CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Immune Response
Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNR) today announced the appointment of Peter L. Salk,
M.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board as part of the company's continuing
expansion of its HIV/AIDS expertise.  The Scientific Advisory Board was
established recently to provide guidance for the renewed clinical development
of REMUNE(R), a novel vaccine candidate for the treatment of HIV and AIDS.
Dr. Salk, who is the son of Dr. Jonas Salk, the Company's co-founder and the
primary force behind the initial development of REMUNE, is himself an
internationally respected authority on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and
is currently Vice President and Scientific Director of the Jonas Salk
Foundation.
    "The addition of Dr. Salk to our Scientific Advisory Board is especially
valuable at this critical and exciting time for Immune Response," said John N.
Bonfiglio, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of the company.  "In the past few
months, we have re-dedicated Immune Response to its founding purpose -- the
treatment and prevention of HIV disease through the development of vaccines
and immune-based therapies.  We have brought in new management, reduced
expenses, secured additional funding, initiated a new clinical study in Spain
in June, and are preparing to start a second new clinical study in Europe this
fall.
    "An important aspect of our activities has been the establishment of a
Scientific Advisory Board composed of physicians who are on the forefront of
HIV/AIDS research and therapy," Dr. Bonfiglio noted.  "It's very timely for
Dr. Peter Salk, a renowned physician-researcher, to be joining us as we move
forward with the revitalized clinical development of REMUNE.  Peter has
already provided some of the key insights into the research behind this
vaccine candidate.  We are privileged to have him help us strive to fulfill
the promise of the technology identified by his father."
    "I welcome the opportunity to work with Immune Response and play a role in
the direction of its clinical and scientific programs," Dr. Salk said.  "I
have spent many years conducting research in the areas of vaccine development,
immunotherapy, autoimmune disease, and cancer biology.  I'm looking forward to
participating in the continuing development of REMUNE and collaborating with
the distinguished members of The Immune Response Scientific Advisory Board."
    Dr. Salk graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University and Alpha Omega
Alpha from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  He has authored
numerous scientific papers and is actively engaged in the introduction of
treatment regimens for HIV infection in Africa and China.
    Other members of company's Scientific Advisory Board include the Chairman,
Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine, Human Genetics
and Public Health, University of Michigan; Mario Salvatore Clerici, M.D.,
Chair of Immunology, University of Milan; Brian G. Gazzard, M.A., M.D.,
F.R.C.P., Professor, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London; and Eduardo
Fernandez-Cruz, M.D., Professor and Head of the Department of Immunology,
University General Hospital Gregorio Maranon in Madrid and principal
investigator of the Phase II clinical trial of REMUNE (STIR-2102) conducted
previously in Spain and the follow-up study (REMIT-2102) presently underway.

    About The Immune Response Corporation and REMUNE(R)
    The Immune Response Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated
to treating and preventing HIV and AIDS through the development of
immune-based therapeutic vaccines such as REMUNE, its lead product candidate.
The Company was co-founded by medical pioneer Dr. Jonas Salk, who was
instrumental in the formulation of REMUNE, which is currently in Phase II
clinical development.
    HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS, a
condition that slowly destroys the body's immune system, making it vulnerable
to infections.  REMUNE is designed to induce a specific immune response to the
HIV virus.  It is comprised of HIV-1 virus that has been chemically killed and
inactivated so that it is non-infectious, plus an adjuvant that helps enhance
the body's immune response to the virus.  More than 60 million people have
been infected with HIV since it was first recognized in 1981, and
approximately 40 million people around the world are living with HIV today.

    This news release contains forward-looking statements.  Actual results
could vary materially from those expected due to a variety of risk factors,
including whether the Company will continue as a going concern and
successfully raise proceeds from financing activities sufficient to fund
operations and additional clinical trials of REMUNE, the uncertainty of
successful completion of any such clinical trials, whether REMUNE will be
effective as either a preventive or therapeutic vaccine, whether future trials
will be conducted and whether the results of such trials will coincide with
the results of REMUNE in preclinical trials.  These risks, among others, are
set forth in The Immune Response Corporation's SEC filings including, but not
limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2002, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.  The Company undertakes
no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these
forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.

    REMUNE(R) is a registered trademark of The Immune Response Corporation.

                   For further information please contact:
                       The Immune Response Corporation
          (Investors) - Kathy Lane, (760) 771-2236 or info@imnr.com
                   (Media) - Gwen Rosenberg, (858) 759-0759

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