Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Microcap & Penny Stocks : Rat dog micro-cap picks... -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cornstock who wrote (12035)	5/21/2003 9:15:47 AM
From: Findit	Respond to of 48461

VION up 45% now in pre-market on news. Anyone have a target for exit? Here is the PR - NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 21, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: VION) announced today that it had initiated a new Phase 2 trial of Triapine(R) in combination with gemcitabine in patients with metastatic or advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Enrollment of patients began at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee under the direction of Dr. Howard Burris. The study was also recently activated at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas under the direction of Dr. George Blumenschein, Jr. Initiation of additional sites is planned in the coming months. Data from a Phase 1 trial of Triapine(R) and gemcitabine will be presented in a poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in June 2003. Vion is also planning to begin a Phase 2 trial of Triapine(R) and gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer in the near future. Dr. Mario Sznol, Vice President, Clinical Affairs, stated, "Our Phase 2 trials of Triapine(R) and gemcitabine in lung and pancreatic cancer will provide us with information on the activity of this combination in diseases where gemcitabine has established only modest anti-tumor activity on its own. If there is an indication from the trials that the combination is more active than the expected rate for gemcitabine alone, we expect to initiate definitive randomized trials." Dr. Sznol added, "The combination of Triapine(R) and gemcitabine is strongly supported by our preclinical studies, which showed that Triapine(R) administered prior to gemcitabine markedly increases the ability of gemcitabine to kill cancer cell lines." Triapine(R) is designed to be a potent inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme important for DNA synthesis. Gemcitabine is sold under the brand name Gemzar(R) by Eli Lilly & Company. Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel agents for the treatment of cancer. Vion's portfolio of agents includes: Triapine(R), a potent inhibitor of a key step in DNA synthesis; VNP40101M, a unique DNA alkylating agent; and TAPET(R), a modified Salmonella vector used to deliver anticancer agents directly to tumors. For additional information on Vion and its research and product development programs, visit the company's Internet web site at www.vionpharm.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risk factors which may cause Vion's plans to differ or results to vary from those expected, including Vion's ability to continue as a going concern, which is dependent on securing 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 Vion's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risks discussed in Vion's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. 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. COMPANY CONTACT: Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Howard B. Johnson, CFO (203) 498-4210 phone SOURCE Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Howard B. Johnson, CFO of Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-203-498-4210 vionpharm.com Copyright (C) 2003 PR Newswire. All rights reserved. NewsProvided by COMTEX, comtex.com