MediGene, Inc. Release: European Patent Granted on the Application of Anti-L1 Antibodies in Cancer Therapy

Martinsried/Munich, August 19, 2008. MediGene AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: MDG) announces that the European Patent Office has granted a patent on the application of anti-L1 antibodies in cancer therapy. The patent (EP 1 172 654) covers the pharmaceutical application of anti-L1 antibodies for the treatment of ovarian and endometrial cancers. An anti-L1 antibody is being developed in a collaboration between MediGene and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ = Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum), and is currently in preclinical development. The German Cancer Research Center was the patent applicant, and through the exercise of an option MediGene recently acquired a worldwide license for the application and commercialisation of anti-L1 antibodies in cancer therapy. The German Cancer Research Center and MediGene have filed additional patent applications worldwide for the protection of anti-L1 antibodies in tumor therapy.

Dr. Peter Heinrich, Chief Executive Officer of MediGene AG, comments: "European patent protection for the anti-L1 antibody is a prerequisite for exploiting the potential of this antibody which is suited for the treatment of various types of cancer. Through our collaboration with the German Cancer Research Center, and alongside the pharmaceuticals company Celltrion, we are continuously advancing the development of this antibody against different types of cancer such as ovarian cancer."

In June 2006, MediGene and the DKFZ initiated their collaboration to develop monoclonal antibodies against L1. Initially the agreement was for a period of two years, but this has now been extended. MediGene intends to collaborate with the South Korean pharmaceuticals company Celltrion, Inc. for the development and commercialization of the antibody

About L1: The L1 protein is highly specific to the cell surfaces of malignant ovarian and endometrial tumors, and can also be found on the surfaces of a number of other chemotherapy-resistant tumors. The L1 protein is not found in the respective healthy tissue, and so may be suited as a new tumor marker in both diagnostics and therapy.

This press release contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion of MediGene as of the date of this release. The actual results achieved by MediGene may differ significantly from the statements made herein. MediGene is not bound to update any of these forward-looking statements. MediGene® is a trademark of MediGene AG, this trademark is licensed in select locations only.

MediGene AG is a publicly quoted (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: MDG) biotechnology company located in Martinsried/Munich, Germany, with subsidiaries in Oxford, UK and San Diego, USA. MediGene is the first German biotech company to have drugs on the market, which are being distributed by partner companies. Another drug candidate has just received official recommendation for marketing authorization by the EMEA. MediGene has several drug candidates in clinical development. Moreover, the company has projects in research and pre-clinical development and possesses innovative platform technologies. MediGene concentrates on researching and developing novel drugs for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Contact MediGene AG E-mail: investor@medigene.com Fax:++49 - 89 - 85 65 - 2920 Julia Hofmann / Dr. Nadja Wolf, Public Relations, Tel.: ++49 - 89 - 85 65 - 3324 Dr. Georg Dönges, Investor Relations, Tel.: ++49 - 89 - 85 65 - 2946