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Vion Presents Preclinical Data on KS119 and KS119W at AACR Meeting

NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. announced today that preclinical data of its anticancer agent KS119 and its water soluble analogue KS119W would be presented in three poster sessions at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) in Anaheim, California on April 16-20th.

KS119 and KS119W are hypoxia-selective compounds from the sulfonylhydrazine class. The experiments described in abstracts 1390, 1391 and 5888, all conducted by Vion, demonstrate that KS119 and its water soluble analogue, KS119W, selectively kill hypoxic cells, producing 4-5 logs of cell kill at 0.1% oxygen and pharmacologically relevant concentrations of drug, and are active over a broad range of sub-physiological oxygen concentrations that are relevant to hypoxic regions of human solid tumors with little or no cell kill at normal, physiological levels of oxygen.

Both agents also were shown to inhibit the growth of several murine solid tumor models without significant hematological toxicities or severe weight loss. KS119W was also evaluated in combination with other anti-tumor agents including cyclophosphamide and gemcitabine against certain tumors in nude mice and demonstrated potent anti-tumor effects in these models. Histological data suggests that KS119W is activated in hypoxic tumor regions, appears capable of killing neighboring tumors cells with normal level of oxygen, and causes an increase in tumor necrosis.

Dr. Ivan King, Vice President, Research & Development, said "We are excited about KS119s potential to be selectively activated in hypoxic cells and continue to develop the compound in preclinical studies, with the goal of filing an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of 2005."

Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is developing novel agents for the treatment of cancer. Vion has two agents in clinical trials: CLORETAZINE(TM) (VNP40101M), a unique sulfonylhydrazine alkylating agent is being evaluated in five clinical trials, including a Phase III trial in combination with Ara-C in relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia, and Triapine(R), a potent inhibitor of a key step in DNA synthesis, is being evaluated in combination with gemcitabine in a Phase II trial in pancreatic cancer and additional Phase I and II trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. In preclinical studies, Vion is evaluating KS119 and KS119W, hypoxia-selective compounds from the sulfonylhydrazine class, and heterocyclic hydrazones. The Company is also seeking development partners for TAPET(R), its modified Salmonella vector used to deliver anticancer agents directly to tumors. For additional information on Vion and its product development programs, visit the Companys Internet web site at http://www.vionpharm.com/.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risk factors which may cause Vions plans to differ or results to vary from those expected, including Vions ability to secure external sources of funding to continue its operations, the inability to access capital and funding on favorable terms, continued operating losses and the inability to continue operations as a result, its dependence on regulatory approval for its products, delayed or unfavorable results of drug trials, the possibility that favorable results of earlier clinical trials are not predictive of safety and efficacy results in later clinical trials, the need for additional research and testing, and a variety of other risks set forth from time to time in Vions filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risks discussed in Vions Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. Except in special circumstances in which a duty to update arises under law when prior disclosure becomes materially misleading in light of subsequent events, Vion does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Web site: http://www.vionpharm.com/

Communities unite to help Nolan

BY ROBERT ANDERSON

Nolan Kane, 12, of Roseville was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia on March 21. He is currently a patient of St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Nolan has completed his second session of treatments and he has a very positive attitude thanks to the love and support of his family and friends.
Staff Reporter

May 2, 2005 - Area residents are consolidating their efforts to raise money for the family of Nolan Kane, a 12-year-old Roseville boy.

Diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), Nolan is currently a patient of St. Jude's Children Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The son of Bill and Jeanie Kane, Nolan is a sixth grader at Roseville Elementary School, an all-around athlete, and an avid sports fan.

Four Monmouth couples, who have never met Bill or Jeanie, and a Roseville couple are organizing a baseball tournament to raise money to help the Kanes. The tournament will involve four teams of 11 and 12-year-olds competing throughout Mother's Day, May 8, at Harmon Park in Monmouth.

"We thought this (tournament) would be a great way to bring things together as communities," said Mike Leary of Monmouth. "We want all the parents and families to meet up with the parents and the kids that they'll be going to school with. We want the entire communities to come out."

Leary is an organizer of the annual Lee Leary Golf Tournament, which sponsors an independent, traveling baseball team of 11 and 12-year-old boys called the Lee Leary Storm.

"My son and Deena's son play on this team," said Julie Richardson, referring to Deena Neal. "They also know Nolan from other sporting events...Nolan played on a different team last year but the kids still meet each other and know each other through the sporting activities. Nolan will also be in our sons' class next year in school when they consolidate. They'll be in seventh grade next year and will be going to junior high together. Several of the kids on this Lee Leary baseball team know Nolan through other sports and have been chatting with him online. So some of the parents on the Storm team are putting together this baseball tournament, with all the proceeds going to Nolan's family to defray some of their costs."

However, the couples are not waiting for the tournament to start raising money. Mike said he obtained about $700 on Friday alone.

"We do a lot of volunteer work for a lot of people, so it's easy to go back and ask for something," he said.

