MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J., Jan. 23, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- VioQuest Pharmaceuticals (OTCBB:VQPH), a New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing targeted cancer compounds, was prominently featured in a recent New Jersey News (NJN) "Healthwatch" segment. The Company was also interviewed recently on the topic of targeted cancer therapeutics by several other television stations across the country including WITV-TV (Fox) in Milwaukee.
Sara Lee Kessler, NJN's Emmy award-winning Health and Medical Correspondent, showcased VioQuest as one of two New Jersey-based companies on the cutting edge of targeted cancer therapeutics. The "Healthwatch" segment focused on VioQuest's VQD-001, sodium stibogluconate (SSG), compound, which has historically been used to treat leishmaniasis, an infectious disease prevalent in many tropical climates, but now shows promise as a targeted oncology therapeutic. VQD-001, currently in clinical trials at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, targets specific proteins called protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) that can be over expressed in melanoma, myeloma, and lymphoma.
Aired interviews are available on CD, by e-mailing emoran@investorrelationsgroup.com.
About VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s strategy is to acquire, develop, and commercialize targeted late preclinical- and early clinical-stage therapies with unique mechanisms of action for oncology, viral and autoimmune disorders. VioQuest is developing two novel anti-cancer agents, VQD-001 and VQD-002, for the treatment of melanoma, myeloma and lymphoma, and breast, ovarian, pancreatic and colorectal cancers, respectively. VQD-001 is currently in clinical trials at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, and a Phase I/II clinical trial for VQD-002 is expected to initiate in the first quarter of 2006 at the Moffitt Cancer Research Institute in Tampa, Florida. VioQuest's life science subsidiary, Chiral Quest, Inc., a pioneer in asymmetric synthesis, offers proprietary chiral catalysts and synthesis expertise for creating important chiral intermediates and products, which improves the safety, efficacy and manufacturing efficiency of pharmaceutical products. Through Chiral Quest, VioQuest provides products and services to fine chemical manufacturers and twelve of the top eighteen pharmaceutical companies worldwide. For more information please visit www.vioquestpharm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: 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 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. Among other things, there can be no assurances that any of VioQuest's research programs and compounds will be successfully commercialized. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions also include the possibility that the market for the sale of certain products may not develop as expected; and that development of these products may not proceed as planned. Additional risks are described in VioQuest's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2004. VioQuest assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.