large Phase II
studies with pexelizumab in acute myocardial infarction patients. Alexion's
other lead product candidate, eculizumab, is being studied in a Phase IIb trial
for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Eculizumab is also in Phase II trials
for the treatment of membranous nephritis and for lupus nephritis, and in
earlier stage clinical trials for the treatment of dermatomyositis and
pemphigoid. Additionally, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Alexion Antibody
Technologies, Inc., Alexion is engaged in discovering and developing a portfolio
of additional antibody therapeutics targeting severe unmet medical needs. This
press release and further information about Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. can be
found on the World Wide Web at: www.alexionpharm.com.

THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH STATEMENTS ARE
SUBJECT TO CERTAIN FACTORS WHICH MAY CAUSE ALEXION'S PLANS TO DIFFER OR RESULTS
TO VARY FROM THOSE EXPECTED, INCLUDING THE RESULTS OF PRE-CLINICAL OR CLINICAL
STUDIES (INCLUDING TERMINATION OR DELAY IN CLINICAL PROGRAMS OR INABILITY TO
MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT PHASE OF CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT), THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL
RESEARCH AND TESTING, DELAYS IN DEVELOPING OR ARRANGING SATISFACTORY
MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY, INABILITY TO ACCESS CAPITAL AND FUNDING ON A TIMELY
BASIS AND ON FAVORABLE TERMS, DELAYS IN DEVELOPMENT OF OR ADVERSE CHANGES IN
STATUS OF COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, THE POSSIBILITY THAT FAVORABLE RESULTS OF
EARLIER CLINICAL TRIALS ARE NOT PREDICTIVE OF SAFETY AND EFFICACY RESULTS IN
LATER CLINICAL TRIALS, DEPENDENCE ON PROCTER & GAMBLE PHARMACEUTICALS FOR
PERFORMANCE OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS RELATED TO PEXELIZUMAB, THE
RISK THAT THIRD PARTIES WON'T AGREE TO LICENSE US ON REASONABLE TERMS THEIR
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NECESSARY FOR US TO DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE OUR
PRODUCTS, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER RISKS SET FORTH FROM TIME TO TIME IN ALEXION'S
FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO THE RISKS DISCUSSED IN ALEXION'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR
ENDED JULY 31, 2001. EXCEPT IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A DUTY TO UPDATE
ARISES UNDER LAW WHEN PRIOR DISCLOSURE BECOMES MATERIALLY MISLEADING IN LIGHT OF
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS, ALEXION DOES NOT INTEND TO UPDATE ANY OF THESE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE DATE
HEREOF OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS.