The standard treatment for pleural mesothelioma is currently surgery to remove the patient’s lung - a potentially debilitating consequence.

"Current surgical and chemotherapy treatments of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma are unsatisfactory, and have not been shown to significantly prolong survival. In this study, we will investigate whether a combination of chemotherapy and radiation targeted directly at the lung’s lining can improve outcomes while avoiding surgery," says Dr. Robert Taub, the study’s principal investigator, director of the Mesothelioma Center at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia and professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. "In addition, this approach has shown to have minimal toxic side effects compared to systemic chemotherapy."

"This trial is also significant because our center is the only one nationwide that is offering this experimental therapy to treat pleural mesothelioma," added Dr. Taub. "We are very focused on offering these patients the best treatment that medical technology can offer while simultaneously working to preserve quality of life."

Researchers also anticipate that the radiation therapy will kill the cancer cells on surface of the lung while sparing other parts of the lung and surrounding vital tissues.

"Delivery of radiation therapy directly into the pleural cavity is a strategy that has been employed since 1945. Today, direct injection of radioactive isotope P-32 may prove to be a significant and effective therapeutic approach for selected mesothelioma patients," adds Dr. Rashid Fawwaz, study co-investigator, radiologist at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia and professor of clinical radiology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

"Overall, it is hoped that this study will decrease the need for patients to undergo radical surgery," states Dr. Joshua Sonett, study co-investigator, chief of general thoracic surgery, surgical director of the Lung Transplant Program and surgical director of the High-Risk Lung Assessment Program at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia and professor of clinical surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Participating patients will receive several rounds of targeted chemotherapy using the drugs cisplatin and doxorubicin via surgically implanted catheters. Some patients will be randomly selected to receive additional systemic (intravenous) chemotherapy using the drugs cisplatin and pemetrexed. All patients will receive targeted radiotherapy using the P-32 radioisotope. Patients may elect to receive additional surgical treatment, including removal of the affected lung lining or lung. Subsequently, patients will be offered outpatient systemic chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed.

The investigators previously led a prospective study that employed a similar protocol for patients with pleural mesothelioma as well as those with the more retractable sarcomatous disease. Completed in 2002, the study reported a median survival of 70 months, and a three-year survival of 67 percent (American Journal of Clinical Oncology, February 2008).

The study is being conducted at the Mesothelioma Center within the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center.

Drs. Taub, Fawwaz and Sonett are joined by co-investigators Drs. Mark Ginsberg and Lyall Gorenstein - both of New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center.

From 1940 through 1979, approximately 28 million U.S. workers were exposed to asbestos at work. An estimated 3,000 people died of mesothelioma in the late 1990s. It is unknown how asbestos causes the disease.

Columbia University Medical Center

Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education, and in patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, nurses, dentists, and public health professionals at the College of Physicians & Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Established in 1767, Columbia’s College of Physicians & Surgeons was the first institution in the country to grant the M.D. degree. Among the most selective medical schools in the country, the school is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York State and one of the largest in the United States. For more information, please visit www.cumc.columbia.edu.

Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital encompasses pre-clinical and clinical research, treatment, prevention and education efforts in cancer. The Cancer Center was initially funded by the NCI in 1972 and became a National Cancer Institute (NCI)–designated comprehensive cancer center in 1979. The designation recognizes the Center’s collaborative environment and expertise in harnessing translational research to bridge scientific discovery to clinical delivery, with the ultimate goal of successfully introducing novel diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive approaches to cancer. For more information, visit www.hiccc.columbia.edu.

New York-Presbyterian Hospital

New York-Presbyterian Hospital, based in New York City, is the nation’s largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital, with 2,242 beds. The Hospital has nearly a million patient visits in a year, including more than 220,000 visits to its emergency departments - more than any other area hospital. New York-Presbyterian provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine at five major centers: New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Allen Pavilion and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division. One of the largest and most comprehensive health-care institutions in the world, the Hospital is committed to excellence in patient care, research, education and community service. It ranks sixth in U.S.News & World Report’s guide to "America’s Best Hospitals," ranks
first on New York magazine’s "Best Hospitals" survey, has the greatest number of physicians listed in New York magazine’s "Best Doctors" issue, and is included among Solucient’s top 15 major teaching hospitals. The Hospital’s mortality rates are among the lowest for heart attack and heart failure in the country, according to a 2007 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report card. The Hospital has academic affiliations with two of the nation’s leading medical colleges: Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. For more information, visit www.nyp.org.

Office of Public Affairs
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
627 West 165th Street
New York, NY 10032
tel: 212.305.5587
fax: 212.305.8023
email: pr@nyp.org

note: The Mesothelioma Center within the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center is unrelated to the The Mesothelioma Center web site (www.mesotheliomacenter.org).

