January 7, 1999
Source: Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Aronex Pharmaceuticals Announces Phase I-II Study of ATRAGEN(R) in Renal Cancer Already in Trials for Prostate Cancer

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, January 7, 1999 /WiredBird/ Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNX), announced today that physicians at the New York Presbyterian Hospital and the Weill Medical College of Cornell University (New York- Cornell) have initiated a Phase I/II study utilizing the combination of ATRAGEN(R) and interferon alpha in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

ATRAGEN is a proprietary injectable formulation of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA or tretinoin) currently in clinical trials for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, including acute promyelocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and prostate cancer.

"We have carefully designed this trial to find the appropriate dose of ATRAGEN when used in conjunction with interferon alpha, as well as the safety and anti-tumor efficacy of the combination," said David M. Nanus, M.D., Medical Director of the Genitourinary Oncology Program at New York-Cornell. "Previous reports and our own preclinical studies suggest that retinoids will have a place in the treatment of this disease. High therapeutic levels of all trans retinoic acid are maintained over time with ATRAGEN, in contrast to those delivered orally, which could prove advantageous in this combination trial. We look forward to the results of this study."

Geoffrey F. Cox, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Aronex Pharmaceuticals, commented: "The initiation of this clinical trial in another solid tumor target supports our strategy to explore the potential of ATRAGEN in a number of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, that could broaden the overall potential of the drug."

Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes proprietary innovative medicines to treat cancer and infectious diseases. Aronex Pharmaceuticals currently has four products in clinical development, two of which are in an advanced stage, as well as a pipeline of additional products.

Any statements which are not historical facts, including statements regarding the Company's clinical development programs and the expected timing of clinical trials and NDA filings, contained in this release are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those relating to product demand, pricing, market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, intellectual property rights and litigation, clinical trials, governmental regulation, competitive products, risks in product and technology development, the results of financing efforts, the ability to complete transactions and other risks identified in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

SOURCE Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Connie Stout, Associate Director, Corporate Communications, Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 281-367-1666; or Michelle Linn, Vice President, Feinstein Kean Partners Inc., 617-577-8110, for Aronex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Web site: www.aronex-pharm.com/ (ARNX)e-mail: [email protected]