Pharmaceuticals

DUBLIN, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mar 29, 2012 – Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTX), a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics, today announced the acceptance of fourteen abstracts for presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2012 Annual Meeting. Oral and poster presentations will occur on March 31, April 1-3 in Chicago, IL.

Highlights include two oral presentations and two poster presentations on SGI-110, Astex’s novel second generation DNMT inhibitor, and a poster presentation on new data from the first in class dual IAP inhibitor program:

Nine additional presentations will highlight new data on the company’s drug development programs with AT13387 (HSP90 inhibitor), AT9283 (JAK/Aurora inhibitor), AT13148 (AGC Kinase inhibitor), MetAP2 inhibitors, PKM2 (Pyruvate Kinase) activators, and second generation PIM Kinase inhibitors. Select posters will be made available for viewing on the company’s website http://www.astx.com 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.

Contact: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Timothy L. Enns, 925-560-2810
Senior Vice President
Corporate Communications & Marketing
tim.enns@astx.com
Susanna Chau, 925-560-2845
Manager
Investor Relations
susanna.chau@astx.com
or
The Trout Group
Alan Roemer, 646-378-2945
Managing Director
aroemer@troutgroup.com
or
College Hill
Melanie Toyne-Sewell (Europe), +44 20 7866 7866
Rebecca Skye Dietrich (US), 857-241-0795
astex@collegehill.com