SEATTLE, May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dendreon Corporation today announced that Chief Executive Officer, Mitchell H. Gold, M.D., is a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2009 Award in the Pacific Northwest. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Mitchell Gold was selected as a finalist from nearly 65 nominations by a panel of independent judges. Award recipients will be announced at a special gala event on June 26, 2009 at the Seattle Sheraton. "Dendreon is committed to improving the lives of cancer patients through the development of therapies that could someday offer safer and more effective treatment options to cancer patients in need, so I am thankful for this nomination. On behalf of all of our dedicated employees, we are honored to be recognized for these efforts to transform the way that cancer is treated," stated Dr. Gold. The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 23rd anniversary this year. The program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 135 cities in 50 countries throughout the world. Regional award recipients are eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year national program. Award recipients in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award recipient, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 14, 2009. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. Sponsors Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year awards are pleased to have the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America as national sponsors. In the Pacific Northwest, sponsors include The Big Picture Film and Video Arts, Scherzer International, Seattle Business and The Summit Group. About Dendreon Dendreon Corporation is a biotechnology company whose mission is to target cancer and transform lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics. The Company applies its expertise in antigen identification, engineering and cell processing to produce active cellular immunotherapy product candidates designed to stimulate an immune response. Dendreon is also developing an orally-available small molecule that targets TRPM8 that could be applicable to multiple types of cancer as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Company has its headquarters in Seattle, Washington and is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol DNDN. For more information about the Company and its programs, visit http://www.dendreon.com/. About Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Awards Program Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Award is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries. DATASOURCE: Dendreon Corporation CONTACT: Judy Rightmire, Corporate Communications of Dendreon Corporation, +1-206-219-7179 Web Site: http://www.dendreon.com/

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