RNS Number:4298P
Xenova Group PLC
05 September 2003

Time embargoed until 7.00 a.m. on 5 September 2003

Xenova Group plc Offer for KS Biomedix Holdings Plc Update

Not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United States,
Canada, Australia or Japan

Xenova Group plc ("Xenova"), 5 September 2003

RECOMMENDED OFFER FOR KS BIOMEDIX HOLDINGS PLC ("KS BIOMEDIX") ("THE OFFER")
 
LEVEL OF ACCEPTANCES AND EXTENSION OF OFFER 


Xenova announces that by 3.00 p.m. on 4 September 2003, being the first closing
date of the Offer, valid acceptances of the Offer had been received in respect
of 49,610,370 KS Biomedix Shares, representing approximately 76.82 per cent. of
the KS Biomedix Issued Share Capital.

On 14 August 2003, Xenova announced that it had received irrevocable
undertakings to accept the Offer in respect of 24,060,589 KS Biomedix Shares.
Valid acceptances have been received in respect of 24,056,589 of the shares
subject to these undertakings, representing approximately 37.25 per cent. of the
KS Biomedix Issued Share Capital, which are included in the total for valid
acceptances.

On 14 August 2003, Xenova also announced that it had received an irrevocable
undertaking to accept the Offer from a KS Biomedix Director who has interests in
securities which are exchangeable into 7,118,897 KS Biomedix Shares (the "
Exchangeable Shares").  Pursuant to this undertaking, the KS Biomedix Director
has agreed, upon being given notice that the Offer will be declared
unconditional in all respects, to exchange, or procure the exchange of, all of
the Exchangeable Shares and to accept, or to procure the acceptance of, the
Offer in respect of the 7,118,897 KS Biomedix Shares which he or his trustees
will be issued upon exchange of the Exchangeable Shares.

Accordingly, Xenova has received valid acceptances or has outstanding
irrevocable commitments to accept the Offer in respect of a total of 56,729,267
KS Biomedix Shares, representing approximately 87.85 per cent. of the KS
Biomedix Issued Share Capital.

The Board of Xenova announces that the Offer has been extended until 3.00 p.m.
on 11 September 2003. KS Biomedix Shareholders who wish to accept the Offer and
have not yet done so should despatch their Form of Acceptance in accordance with
the instructions contained therein as soon as possible and, in any event, so as
to be received no later than 3.00 p.m. on 11 September 2003.

Neither Xenova nor any person deemed to be acting in concert with it held any KS
Biomedix Shares or rights over KS Biomedix Shares on 30 July 2003, the last
business day immediately prior to the commencement of the Offer Period. Neither
Xenova nor any person deemed to be acting in concert with it has acquired or
agreed to acquire any KS Biomedix Shares or rights over KS Biomedix Shares since
the Offer Period commenced.

Terms defined in the Offer Document dated 14 August 2003 have the same meaning
in this announcement.

Enquiries:

Daniel Abrams, Xenova                                   Tel: 01753 706 600
David Rasouly, Nomura                                   Tel: 020 7521 2000
David Yates, Financial Dynamics                         Tel: 020 7831 3113


Nomura is acting exclusively for Xenova in connection with the Offer and is not
advising any other person or treating any other person as its client in relation
thereto and will not be responsible to anyone other than Xenova for providing
the protections afforded to clients of Nomura or for providing advice in
relation to the Offer or the New Xenova Shares.

This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to purchase any
securities.

This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the
United States and the New Xenova Shares have not been, and will not be,
registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, nor under
any laws of any state of the United States, and the relevant clearances have not
been and will not be obtained from the relevant authorities in Canada, Australia
or Japan.  Accordingly, unless an exemption under any applicable laws is
available, the New Xenova Shares may not be offered, sold, resold, delivered or
transferred directly or indirectly in or into the United States, Canada,
Australia or Japan or any other country outside the United Kingdom where such
distribution may otherwise lead to a breach of law or other regulatory
requirement, or to or for the benefit of US Persons.

The Offer referred to in this announcement is not being made, directly or
indirectly, in or into, or by use of the mails of or by any means of
instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmissions, telex,
telephone or internet) or interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities
of a securities exchange of, the United States, nor is it being made, directly
or indirectly, to or for the benefit of US Persons, nor is it being made,
directly or indirectly, in or into Canada, Australia, or Japan unless an
exemption under any applicable laws is available.  This announcement is not
being, and it must not be, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent
in, or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan and doing so may
render invalid any purported acceptance of the Offer.


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