DUBLIN, Ireland, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Donal J. Geaney, Chairman and CEO
of Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) ("Elan") announced today the appointment
of Philip Chaikin, Pharm.D., M.D. as Elan's new Vice President of Oncology
R&D. Dr. Chaikin will report to Dan Welch, President, Worldwide
Biopharmaceuticals, and will be based in Elan's Princeton site.  He will have
global responsibility for the development and registration of Elan's growing
portfolio of oncology products.
    Dr. Chaikin earned his B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees in Pharmacy from the
University of Maryland and subsequently completed a research fellowship in
Clinical Pharmacology at the same institution.  He received his M.D. from the
New Jersey Medical School (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey)
and did his Internal Medicine training at Robert Wood Johnson University
Hospital.  He is Board certified in Clinical Pharmacology and an Adjunct
Associate Professor in Clinical Pharmacology at Rutgers University and Thomas
Jefferson Medical School.
    Dr. Chaikin joined the Pharmaceutical Industry in 1978 and has held
positions of increasing responsibility since then.  He has served as Senior
Associate Medical Director for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals; Director, Clinical
Pharmacology for Bristol-Myers Squibb; Vice President, Clinical Development
for Hoechst Roussel Pharmaceuticals and Vice President of Worldwide Clinical
Development at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals where he had global
oversight for clinical research activities in all therapeutic areas.
Immediately prior to joining Elan, he was Senior Vice President for
Development for Pharmacologics L.L.C.  During his career, Dr. Chaikin was
pivotal in the registration of a number of important pharmaceutical agents,
including Aventis' Taxotere(R), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for
advanced breast and lung cancer, Lovenox(R), a widely used low molecular
weight heparin for the prevention and treatment of venous thrombosis and the
treatment of acute coronary syndrome, and Synercid(R), a new streptrogramin
antibiotic for serious infections.

    Elan has accumulated an impressive portfolio of marketed oncology products
and a growing pipeline of R&D projects.  This franchise includes:

     * Myocet/D99, a novel liposomal doxorubicin formulation for the treatment
       of metastatic breast cancer which has recently been launched in the EU,
       is under registration in Canada and is in Phase II trials in the US.
       Phase III plans are being finalized.
     * ELL-12, a novel ether lipid which we expect to enter into Phase II
       trials for renal cell carcinoma, metastatic melanoma, non-small cell
       lung cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome.
     * BRT-216, a novel taxane which we expect to enter into Phase I trials
       for solid tumors.
     * Elan is developing a range of oncology products licensed for Europe
       from Ligand Pharmaceuticals.  These products are Targretin(TM) capsules
       (marketed) Targretin(TM) gel (in registration) and Onzar/Ontak(TM) (in
       registration), all initially  developed for the treatment of cutaneous
       T-cell lyphoma, and Panretin(TM) gel, approved for the treatment of
       Kaposi's sarcoma.
     * Depocyte(TM) (cytarabine liposomal injection) licensed for Europe from
       SkyePharma, which is approved for the treatment of lymphomatous
       meningitis.

    In addition, through extensive partnering, Elan has secured a broad
pipeline of oncology compounds of Elan's 13 R&D joint ventures in oncology,
one compound is in Phase III, five are in Phase II, four are in Phase I, and
the remainder is preclinical.

    Within this portfolio of 13 R&D joint ventures are:

     * OncoTCS, a liposomal vincristine which is being co-developed with Inex
       Pharmaceutical Corporation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
     * MTC-Dox, a novel iron particle-based doxorubicin drug which is being
       co-developed with FeRx Incorporated for hepatocellular carcinoma and
       secondary liver tumors.
     * GCS-100, a polysaccharide which is being co-developed with Glycogenesis
       Incorporated for pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors.

    Elan is also building a significant franchise in oncology palliative care
products.  These include Abelcet(TM) (amphotericin B lipid complex) for the
treatment of invasive fungal infections, and within Europe, Actiq(TM)
(transmucosal fentanyl citrate), licensed from Cephalon Inc. and indicated for
the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients.
    Mr. Welch commented, "We are extremely pleased to have recruited
Dr. Chaikin, an experienced and proven pharmaceutical R&D executive.  His
joining Elan marks an important step in the ongoing process of building our
significant franchise in oncology, an important area of strategic focus."

    Elan Corporation, plc is a leading worldwide, fully integrated
pharmaceutical company headquartered in Ireland, with its principal research,
development, manufacturing and marketing facilities located in Ireland and the
United States.  Elan is focused on the discovery, development, and marketing
of therapeutic products and services in neurology, pain management, oncology,
infectious disease and dermatology and on the development and
commercialization of products using its extensive range of proprietary drug
delivery technologies.  Elan shares trade on the New York, London and Dublin
Stock Exchanges.

    This communication includes certain "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These
statements are based on management's current expectations but actual results
may vary materially due to various factors.  The forward-looking statements in
this communication include statements about future operating results.  Certain
factors, including Elan's inability to successfully develop, register, launch
and market its oncology products and other economic, competitive, business
and/or regulatory factors affecting Elan's business generally, could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described herein.  More
detailed information about these factors is set forth in Elan's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Elan's Annual Report on Form
20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.  Elan is under no obligation
to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update or alter these
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.

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