Vion Pharmaceuticals To Present At C.E. Unterberg, Towbin Emerging Growth Life Sciences Conference

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. announced today that it would be making a corporate presentation at the C.E. Unterberg, Towbin Emerging Growth Life Sciences Conference on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 3:40 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference is taking place at The Palace Hotel in New York City.

The slides from the presentation will be posted to Vion's website, http://www.vionpharm.com, at 3:40 p.m. Eastern Time.

Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is developing cancer therapeutics. Vion has two agents in clinical trials: Cloretazine(R), a unique sulfonylhydrazine alkylating agent, is being evaluated in a Phase III trial in combination with cytarabine in relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia. Trials of Cloretazine(R) as a single agent in adult and pediatric brain tumors, small cell lung cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and in combination with temozolomide in hematologic malignancies, are also underway. Triapine(R), a potent inhibitor of a key step in DNA synthesis, is being evaluated in trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. In preclinical studies, Vion is also evaluating KS119W, a hypoxia-selective compound from the sulfonylhydrazine class, and heterocyclic hydrazones. The Company also is seeking development partners for TAPET(R), its modified Salmonella vector used to deliver anticancer agents directly to tumors. For additional information on Vion and its product development programs, visit the Company's Internet web site at http://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 secure 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, 2004. 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. Alan Kessman, Chief Executive Officer Howard B. Johnson, President (203) 498-4210 phone

CONTACT: Alan Kessman, Chief Executive Officer, or Howard B. Johnson,President, both of Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-203-498-4210

Web site: http://www.vionpharm.com/