Bionovo Announces Publication Of The Paper Detailing The Mechanism Of Action Of Its Cancer Drug BZL101

Bionovo Inc.
(Nasdaq: BNVI) announced the publication of a peer-reviewed article
in the journal Cancer Biology and Therapy that elucidates the molecular
mechanisms underlying selective cytotoxic activity of BZL101, the company's
drug for advanced breast cancer.


"BZL101 induces cell death in breast cancer cells but not in normal
breast cells," said Emma Shtivelman, Ph.D., Director of Cancer Research at
Bionovo. "This selective cell killing is based on strong induction by
BZL101 of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor cells. The ROS cause
extensive DNA damage in tumor cells but not in normal cells, which then
leads to the inhibition of glycolysis selectively in tumor cells. This
action is most clearly evident from the decrease in the enzymatic
activities within the glycolytic pathway and the inhibition of lactate
production. The observed inhibition of glycolysis is a key factor in the
energetic collapse and death that occurs selectively in breast cancer
cells, 'selectively' because tumor cells rely on glycolysis for energy
production."



Separately, Isaac Cohen, O.M.D., Bionovo's Chairman and CEO, stated,
"The promising selectivity of BZL101 towards cancer cells is based on
metabolic differences between highly glycolytic tumor cells and normal
cells. Coupled with promising clinical development, BZL101 has the
potential to be an important treatment for women with breast cancer, as
well as potentially for other cancers. BZL101 could fill an important unmet
medical need in cancer treatment."



About BZL101



BZL101 is an oral drug designed for the treatment of advanced breast
cancer and pancreatic cancer with a novel mechanism of action. BZL101
targets cancer cells while leaving normal cells healthy and intact. Normal
cells depend primarily on the citric acid cycle (>85%) and very little on
glycolysis (85%) for energy production. BZL101 leads to energy
collapse in cancer cells by inhibiting glycolysis. This leads to DNA damage
and cell death in cancer cells while normal cells remain unharmed.



BZL101 has completed early stage clinical testing conducted at the
University of California, San Francisco and the Cancer Research Network in
Plantation, Florida. Data from the Phase 1 trial of BZL101 indicate that
BZL101 has a favorable tolerability profile and demonstrates encouraging
clinical activity in a heavily pretreated population. BZL101 is currently
undergoing Phase 1/2 clinical testing for late stage metastatic breast
cancer. Visit bzl101 to find out more about BZL101.
















Bionovo, Inc.



Bionovo is a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and
development of safe and effective treatments for women's health and cancer,
markets with significant unmet needs and billions in potential annual
revenue. The company applies its expertise in the biology of menopause and
cancer to design new drugs derived from botanical sources which have novel
mechanisms of action. Based on the results of early and mid-stage clinical
trials, Bionovo believes they have discovered new classes of drug
candidates within their rich pipeline with the potential to be leaders in
their markets. Bionovo is headquartered in Emeryville, California and is
traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol, "BNVI". For more
information about Bionovo and its programs, visit: bionovo.



Forward Looking Statements



This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to
the business of Bionovo, Inc. that can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," or similar
expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties relating to product
development, efficacy and safety, regulatory actions or delays, the ability
to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property
protection, market acceptance, physician acceptance, third party
reimbursement, future capital requirements, competition in general and
other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from
those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in
greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
which are available at sec. Bionovo, Inc. is under no
obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter
its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.


Bionovo Inc.

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