Nabi Biopharmaceuticals Participates in NicVAX(R) Phase IIb Study

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 28, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nabi Biopharmaceuticals
(Nasdaq:NABI) announced that it is participating in an investigator initiated
Phase IIb study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of NicVAX(R) (Nicotine
Conjugate Vaccine) when co-administered with varenicline as an aid to smoking
cessation and relapse prevention. This study will be conducted by The Research
School CAPHRI of the Maastricht University Medical Center in Maastricht, The
Netherlands and will be funded primarily by The Netherlands Organization for
Health Research and Development and Maastricht University with Nabi providing
some additional support.

"In our proof-of-concept trial, NicVAX demonstrated that high levels of
anti-nicotine antibody in response to NicVAX immunization increases the ability
of smokers to quit smoking and remain abstinent," said Dr. Raafat Fahim,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Nabi Biopharmaceuticals. "The
Maastricht study will focus on NicVAX's ability to prevent relapse in smokers
who initially quit upon treatment with varenicline. We believe NicVAX, given its
unique long-acting effect will help smokers quit and kick the habit for good,
whether they initially quit smoking on NicVAX or another smoking cessation
therapy. Results from this study will enable us to maximize the commercial
potential of NicVAX as both a mono-therapy and a combination therapy."

About the Phase IIb Study

The Phase IIb study for NicVAX is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled
parallel-arm study comprised of approximately 600 patients randomized in a 1:1
ratio to one of two treatment groups. One group will receive NicVAX and
varenicline and the other group will receive placebo and varenicline. The
primary endpoint of the study is the long-term smoking abstinence rate at one
year. Abstinence will be evaluated by self-reported cigarette consumption and
measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide. Secondary endpoints include the
abstinence rate at various interim periods, smoking lapse and relapse, safety,
immunogenicity and withdrawal symptoms. The study also will involve behavioral
counseling as with other smoking cessation programs which likely will enhance
efficacy rates in this study.

About NicVAX

NicVAX(R) is an innovative and proprietary investigational vaccine being
developed by Nabi to treat nicotine addiction and prevent smoking relapse.
NicVAX(R) is designed to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies that
bind to nicotine. A nicotine molecule attached to an antibody is too large to
cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, NicVAX(R) blocks nicotine from
reaching its receptors in the brain and prevents the highly-addictive pleasure
sensation experienced by smokers and users of nicotine products. Pre-clinical
and clinical data show that NicVAX(R)'s ability to block nicotine from reaching
the brain could help people quit smoking. Because the body's immune system can
be boosted to produce long-lasting antibodies, Nabi believes NicVAX(R) also
could be effective in preventing smoking relapse. Relapse is a significant
challenge facing smokers and, with currently-available smoking cessation
therapies, relapse rates can be as high as 90% in the first year after a smoker
quits.

About Nabi Biopharmaceuticals

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals leverages its experience and knowledge in powering the
immune system to develop products that target serious medical conditions in the
areas of nicotine addiction and gram-positive bacterial infections. Nabi
Biopharmaceuticals is currently developing NicVAX(R) (Nicotine Conjugate
Vaccine), an innovative and proprietary investigational vaccine for treatment of
nicotine addiction and prevention of smoking relapse, and PentaStaph(TM)
(Pentavalent S. aureus Vaccine), a vaccine designed to protect against the most
dangerous and prevalent strains of S. aureus bacterial infections. The company
is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. For additional information about Nabi
Biopharmaceuticals, please visit our Web site:http://www.nabi.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements in this release that are not strictly historical are forward-looking
statements and include statements about products in development, results and
analyses of clinical trials and studies, research and development expenses, cash
expenditures, licensure applications and approvals, and alliances and
partnerships, among other matters. You can identify these forward-looking
statements because they involve our expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans,
projections, anticipations, or other characterizations of future events or
circumstances. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a
result of any number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to,
risks relating to our ability to: successfully close the sale of PentaStaph and
complete the PentaStaph sale milestones; partner with third parties to fund,
develop, manufacture and/or commercialize our products in development; defend
against indemnification claims by Biotest; initiate and conduct clinical trials
and studies; raise sufficient new capital resources to fully develop and
commercialize our products in development; attract, retain and motivate key
employees; collect further milestone and royalty payments under the PhosLo
Agreement; obtain regulatory approval for our products in the U.S. or other
markets; successfully contract with third party manufacturers for the
manufacture and supply of NicVAX and PentaStaph; and comply with reporting and
payment obligations under government rebate and pricing programs. Some of these
factors are more fully discussed, as are other factors, in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008 and our Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 28, 2009 and June 27, 2009 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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CONTACT: Nabi Biopharmaceuticals
Investor Relations
301-770-3099
www.nabi.com