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ZIOPHARM Oncology Announces Filing of Resale Registration Statement for Previous Private Placement

^{Published on 2011-05-18 07:06:18 - Market Wire}
 

NEW YORK--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZIOP) announced today that on May 18, 2011 it filed a resale registration statement on Form S-3 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The registration statement registers for resale common shares issued or issuable to Intrexon Corporation in a private placement under a Stock Purchase Agreement with Intrexon dated January 6, 2011. The registration statement relates to a total of 9,700,087 shares of the Company's common stock, of which 6,063,161 shares were issued to Intrexon on January 12, 2011 and additional 3,636,926 shares that may be issued in the future under certain conditions upon dosingof the first patient in a ZIOPHARM-conducted U.S. Phase II clinical trial of a product candidate created, produced or developed by us using Intrexon technology.ZIOPHARM will not receive any proceeds from the resale of the securities. ZIOPHARM agreed to file the resale registration statement pursuant to the terms of a Registration Rights Agreement with Intrexon entered into on January 12, 2011 as part of the private placement.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time a registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state or jurisdiction. The prospectus contained in registration statement is available online at [ www.sec.gov ] or by request to the Company at: One First Avenue, Boston MA, 02129, Attention: Tyler Cook, telephone (617) 259-1982.

About ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.:

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

Palifosfamide (Zymafosa" or ZIO-201) is a novel DNA cross-linker in class with bendamustine, ifosfamide, and cyclophosphamide. ZIOPHARM is currently enrolling patients in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase III trial with palifosfamide administered intravenously for the treatment of metastatic soft tissue sarcoma in the front-line setting. The company is also currently conducting a Phase I intravenous study of palifosfamide in combination with standard of care addressing small cell lung cancer and an oral form of the drug for treatment of solid tumors is currently in the advanced preclinical stage of development.

Darinaparsin (Zinapara" or ZIO-101) is a novel mitochondrial-targeted agent (organic arsenic) being developed intravenously for the treatment of relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphoma likely with a two-stage potentially pivotal study expected to begin in late 2011. An oral form is in a Phase I trial in solid tumors.

Indibulin (Zybulina" or ZIO-301) is a novel, oral tubulin binding agent that is expected to have several potential benefits including oral dosing, application in multi-drug resistant tumors, no neuropathy and a quite tolerable toxicity profile. It is currently being studied in Phase I/II in metastatic breast cancer.

ZIOPHARM is also pursuing the development of novel DNA-based therapeutics in the field of cancer pursuant to a partnering arrangement with Intrexon Corporation. The partnership includes two existing clinical-stage product candidates, the first of which is in a Phase Ib study and the second will be the subject of an anticipated Investigational New Drug (IND) application that ZIOPHARM expects to submit during the first half of 2011.

ZIOPHARM's operations are located in Boston, MA and Germantown, MD with an executive office in New York City. 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 ZIOPHARM Oncologya™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 ZIOPHARM Oncologya™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 ZIOPHARM Oncologya™s product candidates, the risk that the results of clinical trials may not support ZIOPHARM Oncologya™s claims, the risk that pre-clinical or clinical trials will proceed on schedules that are consistent with ZIOPHARM Oncologya™s current expectations or at all, risks related to ZIOPHARM Oncologya™s ability to protect its intellectual property and its reliance on third parties to develop its product candidates, risks related to the sufficiency of existing capital reserves to fund continued operations for a particular amount of time and uncertainties regarding ZIOPHARM Oncologya™s ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations thereafter, as well as other risks regarding ZIOPHARM Oncologya™s that are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in ZIOPHARM Oncologya™s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "intend," " should," "could," "can," "would," "expect," "believe," "estimate," " predict," "potential," "plan," "is designed to," "target" and similar expressions. ZIOPHARM Oncology assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.