Published Study Results Show Low-Dose Outpatient Dosing Schedule of Dacogen(TM) Useful in Patients With Hematological Malignancies Data appears in current issue of Blood; Phase II clinical study underway at MD Anderson Cancer Center DUBLIN, Calif., March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SuperGen, Inc. announced today that results from a clinical study of a low-dose outpatient dosing schedule of the investigational anticancer drug Dacogen(TM) (decitabine) for injection showed impressive activity in patients with a variety of hematological malignancies. Data from the clinical study was published in the current issue of the journal Blood (vol. 103 no. 5, pp. 1635- 1640). The Phase I clinical study, conducted by Principal Investigator Jean- Pierre Issa, M.D., at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, enrolled 50 patients who were diagnosed with relapsed or refractory myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myelogeneous leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) or chronic myelogeneous leukemia (CML). Patients received Dacogen at either 5, 10, 15 or 20 mg/m2 intravenously over one hour daily, 5 days per week for two consecutive weeks. The largest response rate -- 65 percent (11/17) -- was observed at dose of 15 mg/m2, while 45 percent of patients responded (14/31) at a lower dose and 11 percent (2/19) responded at a higher dose. Researchers reported that the treatment was well-tolerated with non- hematologic side effects including nausea (6 percent), diarrhea (2 percent), skin rashes (2 percent), liver dysfunction (36 percent) and creatinine elevation (10 percent). Asymptomatic but severe elevations in liver function tests, possibly related to therapy, were observed in 6 of 50 patients. In 5 cases, values returned to baseline within 2 weeks; the sixth patient died on day 21. Febrile episodes were noted in 26 patients (52 percent). These included fever of unknown origin in 8 patients (16 percent) and documented infections in 18 patients (36 percent): pneumonia in 12,bacterial in 6, fungal in 1, others in 3 and minor infections in 1. As a result of this data, a larger Phase II study is underway at MD Anderson testing different schedules and administration of Dacogen in patients with MDS. Three (3) cohorts of patients will receive Dacogen either intravenously for 10 days, intravenously for 5 days or subcutaneously for 5 days, in an outpatient setting. "This published data helps to validate our belief that lower doses of Dacogen may be equally active and more convenient in the treatment of patients with various hematological malignancies," said Karl Mettinger, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of SuperGen. "We are now exploring, through further studies, additional dosing schedules and route of administration of Dacogen." The primary mechanism of action for Dacogen in cancer is thought to be modification of aberrant DNA methylation, a major mechanism for regulating gene expression and reversing resistance to chemotherapy treatment. Based in Dublin, California, SuperGen is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the acquisition, rapid development and commercialization of therapeutic anticancer products. The Company's website can be reached at http://www.supergen.com/. This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of section 21A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Such forward-lookingstatements include statements related to our expectations regarding Dacogen as a single agent and in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of various hematological conditions, and our expectations regarding further clinical studies of Dacogen. The success of such product could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks and uncertainties related to initiating, conducting and completing clinical trials, whether Dacogen will demonstrate any clinical benefit in any hematological conditions in larger clinical trials, whether the Company will submit Dacogen for regulatory approval for any indications and whether if the drug will ever be approved or commercialized. These risks and other risks related to the Company's business are set forth in the documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. These forward- looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to update or revise the information contained in any such forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact: Tim Enns, Vice President, Investor Relations & Business Development, SuperGen, Inc., 800-353-1075, ext. 111 DATASOURCE: SuperGen, Inc. CONTACT: Tim Enns, Vice President, Investor Relations & Business Development of SuperGen, Inc., +1-800-353-1075, ext. 111 Web site: http://www.supergen.com/

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