Exhibit 99.1

                                (CANCERVAX LOGO)


CONTACT:
Vince Reardon
CancerVax Corporation
Sr. Director, Investor Relations
760-494-4850

                CANCERVAX ANNOUNCES IT HIRES JEFFREY SILVERMAN AS

                    VICE PRESIDENT, MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS

CARLSBAD, CA - JUNE 24, 2005 - CancerVax Corporation (NASDAQ: CNVX) announced
today the appointment of Jeffrey S. Silverman to the position of Vice President,
Manufacturing Operations. Mr. Silverman, who has more than 25 years of
manufacturing and engineering experience in the biotechnology industry, will be
charged with overseeing CancerVax's biologics manufacturing operations in the
Los Angeles area. He will report to Martin A. Mattingly, Pharm. D., Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

"We are very pleased to have Jeff join our management team," said Dr. Mattingly.
"His extensive expertise in the development and management of pharmaceutical
operations for biological products will be critical to CancerVax, as well as to
the production of clinical trial materials for the product candidates in our
other clinical development programs."

Previously, Mr. Silverman was Vice President, San Diego Operations, for Cell
Genesys, Inc. since 2003. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Operations, for
MannKind Corporation from 2000 to 2003. He held several senior management
positions with Alpha Therapeutic Corporation from 1985 to 2000, including Vice
President of Engineering and Vice President of Manufacturing Operations. From
1978 to 1985, he held various managerial, supervisory and technical positions at
Armour Pharmaceutical, Alpha Therapeutic Corporation and the City of Hope
Research Center, respectively. Mr. Silverman has a M.B.A from Claremont Graduate
School and a B.S. from California State University.

ABOUT CANCERVAX CORPORATION (www.cancervax.com)

CancerVax Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on the research,
development and commercialization of novel biological products for the treatment
and control of cancer. The Company's lead product candidate, Canvaxin(TM), is
one of a new class of products being developed in the area of specific active
immunotherapy, also known as therapeutic cancer vaccines. Canvaxin(TM) is
currently being studied in an international Phase 3 clinical trial for the
treatment of patients with Stage III melanoma. In December 2004, CancerVax
announced an exclusive worldwide collaboration with Serono Technologies, S.A., a
Swiss corporation, for the development and commercialization of Canvaxin.
CancerVax also has a pipeline of product candidates and technologies that are
being developed for the potential treatment of cancer. These include: SAI-EGF, a
product candidate that targets the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor
signaling pathway, which is currently being evaluated in Phase 2 clinical trials
for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer; and D93, CancerVax's lead
anti-angiogenic humanized monoclonal antibody. CancerVax's corporate
headquarters and research and development facility is located in Carlsbad,
Calif., and its biologics manufacturing facility is located in the Los Angeles
area.




FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

CancerVax cautions you that statements included in this press release that are
not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. The
inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a
representation by CancerVax that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual
results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the
risks and uncertainties inherent in CancerVax's business including, without
limitation, statements about: difficulties or delays in researching, developing,
testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its technologies
and product candidates; the risk that the collaboration agreement may be
terminated by Serono in certain instances; its ability to obtain additional
financing to support its operations, which could adversely affect its ability to
develop or commercialize its product candidates and its ability to continue to
operate as a going concern; and other risks detailed in CancerVax's Securities
and Exchange Commission filings, including CancerVax's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and quarterly report on Form
10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2005. You are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by
this cautionary statement and CancerVax undertakes no obligation to revise or
update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

CancerVax(R) is a registered trademark of CancerVax Corporation.

Canvaxin(TM) is a trademark of CancerVax Corporation.

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