|Exhibit 99.1
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|[LOGO] HGS
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|HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES, INC. 
      9410 Key West Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850
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|FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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|CONTACTS:  Steven C. Mayer  Senior Vice
President & Chief Financial Officer  301/309-8504  Jerry Parrott  Vice President,
Corporate Communications  301/315-2777  Kate de Santis  Director, Investor Relations
301/251-6003
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|HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES REPORTS
FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 2003
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|ROCKVILLE,
Maryland - April 24, 2003 - Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) announced today
financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003.
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|The Company
reported a net loss of $41.3 million, or $0.32 per share, for the quarter ended March 31,
2003.  This compares with a net loss of $38.3 million, or $0.30 per share, for the
quarter ended March 31, 2002.
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|The Company
reported revenues of $1.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.  This compares
with  revenues of $0.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2002.  The increase in
revenues is due to a clinical  milestone payment from Human Genome Sciences partner,
GlaxoSmithKline, related to the initiation of human  clinical trials of 659032, a
small-molecule inhibitor of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), for  the
treatment of cardiovascular disease.
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|Total costs and
expenses decreased during the first quarter as compared to the year-earlier period as a
result of the Companys ongoing efforts to increase efficiency and to conserve its cash.
This decrease was  partially offset by
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|increased manufacturing activities, and
increased  investment in the Companys drugs in  clinical and preclinical development.
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|At March 31, 2003,
cash and short-term investments totaled $1.44 billion, including $240.2 million of
restricted investments.  This compares to $1.49 billion, including $205.4 million of
restricted investments at  December 31, 2002.  The increase in restricted investments is
related to lease financing arrangements for the  Companys corporate, manufacturing and
research and development facilities.
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|As of March 31,
2003, there were approximately 129.0 million shares of Human Genome Sciences common
stock outstanding.
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|William A.
Haseltine, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, We continue to make
significant progress toward bringing new drugs to patients, based on our understanding of
the human genome.  In  2003 to date, we have reported significant clinical development
milestones for a number of our products, and we  look forward to significant additional
milestones later in the year.  Human Genome Sciences is now a company that  emphasizes
early to mid-stage drug development while maintaining very significant strengths in drug
discovery.
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|Steven C. Mayer,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said, We are pleased to have
achieved a moderation in the rate at which our research and development expenses have
increased and also to have  decreased our overall spending from prior periods.  This
reflects our determination to conserve cash, a strategic  asset, while at the same time
continuing to advance our drugs in clinical and preclinical development. We believe  that
the Companys cash reserves are sufficient to cover our operating expenses over the next
several years.
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|HIGHLIGHTS OF THE QUARTER
|-------------------------



|Products
|--------



|Human Genome
Sciences provided the following update on three of its drugs.  The Company has advanced
eight drugs to clinical trials:
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|LymphoStat-BTM:
      On April 21, Human Genome Sciences announced results from a Phase 1 clinical
      trial of LymphoStat-B, a human monoclonal antibody to B-lymphocyte stimulator
      (BLySTM). The results demonstrate that LymphoStat-B
      is well tolerated, and biologically active in patients with systemic lupus
      erythematosus (commonly referred to as lupus).
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|LymphoStat-B has
received a Fast Track Product designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.  For a new drug to be designated
a Fast Track Product,  the condition it is designed to treat must be serious or
life-threatening, and must represent an unmet medical  need.
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|The Company has
met with its clinical investigators and the FDA, and plans to advance LymphoStat-B to
Phase 2 clinical trials in lupus soon.  In addition, Human Genome Sciences announced that
it will initiate Phase  2 clinical trials of LymphoStat-B for the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis.
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|BLyS is believed
to play an important contributory role in both lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Inhibiting the biological activity of BLyS by treatment with LymphoStat-B may be
beneficial for patients with  either disease.
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|Repifermin: Shortly
      after the close of the first quarter, Human Genome Sciences announced results
      from a Phase 2 trial of repifermin (keratinocyte growth factor-2, KGF-2).
      The results demonstrate that repifermin is well tolerated and shows efficacy
      in treating cancer therapy-induced mucositis. The Company plans to meet
      with the FDA, clinical investigators, and its partner, GlaxoSmithKline,
      to determine the best path forward for confirming the efficacy and safety
      of repifermin for this clinical indication.
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|ABthraxTM:
      In March, Human Genome Sciences announced the discovery and development
      of a human monoclonal antibody drug called ABthrax that is effective in
      protecting against the lethal effects of anthrax in multiple experimental
      models in animals. A single dose of ABthrax increases survival significantly
      in both rabbit and non-human primate models of inhalational anthrax. The
      Company plans to develop ABthrax for use as a prophylactic and therapeutic
      drug to prevent and treat anthrax infections, and expects to file an Investigational
      New Drug (IND) application in the near future, seeking clearance from FDA
      to begin clinical trials to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacology
      of ABthrax in healthy adults.
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|Partnerships
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|During the
quarter, GlaxoSmithKline commenced clinical trials of 659032, a second small-molecule
inhibitor of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2).  Lp-PLA2 is an enzyme
associated with the  formation of atherosclerotic plaques.  659032 is the third
genomics-derived small molecule drug arising from the  Human Genome
Sciences-GlaxoSmithKline collaboration to enter clinical development.  The Company
received a  clinical milestone payment from GlaxoSmithKline in the first quarter in
recognition of the initiation of clinical  trials of 659032.  We are entitled to receive
an additional milestone
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|payment if 659032 moves through clinical
development into registration, and will receive royalties if the compound is
commercialized successfully.  In  addition, the Company has an option to co-promote an
approved drug in North America and Europe.
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|European Subsidiary
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|The Company
announced the establishment of a new subsidiary, Human Genome Sciences Europe GmbH, with
responsibility for European clinical trials of the Companys evolving portfolio of new
drugs in clinical and  late-stage preclinical development.  It is located in Dusseldorf,
Germany.
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|CONFERENCE CALL
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|Human Genome
Sciences will hold a conference call today to discuss this announcement.  The conference
call will be hosted by members of senior management at 10:00 am Eastern Time.
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|Investors may
listen to the call by dialing 312/461-9314 or 800/437-3848, meeting number 474454, five
to  ten minutes before the start of the call.  A replay of the call will be available for
several days by dialing  719/457-0820 or 888/203-1112, meeting number 474454.
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|The conference
call also will be webcast.  Interested parties who wish to listen to the webcast should
visit the Human Genome Sciences website at www.hgsi.com.  The archive of the conference
call will be available  approximately several hours after the conference call and will be
available for several days.
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|ABOUT HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES
|---------------------------



