NEW YORK, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (FWB: CA4), a developer of new drug treatments in the fight against cancer and other major health threats, congratulates one of its Directors, Dr. Riccardo Dalla-Favera, on his selection as the recipient of the William Dameshek Prize. The award is being given at a Presidential Symposium at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 48th Annual Meeting on December 12, 2006. The Prize is given in honor of the late Dr. William Dameshek, a past president of ASH, and recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of hematology. Dr. Dalla-Favera is the Percy and Joanne Uris Professor of Pathology and Professor of Genetics & Development, and the Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University. He has made significant contributions to our present-day understanding of the molecular genetics of cancer, and has authored over 250 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
"On behalf of the Board of Directors of Callisto and our management team, I congratulate our colleague Riccardo Dalla-Favera for this noteworthy award," said Dr. Gary S. Jacob, Chief Executive Officer of Callisto.
About Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Callisto is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new drugs to treat various forms of cancer and other serious afflictions. Callisto's drug candidates in development currently include anti-cancer agents in clinical development, in addition to drugs in pre-clinical development for other significant health care markets, including ulcerative colitis. One of the Company's lead drug candidates, Atiprimod, is in development to treat advanced carcinoid cancer, a neuroendocrine tumor, and relapsed multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. Atiprimod is presently in a Phase II clinical trial in advanced carcinoid cancer patients, and in Phase I/IIa human clinical trials in relapsed multiple myeloma patients, and advanced cancer patients, respectively. Another anti-cancer drug, L-Annamycin, is being developed as a treatment for forms of relapsed acute leukemia, a currently incurable blood cancer. Callisto initiated a clinical trial of L-Annamycin in adult relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia patients in 4Q 2005. L-Annamycin, a new compound from the anthracycline family of proven anti-cancer drugs, has a novel therapeutic profile, including activity against resistant diseases and significantly reduced cardiotoxicity, or damage to the heart, compared to currently available drug alternatives. Callisto also has drugs in preclinical development for gastro-intestinal inflammation, and cancer. Callisto has exclusive worldwide licenses from AnorMED Inc. and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to develop, manufacture, use and sell Atiprimod and L-Annamycin, respectively. Callisto is also listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CA4. More information is available at http://www.callistopharma.com.
Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc.CONTACT: Dan D'Agostino of Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,+1-212-297-0010, ext. 227, dagostino@callistopharma.com
Web site: http://www.callistopharma.com//