"For instance, Monmouth Youth Softball League will be donating $100," Julie said. "The Monmouth Noon Lions Club is donating $100 and use of the concession stand the day of the tournament. The teams are all paying to play, all the umpires are volunteering to work for free, Mrs. Kindhart of Roseville is going to rent a concession stand, and Bill Grupy of Save-A-Lot is donating hot dogs and buns...A lot of the stuff's getting donated, and we'll sell it, and all of the money will go to the Kanes."

"We'll do a 50-50 (drawing), and hopefully that person who wins will donate the money back," Mike said.

"There will be games from 10 o'clock in the morning until 8 o'clock at night on Mother's Day," Julie said. "There are four teams involved - from Roseville, Biggsville, Monmouth, and perhaps another town yet to be determined - and every team will play each team once, so we're talking six games all day long. The last game will begin at 8 o'clock, and probably won't end until about 9:30 that night. Concessions will be served throughout the event, and we are also asking parents of all 11 of the Lee Leary Storm players to donate baked goods for us to sell right there at the game."

"We have some other things in the works, too," Mike added. "Nolan's a big Cardinals fan, so we're trying to get some autographs. But we've only got a week to do it. We're working with Dave Giles on getting a basketball signed by Dee Brown, Deron Williams and other members of the Fighting Illini, so we can give that to Nolan's dad and three brothers. I think Jeanie will be in Memphis with Nolan that day. We also have some connections with the Cleveland Cavaliers."

Mike said many area youngsters are concerned about Nolan, and want to do something for him.

"This is something they can get involved with," Julie added. "They can go out and play baseball and help raise money for their friend."

Anyone with questions or donations may call Mike and Terry Leary at 734-2527 or 368-1690, Doug and Jamie Kindhart at 337-6209, Jeff and Deena Neal at 337-2610, Mark and Julie Richardson at 221-8175, or Eric and Denise Brown at 734-2185.

Contacted by phone Friday afternoon, Jeanie said she is very moved by the couples' - and the communities' - concern and efforts to help her family.

"Especially since we don't even know these people that well," she said. "The kids know each other better than parents at this point. They're all reaching out to help. We've seen that from every single direction. My son, Nolan, easily makes friends. He has friends from about 10 different school districts in the area, through his athletics."

Jeanie said Nolan enjoys sports, and has had a ball in his hands since he was one year old. Bill and Jeanie also have a son, Jackson, who is one year younger than Nolan, and a perfect bone marrow match.

"He's going to be the donor," Jeanie said.

A date has not yet been set for this procedure, but Jeanie estimated it would take place some time this summer. After arriving in Memphis, Nolan stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, and moved to the Target House on Monday. Asked how people there are treating her family, Jeanie replied, "Oh my gosh, it's amazing. Everyone should donate to St. Jude's because it's just amazing the way they treat the kids and their families. The other families there are where you get the most support, because they're going through the same things."

She said Bill has lived in this area all his life, attended high school in Roseville, and farms near Raritan and Roseville.

"He farms with his dad and his brother, so they can still continue to work and he helps whenever he's at home," Jeanie said. "We usually take about 12 days a piece and we switch going back and forth to Memphis. We can't both be there when we have three other kids to take care of at home.

"It still doesn't seem real," she said of her son's ordeal. "He was diagnosed a little over a month ago, bit it seems like three months ago with everything we've gone through already. Memphis is so far away from home. We could probably deal with this better if we were all together as a family. But we're hanging in there and doing the best we know how. We just pray and ask everyone to pray. That's the only way we're able to get through it. God's already answered our prayers because we found Jackson is a perfect match."

Jackson will not be put at any risk during the bone marrow procedure, Jeanie said.

"None whatsoever," she added. "He'll be asleep when they draw out the bone marrow. It's only a little spot on his back, it might feel a little sore for a couple days but that's it - like a bruise. The marrow will be put it into Nolan through his IV, like blood, and that's when we wait for his bone marrow to start ingrafting, and it's a process that will take awhile."

The bone marrow transplant is the cure for Nolan, his mother insisted.

"If he had only chemo, then his chances of relapsing would be much greater, " she said. "He has AML, which is more rare and difficult to cure (than other forms of leukemia)."

Members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Raritan, the Kanes had strong faith to begin with, Jeanie said.

"Nothing will change our faith because it's always been there," she added. "God will get us through it, and He has given us the intelligent doctors and scientists to find the answers that we need and the facilities at St Judes...And maybe my son is making people turn back to God who maybe weren't praying or had a relationship with God. I hope this makes people appreciate their lives and their families more. It's definitely made us feel blessed to have the people around us that we do."

She called Nolan "amazing."

"He's a kid you don't run across a whole lot. He has the ability to make even a situation this horrible as good as it can be. He's just that way. He adapts to his surroundings very well, and has a personality that makes people laugh. He meets new friends, and loves the nurses, the doctors, and Memphis. He misses his friends but is soaking up the whole experience. Of course there's the bad days but he seems to forget about those, and loves the good days he has."

People wanting to send Nolan a message may contact him at www2.caringbridge.org/il/jeaniekane. CaringBridge is a nonprofit organization providing free online service to connect patients to friends and families. Jeanie also posts updates about her son's progress on that website.

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