Somanta Presents Positive Data from Alchemix on Multiple Cancer Cell Lines at Prostate Cancer Update Conference.

IRVINE, Calif. -- Somanta, Inc., a privately held oncology company, today announced the presentation of positive results in tests of cytoxicity and inhibition of pan-cell cycle progression using Alchemix, the Company's novel alkylating anthraquinone, in a poster session at the 16th International Prostate Cancer Update Conference, Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Tests were conducted to study the effect of Alchemix on cell cycle events and in vitro activity. DNA content and Cyclin B1 expression were measured using flow cytometry and a p53 functional human osteosarcoma cell line (U2-OS). The results as contained in the poster presentation indicate:

--Slow pan-cell cycle progression and mitotic commitment with a limited expression of G2 arrest.

--B1 cyclin tracking reveals that escape from Alchemix-induced cell cycle arrest in G2 is forcing some cells to enter polyploidy via an aberrant mitosis in keeping with topoisomerase II inhibition.

--Alchemix in vitro activity against the NCI human cell line panel, including several prostate cancer cell lines, had a mean IG50 = 49 nM. Eleven of the 24 cell lines tested had an IG50 of less than 10 nM.

"Alchemix possesses potent activity across a variety of chemotherapy-resistant human tumors, including prostate cancer," said Agamemnon Epenetos, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Somanta. "The study suggests that this effect is probably due to the pan-cell cycle effects, and specifically that multi-level targeting by Alchemix reduces the probability of cancer cells surviving even if they are resistant to other chemotherapy drugs. The results help explain the activity of Alchemix in both cisplatin and anthracycline-resistant tumors in vitro and in vivo."

Dr. Epenetos noted that the cytotoxicity of anthraquinones such as Alchemix is related to their slow rate of dissociation from DNA, the kinetics of which favor long-term trapping of the topo-DNA complexes. DNA topoisomerase II (topo II) is crucial to the maintenance of cancer cells in a proliferative state. Currently available DNA interacting agents at best promote a transient inhibition of topo II, since the topo-drug-DNA ternary complex is reversed by removal of the intracellular drug pool.

About Alchemix

Somanta's lead drug candidate is Alchemix, a chloroethylaminoanthraquinone, a multi-target inhibitor that overcomes chemotherapeutic drug resistance by binding to DNA in tumor cells. The Company believes Alchemix has the ability to overcome many different pathways of drug resistance, and will be studied in a broad range of cancers including lung, colon, ovarian and renal. Preclinical studies have been completed, and a Phase I dose-escalation trial is expected to commence during the 2006 fourth quarter.

About Somanta

Somanta, Inc. is a specialty oncology company with particular focus on in-licensing anti-cancer agents with substantial clinical data supporting safety and efficacy. To date the Company has successfully in-licensed the rights to five products, each with a different mode of action and targeting 11 different cancer types.

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Because these statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Specifically, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks associated with preclinical and clinical developments in the biopharmaceutical industry in general and in Somanta's compounds under development in particular; the potential failure of Somanta's compounds under development to prove safe and effective for treatment of disease; uncertainties inherent in the early stage of Somanta's compounds under development; failure to successfully implement or complete clinical trials; failure to receive marketing clearance from regulatory agencies for our compounds under development; acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, licenses or strategic initiatives that change Somanta's business, structure or projections; the development of competing products; uncertainties related to Somanta's dependence on third parties and partners; and those risks described in Somanta's filings with the SEC. Somanta disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.