Adherex to Present at National Cancer Institute's Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program Early Drug Development Meeting.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Adherex Technologies Inc. (AMEX:ADH)(TSX:AHX)

Adherex's Largest Shareholders Comment on Recently Announced NCI Collaboration

Adherex Technologies Inc. (AMEX:ADH)(TSX:AHX), a biopharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of oncology products under development, today announced that Chairman and CEO, William P. Peters MD, PhD, will give a presentation on the Company's lead biotechnology compound ADH-1 (Exherin(TM)) at the Spring 2005 National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) Early Drug Development Meeting later today.

"We are pleased that CTEP has included us in its Spring meeting of investigators working with NCI-sponsored clinical trials," said Dr. Peters. "This presentation provides an important opportunity to introduce ADH-1 and the data from our Phase I trial to the physician community who, as announced last week, could become future investigators of NCI-sponsored trials of ADH-1."

"It is significant for Adherex that the NCI will bring its considerable expertise in drug development and expansive scientific and financial resources to bear on the development of ADH-1," Donald W. Kufe, MD, Professor of Medicine, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Chairman of Adherex's Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board, and Member of Adherex's Board of Directors. "While Adherex is initially conducting single agent studies of ADH-1 in its Phase Ib/II and Phase II studies, this collaboration provides the opportunity for the NCI to expand development of ADH-1 into combination studies. It is the NCI's mission to ensure that novel anti-cancer agents, like ADH-1, with distinctive molecular targets and mechanisms of action are identified and introduced into clinical trials, and we are happy to be associated with the NCI's preclinical and clinical programs."

Two of the Company's largest shareholders also commented on the recent announcement that the Drug Development Group (DDG) of the U.S. NCI's Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis has approved a Level III collaboration with Adherex on the clinical development of ADH-1. Level III is the highest level of collaboration with the NCI and provides for both preclinical and clinical development programs.

"We are extremely pleased that the NCI has agreed to evaluate ADH-1 in its extensive clinical trials network," said Erich Platzer, Ph.D., Investment Advisor, HBM Partners AG, advisor to Adherex's largest institutional investor. "We understand that the NCI is very selective in which drugs it chooses to evaluate. In our opinion, ADH-1 is an important novel drug with the potential to improve treatment for a variety of cancers, and we are happy to see the NCI recognizing this potential."

"This collaboration, with one of the world's foremost agencies for cancer research and training, is an important validation of the promising nature of ADH-1," said Luc Marengere, Ph.D., Managing General Partner, VenGrowth Private Equity Partners Inc., Adherex's second largest institutional investor. "From our perspective, this collaboration provides the opportunity to complement and potentially expedite the development of ADH-1."

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 four products in the clinical stage of development including ADH-1 (Exherin(TM)) and sodium thiosulfate (STS). ADH-1, our lead biotechnology compound, is an angiolytic that selectively targets 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 clinical development plans of the Company, both alone and through collaborations, as well as the expected benefits, timing and results. We can provide no assurance that the clinical development will proceed as currently anticipated or that expected benefits, timing or results will be realized. We are subject to risks inherent in the biopharmaceutical industry, including the early stage of our product candidates, the uncertainties of clinical trials and regulatory review, our reliance on collaborations and our history of losses. For a more detailed discussion of related risk factors, please refer to our public filings available at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov.

Adherex Technologies Inc. (TSX:AHX)