XOMA 052 Selected as a Top Ten Project to Watch

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 12, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA), a
leader in the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics, announced its
anti-inflammatory antibody to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), XOMA 052, has been
selected as a Top Ten Cardiovascular/metabolic Project to Watch for partnering
opportunities. The selection was made by Windhover and Elsevier Business
Intelligence, the leading provider of business intelligence and analysis in the
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries.

Selected companies were screened using a strict set of judging criteria and
represent what the selection committee considered the most attractive
opportunities the industry has to offer. Winners met rigorous criteria
including: unmet medical need, market potential, diversity of indications,
strong science, multi-level partnering opportunities, potential for new
opportunities beyond initial indications, and corporate stability.

"We believe that XOMA 052 is a potentially transformational opportunity for XOMA
that can lead to multiple therapeutic approaches in major indications and bring
benefits to millions of patients with cardiovascular and diabetic disease," said
Steven Engle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of XOMA. "We are honored by
this industry recognition." Mr. Engle will present at the Windhover Therapeutic
Area Partnerships event in Boston on November 18, 2009. Additional information
is available at www.tapartnerships.com

XOMA 052 has potential for use in a potentially wide range of diseases. Phase 2
development is currently underway in diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Earlier this year, XOMA announced results from successful Phase 1 trials of XOMA
052 in Type 2 diabetes patients, demonstrating that XOMA 052 was well tolerated
and showed biologic activity in diabetic parameters and reduction in biomarkers
associated with cardiovascular risk.

About XOMA

XOMA discovers, develops and manufactures novel antibody therapeutics for its
own proprietary pipeline as well as through license and collaborative agreements
with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and under its contracts with
the U.S. government. The company's proprietary product pipeline includes:

* XOMA 052, an anti-IL-1 beta antibody in Phase 2 development for
diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with potential for the
treatment of a wide range of inflammatory diseases
* XOMA 3AB, an antibody candidate in pre-IND studies to neutralize
the botulinum toxin, among the most deadly potential bioterror
threats, under development through funding provided by the
National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the
National Institutes of Health
* A preclinical pipeline with candidates in development for
inflammatory, autoimmune, infectious and oncological diseases.
In addition to its proprietary pipeline, XOMA develops products with premier
pharmaceutical companies including Novartis AG, Merck & Co., Inc. and Takeda
Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

XOMA has multiple revenue streams resulting from the licensing of its antibody
technologies, product royalties, development collaborations and biodefense
contracts. XOMA's technologies have contributed to the success of marketed
antibody products, including LUCENTIS(R) (ranibizumab injection) for wet
age-related macular degeneration and CIMZIA(R) (certolizumab pegol) for
rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

The company has a premier antibody discovery and development platform that
incorporates an unmatched collection of antibody phage display libraries and
proprietary Human Engineering(TM), affinity maturation, Bacterial Cell
Expression (BCE) and manufacturing technologies. BCE is a key breakthrough
biotechnology for the discovery and manufacturing of antibodies and other
proteins. As a result, more than 50 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
have signed BCE licenses, and several licensed product candidates are in
clinical development.

XOMA has a fully integrated product development infrastructure, extending from
pre-clinical science to approval, and a team of about 200 employees at its
Berkeley, California location. For more information, please visit
http://www.xoma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein concerning product development and
capabilities of XOMA's technologies or that otherwise relate to future periods
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
These statements are based on assumptions that may not prove accurate. Actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated due to certain risks
inherent in the biotechnology industry and for companies engaged in the
development of new products in a regulated market.

These risks, including those related to inability to comply with NASDAQ's
continued listing requirements; the declining and generally unstable nature of
current economic conditions; the results of discovery research and pre-clinical
testing; the timing or results of pending and future clinical trials (including
the design and progress of clinical trials; safety and efficacy of the products
being tested; action, inaction or delay by the FDA, European or other regulators
or their advisory bodies; and analysis or interpretation by, or submission to,
these entities or others of scientific data); changes in the status of existing
collaborative and licensing relationships; the ability of collaborators,
licensees and other third parties to meet their obligations; XOMA's ability to
meet the demands of the United States government agency with which it has
entered into its government contracts; competition; market demands for products;
scale-up and marketing capabilities; availability of additional licensing or
collaboration opportunities; international operations; share price volatility;
XOMA's financing needs and opportunities; uncertainties regarding the status of
biotechnology patents; uncertainties as to the costs of protecting intellectual
property; and risks associated with XOMA's status as a Bermuda company, are
described in more detail in XOMA's most recent filing on Form 10-K and in other
SEC filings. Consider such risks carefully when considering XOMA's prospects.

The XOMA Ltd. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5960

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CONTACT: XOMA Ltd.
Company and Investor Contact:
Carol DeGuzman
510-204-7270
deguzman@xoma.com

Porter Novelli Life Sciences
Media Contact:
Carolyn Hawley
619-849-5375
chawley@pnlifesciences.com