|Human Genome
Sciences is a company with the mission to treat and cure disease by bringing new
gene-based  drugs to patients.
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|HGS, Human Genome
Sciences, ABthrax, BLyS, and LymphoStat-B are trademarks of Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
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|Health
professionals interested in more information about trials involving HGSI products are
encouraged  to inquire via the Contact Us section of the Human Genome Sciences web site,
www.hgsi.com/products/request.html,  or by calling us at (301) 610-5790, extension 3550.
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|This announcement
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the  Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. The  forward-looking statements are based on Human Genome Sciences current
intent, belief and expectations.  These  statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are  difficult to
predict.  Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements
because of the  Companys unproven business model, its dependence on new technologies,
the uncertainty and timing of clinical  trials, the Companys ability to develop and
commercialize products, its dependence on collaborators for services  and revenue, its
substantial indebtedness and lease obligations, its changing requirements and costs
associated  with planned facilities, intense competition, the uncertainty of patent and
intellectual property protection, the  Companys dependence on key management and key
suppliers, the uncertainty of regulation of products, the impact  of future alliances or
transactions and other risks described in the Companys filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.  Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these  forward-looking statements, which speak only as of todays date.
Human Genome Sciences undertakes no obligation  to update or revise the information
contained in this announcement whether as a result of new information, future  events or
circumstances or otherwise.
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|(See selected financial
information)  # # #
|-------------------------------------------



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|HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES, INC.  CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
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|                                                            
|------------------------------------------------------------
|2003                                                        
|                                                            
|                                                            
|Revenue - R&D collaborative
      contracts                 
|                                                            
|Costs and expenses:                                         
|Research and
      development                              
|General and
      administrative                            
|                                                            
|Total
      costs and expenses                              
|                                                            
|Income (loss) from operations                               
|Net interest income                                         
|                                                            
|Income (loss) before taxes                                  
|Provision for income taxes                                  
|                                                            
|Net income (loss)                                           
|                                                            
|Net income (loss) per share,
      basic and diluted        
|                                                            
|Weighted average shares outstanding,
      basic and diluted
|                                                            



|                                                            | March 31, 2003         | December 31, 2002
|----------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | -----------------
|BALANCE SHEET DATA                                          | (dollars in thousands)
|                                                            |                        |                  
|Cash, cash equivalents and short-term
      investments (a) |                        | $1,439,524       
|Total assets (a)                                            |                        | 1,607,993        
|Total debt and capital lease,
      less current portion    |                        | 503,201          
|Total stockholders equity                                  |                        | 1,053,127        



|(a) Includes $240,196 and $205,352 in restricted
investments at March 31, 2003, and December 31, 2002, respectively.
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|# # #
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