March 19, 2004

News Release: ARIUS to Present Four FunctionFIRST(TM) Anti-Cancer Antibodies at AACR

ARIUS Research Inc. announced today that it will present data on four anti-cancer antibodies generated from its FunctionFIRST(TM) platform at the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research to be held in Orlando, FL from March 27-31, 2004.dw

ARIUS will weigh in on the debate over target-driven drug discovery in their presentation, 'Drugs Versus Targets (the Chicken or the Egg): Discovery of Functional Anti-cancer Antibodies Using a Non-target Driven Approach' (Abstract Number: 3064, Monday, March 29, 2004, 1:00 p.m., Hall B4-D, Section 17). As support for their position, ARIUS scientists will discuss the Company's lead antibody, ARH460-16-2, and provide additional data on its efficacy and target differentiation. ARH460-16-2 is a unique anti-CD44 antibody, which continues to yield compelling data in breast and prostate cancer models. The novel ARIUS antibody AR6BD-25 will be publicly presented for the first time. ARIUS scientists have demonstrated that AR6BD-25 is effective against human ovarian and colon cancers and are working in collaboration with Oxford BioMedica to characterize the target and mechanism by which this antibody acts. Recent pre-clinical data for AR6BD-25 will be presented under the title, 'The Development and Characterization of a Functional Monoclonal Antibody That Shows Efficacy in Both Ovarian and Colon Xenograft Tumor Models' (Abstract Number: 710, Sunday, March 28, 2004, 8:00 a.m., Hall B4-D, Section 20).

There will be an update on AR7BD-33-11A, a potent antibody that acts against breast and prostate cancers. New data from the ARIUS team describe the target this antibody recognizes and will be shown to the oncology community in a presentation entitled, 'Characterization of the Therapeutic Anti-Cancer Antibody AR7BD-33-11A Antigen'(Abstract Number: 2162, Monday, March 29, 2004, 8:00 a.m., Hall B4-D, Section 17).

AR11BD-2E11-2 is another functional anti-cancer antibody with activity in multiple models of human cancer. The presentation, 'The Preclinical Development of AR11BD-2E11-2, a Functional Anti-Cancer Antibody'(Abstract Number: 3812, Tuesday, March 30, 2004, 8:00 a.m., Hall B4-D, Section 27), will focus on its efficacy in breast and ovarian cancers and discuss target information.

'We are excited by the prospects of many of the antibodies we have under development,'said Susan Hahn, Director of R&D at ARIUS. 'The antibodies and targets being presented at this year's AACR annual meeting illustrate the scope of our research and the value of FunctionFirst(TM) technology. The next exciting stage in demonstrating this value will be advancing ARH460-16-2 to the clinic.'

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is a professional society of more than 20,000 laboratory and clinical scientists engaged in cancer research in the United States and more than 60 other countries. AACR's mission is to accelerate the prevention and cure of cancer through research, education, communication and advocacy. Its principal activities include the publication of five major peer-reviewed scientific journals (Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention). AACR's annual meeting attracts more than 12,000 participants who share new and significant discoveries in the cancer field, and the AACR's specialty meetings throughout the year focus on all the important areas of basic, translational and clinical cancer research.

About ARIUS Research

ARIUS Research Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to personalizing cancer therapy through the discovery and development of novel anticancer monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Established in 1999, ARIUS has built a proprietary technology platform, FunctionFIRST(TM), that rapidly identifies powerful MAbs targeting a variety of cancer indications. This antibody generation engine has enabled ARIUS to assemble a growing pipeline of over 200 functional MAbs, which may be used for commercial collaborations, out- licensing or in-house development. ARIUS has ongoing licensing and research partnerships with key biotechnology and drug development companies that provide revenues and access to external technologies. The long-term vision of ARIUS is to deliver personalized therapy by matching multiple antibodies to the distinct antigenic characteristics of each patient's tumour cells thereby increasing efficacy and avoiding side effects. ARIUS is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'ARI'.

Forward-Looking Statement

Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see the reports filed by ARIUS Research Inc. with the Securities Commissions of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. ARIUS Research Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Website: www.ariusresearch.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept

responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this statement.

VIEW ADDITIONAL COMPANY-SPECIFIC INFORMATION: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/orgDisplay.cgi?okey=15118

For further information: Helen Findlay, Vice President, 55 York Street, 16th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 1R7, Telephone: (416) 862-2323, Fax: (416) 862-9696, hfindlay(at)ariusresearch.com

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