Access Pharmaceuticals Reports Significant Third Party Payer Reimbursement Progress for MuGard

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.(OTC Bulletin Board: ACCP),a biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary drug-delivery platforms to develop treatments in areas of oncology, cancer supportive care and diabetes,announced it has made significant progress in obtaining MuGard reimbursements from various third-party payer networks. Some of the national insurance reimbursements included several state plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Net, Caremark, Well Point Next Rx, Harvard Pilgrim and Medicaid.

“Receiving these reimbursements affirms that national payers understand the critical role MuGard plays in the management of oral mucositis and serves as strong validation of the clinical and pharmacoeconomic viability MuGard offers,” said Jeff Davis, President and CEO, Access Pharmaceuticals. He continued, “Our effort to land additional reimbursements is ongoing as it provides an incentive for clinics and hospitals to more quickly integrate the MuGard into their treatment protocols for cancer patients.”

About Access:

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes proprietary products for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients. Access’ products include MuGard (www.MuGard.com), which has received FDA marketing clearance for the management of patients with mucositis, ProLindac, a second generation DACH Platinum in Phase 2 clinical testing of patients with ovarian cancer, and Thiarabine, a novel nucleoside analog that has demonstrated both pre-clinical and clinical activity in certain cancers; currently in a Phase 1/2a trial in hematological malignancies at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

The company also has other advanced drug delivery technologies including CobaCyte-mediated targeted delivery and CobOral-oral drug delivery, its proprietary nanopolymer delivery technology based on the natural vitamin B12 uptake mechanism. For additional information on Access Pharmaceuticals, please visit our website at www.accesspharma.com.

This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include those relating to: our cash burn rate, clinical trial plans and timelines and clinical results for ProLindac, MuGard, Thiarabine and Cobalamin and other product candidates, our ability to achieve clinical and commercial success and our ability to successfully develop marketed products. These statements are subject to numerous risks, including but not limited to Access’ need to obtain additional financing in order to continue the clinical trial and operations and to the risks detailed in Access’ Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other reports filed by Access with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.