FDA Advisory Committee Reviews Genasense(TM) for Use in Advanced Melanoma

FDA Advisory Committee Reviews Genasense(TM) for Use in Advanced
Melanoma


BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. and BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 3  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Genta Incorporated  and Aventis  presented results of their Phase 3 trial of
Genasense(TM) (oblimersen sodium) Injection in combination with dacarbazine
(DTIC) versus dacarbazine alone at the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee
(ODAC) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  In the absence of
increased survival, the committee voted that the evidence presented today did
not provide substantial evidence of effectiveness, as measured by response rate
and progression-free survival, to outweigh the increased toxicity of
administering Genasense for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma
who have not received prior chemotherapy. While the advisory committee's
recommendation is not binding, the FDA will consider it as the agency completes
its Priority Review of the New Drug Application (NDA) for Genasense.

"We strongly believe in the potential of Genasense and what it represents to
patients with advanced melanoma," said Dr. Raymond P. Warrell Jr., Genta's
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "We are committed to its ongoing
development and we will work closely with the FDA to determine the appropriate
next steps."

"Advanced melanoma represents a significant unmet medical need.  While
disappointing, the committee's vote underscores the complexities of treating
this devastating disease," said Frank Douglas, MD, PhD, Executive Vice
President of Drug Innovation and Approval and a Member of the Board of
Management at Aventis. "We will work with our partners at Genta to address any
outstanding questions from the FDA."

Genta filed its NDA for Genasense in December 2003 and was granted Priority
Review.  An FDA response on the Genasense NDA is expected by June 8, 2004.  The
NDA for Genasense is based on results from a Phase 3 randomized trial of
Genasense plus dacarbazine in patients with advanced melanoma.  The study --
the largest randomized trial ever conducted for advanced melanoma -- enrolled
patients at 139 sites in nine countries.  Investigators randomly assigned 771
patients who had not previously received chemotherapy to either Genasense plus
dacarbazine or dacarbazine alone.  Patients who received Genasense in addition
to dacarbazine showed significant improvement across clinical measures; a 51
percent improvement in median progression-free survival (74 days vs. 49 days);
an improvement in durable response rate of greater than or equal to 6 months,
(13 patients vs. 5 patients); and a 72 percent increase in overall anti-tumor
response rate (11.7 percent vs. 6.8 percent).

During the meeting, the company also presented additional information on
complete responders that were not part of the original NDA submission, and that
have not been confirmed by the FDA.  Six additional patients were identified
who achieved complete responses in the follow-up period in the Genasense plus
dacarbazine group, yielding a total of 11 complete responses. In this update,
no additional complete responders were identified in the dacarbazine alone
group.

In a randomized clinical trial in which patients received Genasense combined
with dacarbazine (n=371) compared to dacarbazine alone (n=360), the most
frequent serious adverse event occurring in greater than or equal to 5% of
patients was fever (5.9% vs. 3.1%, respectively); the most frequent Grade 3 or
4 adverse events occurring in greater than or equal to 5% of patients were
neutropenia (21.3% vs. 12.5% respectively), thrombocytopenia (15.6% vs. 6.4%),
leukopenia (7.5% vs. 3.9%), anemia (7.0% vs. 4.7%), and nausea (7.0% vs. 2.5%).

About Genasense

Genasense inhibits production of Bcl-2, a protein made by cancer cells that is
thought to block chemotherapy-induced apoptosis (programmed cell death).  By
reducing the amount of Bcl-2 in cancer cells, Genasense may enhance the
effectiveness of current treatments for advanced melanoma.  Genta and Aventis
are pursuing a clinical development program with Genasense evaluating its
potential to treat various forms of cancer.

About Advanced Melanoma

Advanced melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer because it has spread
throughout the body forming secondary tumors.  The incidence of melanoma has
increased more rapidly than any other cancer, and has more than doubled in the
last 30 years. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 55,000 cases
of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2004. Melanoma is the number one
cause of cancer death in the United States for women aged 25 to 29, and it
ranks second in incidence to breast cancer in women aged 30-34. Globally,
132,000 melanoma skin cancers will occur globally every year, according to the
World Health Organization.

About Genta

Genta Incorporated is a pharmaceutical company focused on delivering innovative
products for the treatment of patients with cancer.  The company's research
platform is anchored by two major programs that center on RNA and DNA-based
Medicines and Small Molecules.  Genasense(TM) (oblimersen sodium) Injection,
the Company's lead drug from its RNA-DNA Medicines program, is being developed
with Aventis and is currently undergoing late-stage, Phase 3 clinical testing
for additional indications.  The leading drug in Genta's Small Molecule program
is Ganite(R) (gallium nitrate injection), which the Company is exclusively
marketing in the U.S. for treatment of patients with cancer-related
hypercalcemia that is resistant to hydration.  For more information about
Genta, please visit our website at: http://www.genta.com/.

About Aventis

Aventis is dedicated to treating and preventing disease by discovering and
developing innovative prescription drugs and human vaccines. In 2003, Aventis
generated sales of 16.79 billion euro (US $18.99), invested 2.86 billion euro
(US $3.24) in research and development and employed approximately 69,000 people
in its core business. Aventis corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.
The company's prescription drugs business is conducted in the U.S. by Aventis
Pharmaceuticals Inc., which is headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For
more information, please visit: http://www.aventis-us.com/.

For Genta:

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to business
conducted by Genta Incorporated. By their nature, forward-looking statements
and forecasts involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and
depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of
factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially.
For a discussion of those risks and uncertainties, please see the Company's
Annual Report/Form 10-K for 2003.

For Aventis:

Statements in this news release containing projections or estimates of
revenues, income, earnings per share, capital expenditures, capital structure,
or other financial items; plans and objectives relating to future operations,
products, or services; future economic performance; or assumptions underlying
or relating to any such statements, are forward-looking statements subject to
risks and uncertainties.  Actual results could differ materially depending on
factors such as the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the results of
clinical trials, the company's relative success developing and gaining market
acceptance for new products, the outcome of significant litigation, and the
effectiveness of patent protection.  Additional information regarding risks and
uncertainties is set forth in the current Annual Report on Form 20-F of Aventis
on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the current Annual
Report -- "Document de Reference" -- on file with the "Autorite des marches
financiers" in France. 

DATASOURCE: Genta Incorporated



CONTACT:  Joy Schmitt, Media Relations, [phone],

, or Tara Spiess, Investor Relations, [phone],

, both of Genta Incorporated; or Lisa Kennedy,

[phone], , or Marisol Peron,

[phone], , both of Aventis U.S. Product

Communications



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

http://www.aventis-us.com/ 

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