Adherex to Present ADH-1 Phase I/II Melanoma Trial Data at the 2008 Annual Meeting Of The American Society Of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

The poster presentation entitled "A phase I/II study of systemic ADH-1 in combination with isolated limb infusion with melphalan (ILI-M) in patients with locally advanced in-transit melanoma" is scheduled to be presented on June 1, 2008 with a poster discussion occurring between 5 and 6 pm.

Adherex is evaluating systemic ADH-1 in combination with regional melphalan for the treatment of melanoma in an ongoing multi-institutional Phase I/II trial which is expected to complete patient accruals by approximately mid-2008.  Participating centers include Duke University Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Lehigh Valley Hospital and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center.  The trial has accrued 27 patients to date and patients with follow-up of three months or more will be presented at ASCO.  

About Adherex Technologies

Adherex Technologies Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel cancer therapeutics. We aim to be a leader in developing innovative treatments that address important unmet medical needs in cancer.  We currently have multiple products in the clinical stage of development, including eniluracil, ADH-1 and sodium thiosulfate (STS).  Eniluracil, an oral dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) inhibitor, was previously under development by GlaxoSmithKline for oncology indications. ADH-1, our lead biotechnology compound, selectively targets N-cadherin, a protein present on certain tumor cells and established blood vessels that feed solid tumors. STS, a drug from our specialty pharmaceuticals pipeline, protects against the disabling hearing loss that can often result from treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy drugs. With a diversified portfolio of unique preclinical and clinical-stage cancer compounds and a management team with expertise in identifying, developing and commercializing novel cancer therapeutics, Adherex is emerging as a pioneering oncology company. For more information, please visit our website at www.adherex.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties.  The actual results, performance or achievements of the Company might differ materially from the results, performance or achievements of the Company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those regarding the development plans of the Company and the expected timing of our development.  We can provide no assurance that such development will proceed as currently anticipated or that the expected timing of such development will be realized.  We are subject to various risks, including the uncertainties of clinical trials, drug development and regulatory review, the early stage of our product candidates, our reliance on collaborative partners, our need for additional capital to fund our operations, our history of losses, and other risks inherent to the biopharmaceutical industry.  For a more detailed discussion of related risk factors, please refer to our public filings available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.

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