NEW YORK, June 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZIOP), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new cancer therapies, today announced completion of enrollment of the PICASSO 3 trial, an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical study of palifosfamide in combination with doxorubicin, versus doxorubicin alone, for the treatment of metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in the front-line setting. Doxorubicin is the current standard of care for the treatment of STS in the front-line setting.

"This is an exciting and optimistic time for the community of sarcoma patients, their families, clinical care providers and researchers dedicated to this field, with a wave of new treatment options poised to improve outcomes for patients," said George Demetri, M.D., an international expert in the development of new therapies for sarcomas and a member of the Medical Advisory Board of ZIOPHARM. "This international trial of palifosfamide carries this promise to the front-line treatment setting of soft tissue sarcoma, a disease in which progression-free survival has been accepted as an important measure of clinical benefit. The outcome of PICASSO 3 is greatly anticipated among physicians caring for sarcoma patients, as well as by the patients, who rely upon medical research to provide hope through safe and effective new treatment options."

Jonathan Lewis, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ZIOPHARM, said, "Throughout the enrollment process for PICASSO 3 we have maintained rigorous criteria to ensure that it closely mirrors the successful, randomized Phase 2 PICASSO study. As we look forward to top-line data in the second half of this year, we will continue to expand our palifosfamide program with the initiation of enrollment in the Phase 3 MATISSE study in small cell lung cancer."

The PICASSO 3 study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of palifosfamide and doxorubicin compared to doxorubicin and placebo, with no crossover between study arms. Progression-free survival (PFS) is the primary endpoint for accelerated approval, with overall survival (OS) as the primary endpoint for full approval. PICASSO 3 is being conducted at more than 150 clinical centers in North America, Europe, South America, Australia, Israel and Asia. Based on current projections, the Company expects data for the study's primary endpoint for accelerated approval in the second half of this year.

In the previously reported, randomized, controlled Phase 2 trial of palifosfamide plus doxorubicin versus doxorubicin alone in patients with unresectable or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma, a trial that was selected for the prestigious Best of ASCO designation in 2010, PFS showed a greater than 3 month improvement for the palifosfamide arm over the control arm. These results subsequently correlated with overall survival data favoring the palifosfamide arm.  Based on these outcomes, and the recent full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of Votrient^®, — based on a 3 month benefit in progression-free survival — for the treatment of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma who have received prior chemotherapy, the Company believes that the PICASSO 3 study is well-designed to achieve a successful outcome.

About Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers of the body's soft tissues, including cartilage, muscle, fat, nerves, blood vessels and other connective tissues. Sarcomas may develop in any part of the body, but are most common in the trunk, arms and legs. According to the American Cancer Society, 11,280 new cases of adult soft tissue sarcomas will be diagnosed in the United States this year. No new therapies have been approved for front-line use in sarcoma in the U.S. in more than 20 years.

About ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.

ZIOPHARM Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new cancer therapies. The Company's clinical programs include:

Palifosfamide (ZIO-201), a novel DNA-targeted cancer treatment that bypasses drug resistance mediated by ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenase), an enzyme associated with cancer stem cells, and has a favorable toxicity profile.  Intravenous palifosfamide is currently being studied in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial (PICASSO 3) for the treatment of front-line metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. The initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 trial in front-line metastatic small cell lung cancer is also expected early in the third quarter of 2012. Additionally, the Company is developing an oral capsule form of palifosfamide.

IL-12 DNA, a novel DNA therapeutic that is delivered to the patient's tumor and expresses interleukin-12, a protein that controls anti-cancer immune responses. IL-12 DNA is currently in two Phase 1 studies, with plans to move into Phase 2 studies.  ZIOPHARM's DNA therapeutics are being developed in partnership with Intrexon Corporation through a revolutionary synthetic biology platform that allows for targeted, controlled production of therapies in humans with a biologic on/off switch (the RheoSwitch Therapeutic System^®).  Preclinical and discovery work with multiple therapeutic approaches, such as antibodies, immunotoxins, and protein decoys, is expected to result in multiple clinical candidates in the next 12 to 24 months.

Indibulin (ZIO-301) is a novel, tubulin binding agent that is expected to have several potential benefits, including oral dosing, application in multi-drug resistant tumors, no neuropathy and a tolerable toxicity profile. It is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2 trial in metastatic breast cancer.

Darinaparsin (ZIO-101) is a novel mitochondrial- and hedgehog-targeted agent (organic arsenic) currently in ongoing studies with Solasia Pharma K.K.

ZIOPHARM's operations are located in Boston, MA; Germantown, MD; and New York City. Further information about ZIOPHARM may be found at www.ziopharm.com. 

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains certain forward-looking information about ZIOPHARM Oncology that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words such as "expect(s)," "feel(s)," "believe(s)," "will," "may," "anticipate(s)" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our therapeutic products; our ability to expand our long-term business opportunities; financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions; and future performance. All of such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of the Company, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: whether Palifosfamide, Darinaparsin, Indibulin, or any of our other therapeutic products will advance further in the clinical trials process and whether and when, if at all, they will receive final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies and for which indications; whether Palifosfamide, Darinaparsin, Indibulin, and our other therapeutic products will be successfully marketed if approved; whether our DNA-based biotherapeutics discovery and development efforts will be successful; our ability to achieve the results contemplated by our collaboration agreements; the strength and enforceability of our intellectual property rights; competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; the development of and our ability to take advantage of the market for DNA-based biotherapeutics; our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations on terms acceptable to us; general economic conditions; and the other risk factors contained in our periodic and interim SEC reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to revise and disseminate forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of or non-occurrence of any events.

CONTACT: For ZIOPHARM

         Nicole Jones

         ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.

         617-778-2266

         njones@ziopharm.com

         

         Media Contacts:

         David Schull or Lena Evans

         Russo Partners, LLC

         858-717-2310

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