VANCOUVER, March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AnorMED Inc. (AMEX:AOM; TSX:AOM) is pleased to announce that preliminary clinical data on AMD070, an HIV entry inhibitor, shows the drug candidate is active, generally safe and well tolerated in HIV patients. The open label dose finding study, XACT, funded by AnorMED, involves dosing of AMD070 twice daily for 10 consecutive days. There are up to 4 cohorts with a total of 12 patients per cohort. Activity and safety data from the first 8 HIV patients enrolled in the first dose cohort, show 4/8 had significant reductions in CXCR4 viral load with an average reduction of 1.3 log. Based on this data, enrollment into the first cohort will be completed and the next dose cohort will be initiated. More detailed activity and safety data from XACT will be submitted for presentation at ICAAC in September 2006. "Given that this is the first dose cohort in our dose finding study we are very pleased to see such significant activity in 50% of the patients enrolled to date in XACT, with no serious safety concerns to date in any of the patients in this study. Based on these results we hope to move as quickly as possible into our next dose cohort and toward identifying the clinically optimal dose," said Dr. Stephen Becker, Director of Clinical Development, AnorMED Inc. Over the next six months AnorMED will continue its preclinical safety studies of lead formulations of AMD070 and complete a drug manufacture to support future clinical studies, including drug interaction studies as well as the Phase IIb study planned to start by year end 2006. HIV entry inhibitors may become a new treatment paradigm in the management of HIV. In order to enter and infect healthy cells HIV must bind to either the CXCR4 or CCR5 receptor. AnorMED's HIV Entry Inhibitor Program is focused on the discovery and development of drugs that target both receptors. AMD070, a CXCR4 inhibitor, was developed in-house at AnorMED. Up to 40% of HIV patients are infected with HIV using the CXCR4 receptor. AnorMED also has several compounds in preclinical studies that target the CCR5 receptor. AnorMED is a chemistry-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of new therapeutic products in the areas of hematology, HIV and oncology. The Company has a product in Phase III development, a product in Phase II development and a research program focused on a novel class of compounds that target specific chemokine receptors known to be involved in a variety of diseases including HIV. Additional information on AnorMED Inc. is available on the Company's website http://www.anormed.com/. Note: Certain of the statements contained in this press release may contain forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including the Ontario Securities Act, Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements or information regarding strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects and plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates, "believes", "budgets", "could", estimates", expects," forecasts", "intends", "may", "plans", "projects", "schedule", "should", "will", "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information, although not all forward- looking statements or information contain these identifying words. Plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in any forward-looking statements or information should not be read as guarantees of future results or events, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or the times at or by which such results or events will be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements or information. Investors are referred to the discussion of such risks, uncertainties and other factors in AnorMED's Final Short Form Prospectus dated December 1, 2005 filed on SEDAR with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and in Exhibit 99.1 to AnorMED's Report on Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2005. Except as required by law, AnorMED expressly disclaims any intention and undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information as conditions change. For further information: Elisabeth Whiting, M.Sc. VP Corporate Development & Communications Tel: 604-532-4667 Cell: 604-763-4682 E-mail: Kim Nelson, Ph.D. Manager, Investor Relations Tel: 604-532-4654 Cell: 604-614-2886 E-mail: DATASOURCE: AnorMED Inc. CONTACT: Elisabeth Whiting, M.Sc., VP Corporate Development & Communications, Tel: (604) 532-4667, Cell: (604) 763-4682, E-mail: ; Kim Nelson, Ph.D., Manager, Investor Relations, Tel: (604) 532-4654, Cell: (604) 614-2886, E-mail:

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