Access Pharmaceuticals to Present New Data on ProLindac(TM) at the AACR Annual Meeting 2008 Conference

DALLAS, April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (OTC Bulletin Board: ACCP) announced today that its collaborators at prestigious institutes in France and Italy will be presenting new preclinical data on its lead anticancer compound, ProLindac(TM), at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2008 taking place April 12-16, 2008 at the San Diego Convention Center. The poster presentation entitled "Characterization of predictive markers and target genes of ProLindac, a novel DACH-platinum compound, compared to oxaliplatin and cisplatin in human cancer cell lines" will be presented on Monday April 14 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm in the "Novel Targets and Mechanisms 2" session held in Exhibit Hall B-F.

ProLindac is Access' novel DACH platinum prodrug which has been shown to be active in a wide variety of solid tumors in both preclinical models and in human trials. Access believes that ProLindac's unique molecular design potentially could eliminate some of the toxic side effects seen in the currently marketed DACH platinum, Eloxatin(TM) or oxaliplatin, which has sales in excess of $2 billion.

"We are grateful for the work and data our European collaborators are presenting at this prestigious meeting next week," stated Jeffrey B. Davis, Access' President & CEO. "As we continue to collect clinical and preclinical data on ProLindac, we are increasingly encouraged and excited about the potential of ProLindac to become a very important tool in the fight against cancer. In the ongoing recurrent ovarian trial, ProLindac continues to show significant DACH platinum anti-cancer activity, with significant reductions in CA-125 biomarkers and anti-tumor activity. We are seeing responses which suggest that ProLindac could be more active as a monotherapy in this patient population than was previously reported for carboplatin and oxaliplatin. Importantly, the side effect profile continues to be quite benign in comparison to other platinum therapies."

ProLindac is currently in a Phase 2 dose-escalating monotherapy trial in recurrent ovarian cancer. Access is currently in the process of planning additional ProLindac clinical trials that will include combination therapy trials in one or more solid tumor types.

About Access:

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes propriety products for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients. Access' products include ProLindac(TM), currently in Phase 2 clinical testing of patients with ovarian cancer, and MuGard(TM) for the management of patients with mucositis. The company also has other advanced drug delivery technologies including Cobalamin(TM)-mediated targeted delivery and oral drug delivery, its proprietary nanopolymer delivery technology based on the natural vitamin B12 uptake mechanism; Angiolix(R), a humanized monoclonal antibody which acts as an anti-angiogenesis factor and is targeted to breast cancer; Prodrax(R), a non-toxic prodrug which is activated in the hypoxic zones of solid tumors to kill cancer cells; Alchemix, a chemotherapeutic agent that combines multiple modes of action to overcome drug resistance. Access is also developing Phenylbutyrate ("PB"), an HDAC inhibitor and differentiating agent currently a Phase 2 clinical candidate. For additional information on Access Pharmaceuticals, please visit our website at http://www.accesspharma.com .

This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include those relating to: our ability to close the financing transaction, early results from our clinical trial, Access' plans to continue and initiate clinical trials, the value of its products in the market, its ability to achieve clinical and commercial success and its ability to successfully develop marketed products. These statements are subject to numerous risks, including but not limited Access' need to obtain additional financing in order to continue the clinical trial and operations and to the risks detailed in Access' Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed by Access with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.