( SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO Calif. April 11...)Hana Biosciences Announces Data to be Presented On Talvesta,(Talotrexin) for Injection at The American Association for Cancer,Research Annual Meeting,Health

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 11, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Hana Biosciences (Nasdaq:HNAB), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing cancer care, will present preclinical data for Talvesta(tm) (talotrexin) for Injection at the American Association for Cancer Research 100th Annual Meeting April 14-18, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.

Abstract No. 2210: "Combining talotrexin (PT-523) with paclitaxel in A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) athymic nude mice xenografts" will be presented in a poster session on Monday, April 16, 2007 from 8:00am to 12:00pm PDT, in Poster Section 23, Tumor Biology 15, in the Exhibit Hall. Board No. 8.

About Talvesta(tm) (talotrexin) for Injection

Talvesta(tm) is a novel nonpolyglutamable antifolate drug under development for the treatment of various types of cancers. Talvesta has demonstrated enhanced antitumor activity in a broad spectrum of preclinical studies by targeting the enzyme DHFR to prevent DNA synthesis in tumor cells and inhibit tumor growth. These studies suggest that Talvesta, as compared to methotrexate, enters into cells up to ten times more efficiently and demonstrates 10- to 100-fold more potency in overcoming polyglutamation, a well-established mechanism of antifolate resistance. Talvesta also binds more tightly to its anti-tumor target DHFR, which Hana believes may further inhibit tumor growth. In May 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted orphan drug designation for Talvesta in patients with ALL.

About Hana Biosciences, Inc.

Hana Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:HNAB) is a South San Francisco, CA-based biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing innovative products to advance cancer care. The company is committed to creating value by building a world-class team, accelerating the development of lead product candidates, expanding its pipeline by being the alliance partner o
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