What:     First Quarter 2004 Financial Results and Outlook Conference
               Call

     When:     Tuesday, May 4, 2004 at 5:00pm ET

     Where:    Visit the Events page under Investor Information on the
               Exelixis website at www.exelixis.com/index.asp?secPage=events
               or
               http://www.firstcallevents.com/service/ajwz404191143gf12.html .

     Archived  Replay available through May 12, 2004 by visiting
     Replay:   www.exelixis.com/index.asp?secPage=events or
               http://www.firstcallevents.com/service/ajwz404191143gf12.html.

     Contact:  Jane M. Green, Ph.D., V.P., Corporate Communications,
               650-837-7579

Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) is a leading genomics-based drug discovery company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics. The company is leveraging its fully integrated gene-to-drug platform to fuel the growth of its proprietary drug pipeline. Exelixis' development pipeline includes: XL119, which is anticipated to enter a Phase 3 clinical trial as a potential treatment for bile duct tumors; XL784, which has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial; XL647, an anticancer compound that is anticipated to enter a Phase 1 clinical trial; XL999, XL844, XL820 and XL880, anticancer compounds that are potential IND candidates; and multiple compounds in preclinical development. Exelixis has established broad corporate alliances with major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including GlaxoSmithKline and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. The company has also established agricultural research collaborations with Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences and Renessen LLC. Other partners include Merck & Co., Inc., Schering-Plough Research Institute, Inc., Cytokinetics, Inc., Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Scios Inc. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.exelixis.com.

    NOTE:  Exelixis and the Exelixis logo are registered U.S. trademarks.

SOURCE  Exelixis, Inc.
    -0-                             04/20/2004
    /CONTACT:  Jane M. Green, Ph.D., V.P., Corporate Communications of
Exelixis, Inc., +1-650-837-7579/
    /Web site:  http://www.exelixis.com /
    /Audio:  http://www.firstcallevents.com/service/ajwz404191143gf12.html /
    (EXEL)

CO:  Exelixis, Inc.
ST:  California
IN:  HEA MTC BIO
SU:  CCA

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8163 04/20/2004 13:38 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com