The press conference will be held on the first day of the three-day 5th Annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, sponsored by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation), an event that offers information, support and awareness to help insure the banning of asbestos and increased dollars for meso research.

Where:

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
The Lexington Conference Room, Ballroom Level
400 New Jersey Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 737-1234

When:

Thursday, June 26, 2008
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

What:

This press conference hosted by the Meso Foundation kicks off the first day of the three day International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma. The press conference is focused on the intergenerational impact of mesothelioma, with the three guest speakers: 12 year old, Lexi Miletto, whose grandfather died of meso in 2005; Taylor Stoeckler, 15 years old, whose father died of meso in 2007; and, Julie Gundlach, a young mother who has been diagnosed with meso.

Why:

Asbestos is a known carcinogen, to which millions of Americans are unwittingly exposed each year. The damaging effects of asbestos do not manifest until decades after exposure — most often occurring as malignant mesothelioma. In the past eight years since the Meso Foundation has begun working on getting legislation passed, each year 3000 people have died of meso and tens of thousands have been exposed to asbestos. This press conference highlights the continued tragedy of meso and the desperate need for more research funding to help all those affected by this disease.

For more information or to arrange interviews with International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma participants, please contact Chris Hahn at (805) 252-8955 or Joel Schnur at (917) 647-2249 or joel@schnurassociates.com.

Speakers will be available for photo ops and interviews.

Program overview can be found at: http://www.marf.org/Documents/Sym07V2.pdf

Gordon Smith Contracting originally submitted an asbestos abatement project notification for the project spanning two years. They were advised that the maximum period is one year. Their asbestos project notification lapsed and they did not re-file, as required by the code rule. This lapse was brought to their attention during a June 16 inspection. The company submitted a new asbestos project notification and now is bound by the code rule requirement for a 10-day waiting period after notification to begin the project.

During this time, the company must also address violations of many code rule procedures, including requirements for employee certification, air quality control, asbestos-control barriers and proper maintenance of cleanup inspection logs. Each of these violations poses a threat to the safety and health of both the workers on the site and the general public.

The Labor Department will revisit the site to check for compliance of all violations. If the conditions have been corrected and the contractor is in compliance with Code Rule 56, the department will remove the suspension order and the asbestos abatement work will resume.

EPA on-scene coordinators will oversee the air monitoring, which will be conducted using fixed monitoring equipment situated at key points in the city of Parkersburg. The monitoring will begin Tuesday, June 10, 2008, and will continue for as long as necessary.

On Wednesday, June 11, EPA Region 7 will deploy its Mobile Command Post to Parkersburg. The vehicle is outfitted with equipment necessary to receive and transmit data obtained during the sampling.

Air monitoring during the cleanup will be conducted to assess air quality in order to protect the health of Parkersburg residents and any non-residents who may be assisting with the demolition and rebuilding efforts.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a form of cancer that almost always caused by repeated exposition to asbestos fibers. With an incidence of approximately 1/100,000, MPM is still a relatively rare type of cancer, but has been progressing fast in the past 20 years as incidence rates have continuosly increased. MPM has a long latency period of the disease, and symptoms are non-specific, so that in most cases diagnosis is difficult before the advanced stage of the disease is reached. Treatment of malignant mesothelioma using conventional therapies has not proven to be successful, and patients have a median survival time of 6-12 months after disease presentation.

"Orphan Drug designation for ARENEGYR in mesothelioma represents a fundamental acknowledgement of the interesting early efficacy and safety results achieved in an ongoing Phase II trial, with 53 patients recruited so far, and which we just presented at the ASCO Annual meeting 2008", says Claudio Bordignon, MolMed’s president and CEO. "The analysis of preliminary study results presented at ASCO, conducted on 41 patients, already gave evidence of substantial clinical benefits in terms of long-lasting disease control and promising survivals in chemo-pretreated mesothelioma patients. In particular, it shows improved overall survival, and nearly doubled progression-free survival with respect to best supportive care data reported in literature. The consolidated results as to survival data will be available by early December, and I am convinced they will open the way to the full clinical development of ARENEGYR in this setting".

About Orphan Drug designation

European Orphan Drug designation is granted to therapeutics intended for treatment of life-threatening or chronically debilitating pathologies affecting no more than 5 in 10,000 people. The orphan medicinal products designated to date cover a wide variety of rare diseases, for which there are either no or only unsatisfactory treatment options. The Orphan Drug designation confers several benefits to drug development, including the possibility to reduce time to reach the market, protocol assistance and scientific advice provided by the EMEA throughout the drug development process, reduced fees for filing drug approval and, upon authorisation, and marketing exclusivity for a period of 10 years.

