Cylene Pharmaceuticals Promotes Claire S. Padgett to Vice President of Clinical Operations

SAN DIEGO, CA - March 14, 2008

Cylene Pharmaceuticals has promoted Claire S. Padgett to Vice President of Clinical Operations. Ms. Padgett brings more than twenty-five years of experience in establishing and managing operations for organizations in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and CRO industries. In her role as Vice President of Clinical Operations, Ms. Padgett will be responsible for the operational oversight of Cylene's clinical trials, both domestic and international, and the management of collaborations with clinical service providers such as contract research organizations (CROs) and central laboratories.

"I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to advance the Phase II studies of Cylene's lead compound, quarfloxin (CX-3543)," said Ms. Padgett. "Moreover, the other compounds in Cylene's pipeline are also novel and innovative, with the potential to address multiple oncology indications. I look forward to being involved in the clinical development phase of these compounds as well."

Prior to joining Cylene, Ms Padgett was Executive Director, Clinical Operations at Conforma Therapeutics (acquired by Biogen Idec, Inc.). During her tenure at Conforma Therapeutics, she was an integral clinical contributor to three IND submissions and was instrumental in the initiation and maintenance of clinical trials. Ms. Padgett has held senior clinical project management positions at Medinox, Inc., Ligand Pharmaceuticals, and IBRD-Rostrum Global (now MDS Pharma Services).

"Ms Padgett is a key member of our clinical development team, which includes Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff, the company's co-founder and Vice President, Medical Affairs, and Dr. John K.C. Lim, Vice President of Clinical Development," said Dr. William G. Rice, Cylene's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Her many years of experience in managing clinical operations is essential as we advance quarfloxin (CX-3543) in the clinic while preparing other compounds to enter the clinic in the near term."

Ms Padgett earned a M.S. in biology and business from Seton Hall University. She received her B.S., Phi Beta Kappa, from Rutgers University.

About Cylene Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Cylene Pharmaceuticals is a private company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of targeted small-molecule drugs to treat life-threatening cancers. Using its proprietary Ribosomal RNA Biogenesis Inhibition Technology (RABIT™) to design molecules that combat drug-resistant forms of cancer, Cylene has created multiple product candidates in different stages of development. Cylene's most advanced cancer agent, quarfloxin (CX-3543), is a ribosomal RNA Biogenesis Inhibitor (RBI) in Phase II clinical development in patients having chronic lymphocytic leukemia and in late-stage Phase I development in patients having solid tumors. More information can be found at www.cylenepharma.com.