press release archive

Rigel to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences

South San Francisco, Calif - August 31, 2005

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIGL) today announced that James M. Gower, the company’s chairman and chief executive officer, is scheduled to present at the following upcoming investor conferences:

• September 7, 2005, 11:30 a.m. EDT: Thomas Weisel Partners Healthcare Conference 2005;
• September 9, 2005, 10:00 a.m. EDT: BioCentury 12th Annual NewsMakers in the Biotech Industry;
• September 12, 2005, 2:00 p.m. EDT: Bear Stearns 18th Annual Healthcare Conference

To access the live audio webcast for each presentation or the subsequent archived recordings, log on to www.rigel.com/rigel/events. Please connect to Rigel's website several minutes prior to the start of the live webcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary.

About Rigel (www.rigel.com)
Rigel's mission is to become a source of novel, small-molecule drugs to meet large, unmet medical needs. We have three product development programs: asthma/allergy, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Our strategy is to commence clinical trials with one lead compound each year and to develop a portfolio of product candidates for our own proprietary programs and with potential collaborative partners.

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including statements related to Rigel's plans to pursue clinical development of product candidates and the timing thereof and the potential efficacy of product candidates. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "plans," "intends," "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Rigel's results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including risks associated with the timing and success of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in Rigel's SEC reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Rigel does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Contact: Jim Welch
Phone: 650.624.1176
Email: invrel@rigel.com