SuperGen, Inc.'s CLIMB(TM) Technology Identifies Lead Pim Kinase Inhibitors

ATLANTA, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SuperGen Inc. , a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, rapid development and commercialization of therapies for solid tumors and hematological malignancies, today announced the presentation of data that describe how its proprietary CLIMB(TM) technology was used in lead development and design of small molecule Pim kinase inhibitors (Poster 845, Abstract 2655). This data is part of a series of presentations at the American Society of Hematology’s 49th Annual Meeting taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Entitled “Targeting Pim Kinases in Hematological Malignancies,” the poster described how scientists used SuperGen’s CLIMB(TM) technology to build a model to identify small molecule inhibitors of the Pim kinases, which are over- expressed in many cancer types, including acute myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leads were screened to identify those with inhibitory activity with low nanomolar IC50 concentrations. Data support further development of the lead compounds in hematological malignancies.

“Using our CLIMB(TM) drug discovery process to model the three Pim kinases, we were able to identify several small molecule leads that appear to be highly effective inhibitors of the Pim kinase family,” said Dr. David Bearss, SuperGen’s Vice President, Chief Scientist. “We have also used this approach with other programs in our pipeline. Our CLIMB TM technology allows us to optimize lead drug candidates, decrease our drug discovery cycle time, and operate more efficiently.”

A copy of the poster presentation will be available in the pipeline section of SuperGen’s Web site www.supergen.com.

About SuperGen

Based in Dublin, Calif., SuperGen Inc. is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, rapid development and commercialization of therapies for solid tumors and hematological malignancies. SuperGen is developing a number of therapeutic anticancer products focused on kinase and cell signaling inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors. For more information about SuperGen, please visit http://www.supergen.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically preceded by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “will,” “may,” “should,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in these statements. Factors that might cause the company’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability to discover, develop and move target compounds into clinical development and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its most recently filed Form 10-Q and 10-K. SuperGen, Inc. undertakes no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements to conform them to actual results.

mary.vegh@supergen.comtenns@supergen.com

CONTACT: Timothy L. Enns, SVP, Corporate Communications & Business
Development, +1-925-560-0100, tenns@supergen.com, or Mary M. Vegh, Manager,
Investor Relations, +1-925-560-2845, mary.vegh@supergen.com, both of
SuperGen, Inc.

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

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