( * Preclinical study evaluating a clini...)Hana Biosciences Presents Data On Two Programs At the American,Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting,Health

* Preclinical study evaluating a clinically relevant model of normal human skin found that Menadione was the only agent capable of abrogating the cytotoxic effect of erlotinib * Phase I single agent Marqibo(r) showed OPTISOME(tm) agent was generally well tolerated in metastatic melanoma patients with an adverse event profile similar to conventional vincristine

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 4, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Hana Biosciences (Nasdaq:HNAB), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing cancer care, today announced the presentation of data for Menadione and Marqibo(r) (vincristine sulfate injection, OPTISOME(tm)) at the 43rd Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to share data regarding our emerging anti-cancer compounds at ASCO this year. Dr. Perez-Soler presented promising preclinical data showing that Menadione may be a useful topical agent in the treatment of the rash associated with EGFR inhibitors," stated Steven R. Deitcher, M.D., Hana Bioscience's Executive Vice President of Development and Chief Medical Officer. "Marqibo again showed that it is an active drug in another difficult-to-treat histology, namely metastatic melanoma. We are looking forward to further development of Menadione, Marqibo, and the other promising drug candidates in our pipeline."

Menadione is a topical agent being developed by Hana to treat skin rashes associated with use of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Skin toxicity is one of the most common side effects of EGFRs and is observed with the three approved agents of this class: cetuximab (Erbitux(r); Bristol-Myers Squibb/Imclone), panitumumab (Vectibix(r); Amgen), and erlotinib (Tarceva(r); Genentech/OSI). A preclinical study evaluating a clinically relevant model of normal human skin found that Menadione was the only agent capable of abrogating the cytotoxic
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