DUBLIN, Calif., Oct. 31, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASTX), a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics, today announced the acceptance of three abstracts for presentation at the EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics. Poster presentations will occur Nov 7 – 9 in Dublin, Ireland.

Select posters will be made available for viewing on the company's website http://astx.com/pipeline/publications/ following the public presentation.

About Astex Pharmaceuticals

Astex Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics with a focus on oncology. The Company is developing a proprietary pipeline of novel therapies and is creating de-risked products for partnership with leading pharmaceutical companies. Astex Pharmaceuticals developed DACOGEN® (decitabine) for Injection and receives significant royalties on global sales.

For more information about Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., please visit http://www.astx.com.

The Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12273

Timothy L. Enns
Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Senior Vice President
Corporate Communications & Marketing
Tel: +1 (925) 560-2810
E-mail: 

Alan Roemer
The Trout Group
Managing Director
Tel: +1 (646) 378-2945
E-mail: 

Susanna Chau
Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Manager
Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (925) 560-2845
E-mail: 

Kari Watson
MacDougall Biomedical Communications
Senior Vice President
Tel: +1 (781) 235-3060
E-mail: