VioQuest Pharmaceuticals Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent

  
    
  
  
    
      VioQuest Pharmaceuticals (OTCBB:VOQP) today announced that the United 
      States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent for the company’s 
      investigational product candidate Xyfid™ (1% 
      topical uracil). U.S. Patent No. 7,368,456 ('456 patent), entitled “Methods, 
      compositions, and kits for organ protection during systemic anticancer 
      therapy,” includes pharmaceutical 
      compositions, methods of treatment, and combination kits. The ‘456 
      patent applies to the use of Xyfid as well as to a range of methods 
      designed to protect body tissue from the toxic effects of certain 
      systemically administered anticancer therapeutic agents.
    
    
      In particular, cutaneous toxicities are a side effect associated with 
      some commonly used anticancer therapies, including epidermal growth 
      factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, vascular endothelial growth factor 
      (VEGF) inhibitors, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and the oral 5-FU prodrug 
      capecitabine.
    
    
      For example, many patients treated with EGFR inhibitors develop 
      dermatological toxicity, including skin drying, fissuring, and acneform 
      rash that may cause the reduction, interruption or discontinuation of 
      treatment. As envisioned in the ‘456 patent, 
      topical application of a recombinant EGF formulation could treat or 
      prevent these skin toxicity manifestations, permitting the full and 
      uninterrupted course of treatment to be administered.
    
    
      In another example, patients treated with bevacizumab in combination 
      with intravenous 5-FU-based chemotherapy for metastatic carcinoma of the 
      colon are also at risk for skin toxicity. As envisioned in the ‘456 
      patent, topical application of a recombinant VEGF formulation could 
      treat or prevent skin toxicity.
    
    
      “The issue of dose-limiting cutaneous 
      toxicities in cancer therapy puts many patients at risk and has a 
      significant impact on efficacy and patient outcomes. The ‘456 
      patent further positions VioQuest to advance clinical programs involving 
      Xyfid and new research involving a range of methods to address toxicity 
      issues for patients treated with anticancer therapies in the years ahead,” 
      said Michael D. Becker, president and chief executive officer of 
      VioQuest Pharmaceuticals.
    
    
      About Xyfid
    
    
      VioQuest Pharmaceuticals is developing Xyfid for the treatment of dry 
      skin conditions, to manage the burning and itching associated with 
      various dermatoses, and for the prevention of palmar–plantar 
      erythrodysesthesia (PPE), also known as hand–foot 
      syndrome (HFS), a relatively common dose-limiting side effect of 
      cytotoxic chemotherapy. HFS is most frequently associated with 5 
      fluorouracil (5-FU) or the 5-FU prodrug capecitabine. 5-FU, alone or in 
      combination therapy, is widely used to treat cancers of the head and 
      neck, breast, cervix, and gastrointestinal tract. There are currently no 
      treatments or preventions for HFS, which is characterized by tingling in 
      the palms, fingers and soles of feet and by erythema, which may progress 
      to burning pain with dryness, cracking, desquamation, ulceration and 
      oedema.
    
    
      About VioQuest Pharmaceuticals
    
    
      VioQuest Pharmaceuticals is a New Jersey-based biotechnology company 
      dedicated to becoming a recognized leader in the successful development 
      of novel drug therapies targeting both the molecular basis of cancer and 
      side effects of treatment. VioQuest’s 
      oncology portfolio includes: Xyfid™ (1% 
      uracil topical), for the treatment and prevention of Hand-Foot Syndrome, 
      a common side effect associated with certain chemotherapy treatments, 
      and to treat dry skin conditions and manage the burning and itching 
      associated with various dermatoses; VQD-002 (triciribine phosphate 
      monohydrate), a targeted inhibitor of Akt activation; and Lenocta™ 
      (sodium stibogluconate), an inhibitor of certain protein tyrosine 
      phosphatases such as SHP-1, SHP-2, and PTP1B.
    
    
      Further information about VioQuest can be found at www.vioquestpharm.com.
    
    
      This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve 
      risks and uncertainties that could cause VioQuest's actual results and 
      experiences to differ materially from the anticipated results and 
      expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These 
      forward-looking statements concern VioQuest's ability to develop Xyfid, 
      the potential indications and methods for which Xyfid may be developed, 
      and the role Xyfid may play in the treatment of dermatological disorders 
      caused by certain cancer therapies. These statements are often, but not 
      always, made through the use of words or phrases such as anticipates, 
      expects, plans, believes, intends, and similar words or phrases. These 
      statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions 
      that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual 
      outcomes and results to differ materially from these statements. These 
      statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and include 
      VioQuest’s need for additional capital to 
      fund its clinical development programs, the possibility that the results 
      of clinical trials will not support VioQuest's claims, the possibility 
      that VioQuest's development efforts relating to its product candidates 
      will not be successful, the inability to obtain regulatory approval of 
      VioQuest's product candidates, VioQuest's reliance on third-party 
      researchers to develop its product candidates, its lack of experience in 
      developing and commercializing pharmaceutical products, and the 
      possibility that its licenses to develop and commercialize its product 
      candidates may be terminated. Additional risks are described in 
      VioQuest's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 
      2007. VioQuest assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these 
      forward-looking statements, except as required by law.