NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.                                     Exhibit 99.1
21720 - 23RD DRIVE S.E., SUITE 100
BOTHELL, WASHINGTON  98021
HTTP://WWW.NWBIO.COM
File:  PR12.11.02Fnl

                           MEDIA CONTACT:            Mary Royals
                                                     (202) 778-1021
                                                     mroyals@apcoworldwide.com


NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS' DEAL PROVIDES FUNDING AND PRODUCT RIGHTS TO CANCER
TARGETS

BOTHELL, WASHINGTON, - DECEMBER 11, 2002 - NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Nasdaq: NWBT) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Medarex Inc.
(Nasdaq: MEDX) providing Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NWBio) with $3 million
in funding; potential future royalties; and, certain diagnostic rights for two
of the three cancer-related disease targets being acquired by Medarex. These
targets were previously co-owned by the companies. This agreement also provides
Medarex with the assignment of certain patents related to the acquired targets
for the development and commercialization of antibody-based products including
fully human anti-PSMA (prostate specific membrane antigen) antibodies for the
potential treatment of prostate cancer.

In addition, the agreement provides for NWBio to reacquire all development and
commercialization rights it had previously granted to Medarex to five potential
additional cancer-related disease targets. One of these targets is CXCR4, a
potential antibody, anti-sense and small molecule target found in preclinical
evaluations to be over expressed in multiple cancers and to be involved in tumor
growth and metastasis. Medarex will receive 2,000,000 shares of NWBio common
stock and warrants to purchase an additional 800,000 NWBio shares at market
value for these rights.

"This deal represents a major milestone in our efforts to reposition NWBio for
the future. It provides funding for the coming year and returns important
technology rights for the implementation of our revised and streamlined
strategic initiatives," said Daniel O. Wilds, President and Chief Executive
Officer of NWBio.

Dr. Alton L. Boynton, Chief Operating and Scientific Officer, and one of NWBio's
founders commented, "The scientific and potential commercial and medical
importance of the targets being reacquired by NWBio is just beginning to be
recognized. One of our strategic initiatives for 2003 will be to further
establish the value of these targets and to position them for future clinical
trials."

ABOUT NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS:

Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on discovering,
developing and commercializing immunotherapy products that safely generate and
enhance immune system responses to effectively treat cancer. The Company's
strategy is to combine its expertise in dendritic cell biology, immunology and
antigen discovery with its proprietary technologies to develop cancer therapies.
If successful in restructuring as a pre-clinical antibody and dendritic cell
development company, NWBio will shift its research focus to further develop
diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies against its proprietary cancer targets for
potential use in new cancer products. It will also continue refinement of its
next generation system for cost effectively producing high purity dendritic
cells and dendritic cell precursors.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those
projected in any forward-looking statement. Specifically, there are a number of
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those anticipated, such as the results of the Company's interaction with the
Nasdaq National market, the Company's deal with Medarex, implementation of
revised strategic initiatives, current cost-cutting initiatives and the direct
and indirect consequences of those initiatives. Additional information on these
and other factors, which could affect the Company's results, are included in its
Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Finally, there may be other factors
not mentioned above or included in the Company's SEC filings that may cause
actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. You
should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company
assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of
new information, future events or developments, except as required by securities
laws.