About ARENEGYR

ARENEGYR is a vascular targeting agent with unique mode of action, and a first-in-class compound in the class of peptide/cytokine complexes able to selectively target the tumour vasculature. ARENEGYR consists of a tumour homing peptide (NGR) selectively binding tumour blood vessels, fused to the powerful anticancer cytokine hTNF?. The resulting molecule has unique biological properties, including induction of tumour vascular permeability and normalisation, and a direct biological antitumour activity. ARENEGYR is undergoing clinical development both as single agent and in combination with several different chemotherapeutic agents: currently, in addition to mesothelioma and colorectal cancer, single agent Phase II trials are ongoing in hepatocellular carcinoma and small-cell lung cancer, and ARENEGYR for colorectal cancer is also being tested in a Phase II trial in combination with Xelox. Also ongoing is a Phase I trial in combination with cisplatin, while a Phase I trial in combination with doxorubicin was successfully completed. 2 Press release

About MolMed

MolMed S.p.A is a biotechnology company focused on research, development and clinical validation of novel antitumour therapies. In addition to ARENEGYR, MolMed’s pipeline includes two more novel therapeutics in clinical development: TK, a cell-based therapy enabling bone marrow transplant from partially compatible donors, in Phase III in high-risk acute leukaemias; and M3TK, a therapeutic vaccine, in Phase I/II in advanced melanoma. MolMed’s clinical pipeline is supported by a broad portfolio of therapeutic candidates. MolMed is headquartered at the San Raffaele Biomedical Science Park in Milan, Italy. The company’s shares (MLM) are listed at the MTA managed by Borsa Italiana (Standard segment, class I).

For further information, please contact:

• Holger Neecke Director Business Development - Investor Relator MolMed S.p.A.
  phone: +39 02 21277.205
  fax: +39 02 21277.325
  e-mail: investor.relations@molmed.com
• Elena Lungagnani Communication Manager MolMed S.p.A.
  phone: +39 02 21277.207
  fax: +39 02 21277.325
  e-mail: media.relations@molmed.com

“As recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in 1976 the only way to prevent asbestos-related diseases is to ban its use, the CBAA supports language in a Committee Print before the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment & Hazardous Materials,” said Linda Reinstein, Chairperson of the Committee to Ban Asbestos in America. “We are calling on the U.S. Congress and the President to do the right thing and ban asbestos in America and fund critical medical programs. Doctors and scientists agree: asbestos is a carcinogen and that there is no safe level of exposure. Preventing asbestos exposure is the only way to eliminate asbestos caused diseases. Recent ADAO product testing confirmed asbestos is still found in consumer products including toys.”

“Asbestos and the manufacturers of asbestos are responsible for creating the largest man made health crisis in this country,” said TC McNamara, Founder of The John McNamara Foundation. “Asbestos went from being a miracle product to a serial killer which makes this legislation long overdue, but now is the time to ban asbestos in America.”

About the Committee to Ban Asbestos in America

The Committee to Ban Asbestos in America (CBAA), formed by public health advocates including the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and The John McNamara Foundation is dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure and eliminating asbestos-caused diseases.

About Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004, seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to help ensure that their rights are fairly represented and protected. ADAO seeks to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and deadly asbestos related diseases. ADAO is an independent organization funded through voluntary contributions and staffed by volunteers. For more information visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org

About The John McNamara Foundation

The John McNamara Foundation, founded by the McNamara family, works to ban asbestos and offers support and assistance to mesothelioma patients and their families.

• Malignant pleural mesothelioma (ASCO abstract 8099): in this multicentre, single-arm Phase II trial, ARENEGYR is tested as a second line therapy in chemo-pretreated patients, with 53 patients enrolled so far. The preliminary analysis of the results in 41 patients, presented at ASCO on June 1st 2008, will show improved overall survival, and nearly doubled progression-free survival (PFS) with respect to best supportive care data reported in literature.
• Colorectal cancer (ASCO abstract 4110): in this multicentre, single-arm Phase II study, 43 heavily pretreated patients (i.e. with at least three previous treatments failed over time) were enrolled so far. The preliminary analysis of the results on 31 patients, presented at ASCO on June 2nd 2008, will show a fifty percent relative improved overall survival (OS) at 6 months, as compared to best supportive care data reported in literature.

Claudio Bordignon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MolMed, commented: “These encouraging preliminary results provide further evidence to support our programmme of full clinical development of ARENEGYR in both indications.” Consolidated results will be available by early October for CRC and by early December for MPM.

