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Jonathan Lewis, MD, PhD, Appointed to Scientific Advisory Council of the Hope Funds for Cancer Research

^{Published on 2008-12-04 10:51:52 - Market Wire}
 

NEW YORK & NEWPORT, R.I.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIOP) and the Hope Funds for Cancer Research announced today that Jonathan Lewis, MD, PhD, Chief Executive and Medical Officer of ZIOPHARM, has been appointed to the Hope Funds' newly formed Scientific Advisory Council, a permanent committee of the board. The Hope Funds for Cancer Research honors individuals or organizations that have made a significant impact on patient care, and funds highly innovative research addressing the most difficult-to-treat cancers. The Scientific Advisory Council will uphold the extraordinarily high standards of the Hope Funds Fellowship and make recommendations on its prospective awardees.

"Hope Funds' Scientific Advisory Council brings together preeminent scientific leaders to identify nascent, highly-innovative research," stated Leah Cann, Trustee of the Hope Funds for Cancer Research. "Jon's leadership at ZIOPHARM, as well as his innovations in cancer research as Professor of Surgery and Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, embodies the Hope Funds' goals. We expect that his participation as a council member will extend his vision and hope to others, especially those willing to study outside the established research paradigms."

"It is a tremendous privilege and honor to be a part of Hope Funds' mission and to have the opportunity to contribute more toward combating difficult-to-treat cancers," stated Dr. Lewis. "ZIOPHARM has long been focused on addressing unmet medical needs within oncology, particularly among niche indications such as sarcoma. Hope Funds' fellowship program will bring more innovations to the forefront, building awareness and, ultimately, providing an underserved community with more effective treatment options."

Dr. Lewis has served as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of ZIOPHARM Oncology since January 2004, and was named Chief Medical Officer in June 2008. From July 1994 until June 2001, Dr. Lewis served as Professor of Surgery and Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He has received numerous honors and awards in medicine and science, including the ASCO Young Investigator Award, the Kristen Carr fellowship, the Yale University Ohse Award, and the Royal College of Surgeons Trubshaw Medal. He served as Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of the Medical Board at Antigenics, Inc. from June 2000 until November 2003. He serves as a Director of POPPA (the Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance) of the New York Police Department (NYPD) and on the Medical Advisory Board of the Sarcoma Foundation of America.

About Hope Funds for Cancer Research:

The mission of the Hope Funds for Cancer Research is to encourage investigation of innovative cancer treatment and detection for the most difficult-to-treat and understudied cancers. The Hope Funds for Cancer Research will support scientific and medical research programs aimed at increasing knowledge relating to both cancer care and prevention. It will support programs that are believed to have the highest probability of success in addressing unmet medical needs, which will be determined by rigorous scientific and economic analysis. The Hope Funds for Cancer Research is a public charity under 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Further information about Hope Funds for Cancer Research may be found at [ www.hope-funds.org ].

About ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.:

ZIOPHARM Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of a diverse portfolio of cancer drugs. The Company is currently focused on three clinical programs.

Palifosfamide (Zymafos^TM or ZIO-201) is a novel molecule that is the functional active metabolite of ifosfamide, a standard of care for treating sarcoma, testicular and other cancers. Palifosfamide delivers only the cancer fighting component of ifosfamide. It is expected to overcome the resistance of ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide in certain cancers. It does not have the toxic metabolites of ifosfamide that cause the debilitating side effects of "fuzzy brain" (encephalopathy) and severe bladder inflammation. Intravenous (IV) palifosfamide is currently in a Phase II randomized trial to treat soft tissue sarcoma. An oral form of palifosfamide has been developed preclinically and is expected to enter clinical study in 2009.

Indibulin (Zybulin^TM or ZIO-301) is a novel, oral tubulin binding agent that targets both mitosis and cancer cell migration. Indibulin is expected to have several potential benefits, including oral dosing, application in multi-drug resistant tumors, no neuropathy and minimal overall toxicity. Indibulin has shown early activity in Phase I study as a single agent in many types of solid tumors. Indibulin is also currently in the Phase I portion of Phase I/II trials in combination with Tarceva® and Xeloda®. Preclinical study continues with both dose density and metronomic administration.

Darinaparsin (Zinapar^TM or ZIO-101) is a novel organic arsenic being developed for the treatment of various hematologic and solid cancers. Preclinical and Phase I and II results to date demonstrate that darinaparsin is much less toxic than other forms of arsenic. Intravenous darinaparsin continues to be studied in a Phase II hematology trial with favorable treatment activity in certain lymphomas and in Phase I study with oral administration. Darinaparsin has been well tolerated in all trials to date.

ZIOPHARM's operations are located in Boston, MA with an executive office in New York, NY. Further information about ZIOPHARM may be found at [ www.ziopharm.com ].

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Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements for ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from these statements. Among other things, there can be no assurance that any of the Company's development efforts relating to its product candidates will be successful, or such product candidates will be successfully commercialized. Other risks that affect forward-looking information contained in this press release include the possibility of being unable to obtain regulatory approval of the Company's product candidates, the risk that the results of clinical trials may not support the Company's claims, and risks related to the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property and its reliance on third parties to develop its product candidates. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.