Poniard Pharmaceuticals to Host Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results Conference Call on November 3

October 27, 2009

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PARD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, today announced that it will hold a conference call on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 to discuss the Company's third quarter 2009 results and provide a corporate update. Jerry McMahon, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer, Ronald A. Martell, president and chief operating officer, Greg Weaver, senior vice president and chief financial officer, and Robert De Jager, M.D., chief medical officer, will host the call beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time). A press release for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, will be released after markets close on November 3.

To participate in the live call by telephone, please dial 888-349-9587 (United States) or 719-457-2631 (International). In addition, the live conference call is being Webcast and can be accessed on the "Events" page of the "News & Events" section of the Company's Web site at http://www.poniard.com. A replay of the Webcast will be available on the Company's Web site for 10 days.

About Poniard Pharmaceuticals

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative oncology products to impact the lives of people with cancer. Picoplatin, the Company's lead platform product candidate, is a new generation platinum chemotherapy. To date, clinical studies suggest that picoplatin has an improved safety profile relative to existing platinum-based cancer therapies. Picoplatin is designed to overcome platinum resistance associated with chemotherapy in solid tumors, and is being studied in multiple cancer indications, combinations and formulations. Clinical trials of intravenous picoplatin include a Phase 3 trial in small cell lung cancer and Phase 2 trials in metastatic colorectal and castration-resistant (hormone refractory) prostate cancers. The Company also is conducting a clinical trial of oral picoplatin in solid tumors. For additional information please visit http://www.poniard.com.

© 2009 Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Poniard and Poniard Pharmaceuticals are trademarks of Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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