About ARENEGYR

ARENEGYR is a vascular targeting agent with unique mode of action, and a first-in-class compound as to peptide/cytokine complexes able to selectively target the tumour vasculature. ARENEGYR consists of a tumour homing peptide (NGR) selectively binding tumour blood vessels, fused to the powerful anticancer cytokine hTNF?. The resulting molecule has unique biological properties, including induction of tumour vascular permeability and normalisation, and a direct biological antitumour activity. ARENEGYR is undergoing clinical development both as single agent and in combination with several different chemotherapeutic agents: currently, in addition to mesothelioma and colorectal cancer, single agent Phase II trials are ongoing in hepatocellular carcinoma and small-cell lung cancer, and ARENEGYR for colorectal cancer is also being tested in a Phase II trial in combination with Xelox.

Also ongoing is a Phase I trial in combination with cisplatin, while a Phase I trial in combination with doxorubicin was successfully completed.

About Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM)

MPM is a type of cancer mostly caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this cancer, malignant cells develop in the pleura (the protective lining that covers the lungs and chest cavity). With an incidence of approximately 1/100000, MPM is still a relatively rare cancer, but has been progressing fast in the past 20 years as incidence rates have continuosly increased, and are forecasted to accelerate dramatically in the next years, largely due to the progressive degradation of buildings containing asbestos. Symptoms may not appear until many years after exposure to asbestos: because of this long latency, and because most common symptoms, such as cough and chest pain, are common to many other diseases conditions, early diagnosis is often difficult and patients may not be diagnosed until the disease is at advanced stage. Treatment of malignant mesothelioma using conventional 2 Press release therapies has not proven to be successful, and patients have a median survival time of 6-12 months after disease presentation.

About Colorectal Cancer (CRC)

CRC, also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer, includes tumour growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. It is the third most common form of cancer worldwide, with approximately 1 million new cases diagnosed every year, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world, with a yearly mortality of 655,000 people worldwide. Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon: these mushroom-like growths are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time. Therapy is usually through surgery, which in many cases is followed by chemotherapy. While the current use of chemotheraphy and novel monoclonal antibodybased therapies have increased the median survival rate, most patients with advanced colorectal cancer develop resistance to these therapies: therefore, there is an urgent need for new treatment options.

About MolMed

MolMed S.p.A is a biotechnology company focused on research, development and clinical validation of novel antitumour therapies. In addition to ARENEGYR, MolMed’s pipeline includes two more novel therapeutics in clinical development: TK, a cell-based therapy enabling bone marrow transplant from partially compatible donors, in Phase III in high-risk acute leukaemias; and M3TK, a therapeutic vaccine, in Phase I/II in advanced melanoma. MolMed’s clinical pipeline is supported by a broad portfolio of therapeutic candidates. MolMed is headquartered at the San Raffaele Biomedical Science Park in Milan, Italy. The company’s shares (Milan:MLM) are listed at the MTA managed by Borsa Italiana (Standard segment, class I).

For further information, please contact: Holger Neecke Director Business Development - Investor Relator MolMed S.p.A.

phone: +39 02 21277.205 fax: +39 02 21277.325 e-mail: investor.relations@molmed.com Elena Lungagnani Communication Manager MolMed S.p.A.

phone: +39 02 21277.207 fax: +39 02 21277.325 e-mail: media.relations@molmed.com

The Somerset, N.J.-based biopharmaceutical company said a statistically significant improvement in survival was seen in the treatment of UMM patients who failed one prior chemotherapy regimen. Alfacell said it will submit a new drug application to the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of this patient population.

The Phase IIIB trial was designed to show a statistically significant improvement in overall survival for patients treated with a combination of onconase plus doxorubicin versus patients treated with doxorubicin alone.

Date:

Monday, May 19th at 2 PM

Location:

Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2218

About:

List of discussants includes Mary Hesdorffer, a nurse practitioner and the Medical Liaison for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, who specializes in asbestos cancer patients. Asbestos exposure causes a range of diseases, including mesothelioma — one of the deadliest, and under-researched cancers. Asbestos is so deadly that there is no known safe level of exposure, even the smallest fiber can cause disease, and the latency period is sometimes decades long. Studies show that asbestos exposure kills up to 10,000 Americans each year, and judging from the present levels of asbestos usage, that number isn’t likely to decrease without a major federal investment in medical research for mesothelioma. Hesdorffer will explain the importance of supporting the legislation to ban asbestos, as well as research funding provisions, which are yet to be included in the bill, pending in the House.

About the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

The Meso Foundation is a not-for-profit collaboration of patients and families, physicians, advocates and researchers dedicated to eradicating the life-ending and vicious effects of mesothelioma. The Foundation provides patients and families with information on mesothelioma treatments, clinical trials and medical referrals through its full-time mesothelioma nurse practitioner and its website, http://www.curemeso.org.

The Meso Foundation also hosts an annual symposium to educate patients and families on the
latest advances in meso research and treatment. This year, the Symposium
will be held in Washington, DC on June 26-28.