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Kingsbury will head institution poised to reinvent excellence in global healthcare delivery

WASHINGTON, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dubai Healthcare City -- member of Tatweer, the world's first integrated healthcare free zone announced the appointment of James Kingsbury as Chief Executive Officer of their recently launched University Hospital. The University Hospital's objective is to serve as a regional center of life sciences research, post graduate medical education, and secondary and tertiary medical services. The Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) was conceived in 2002 in partnership with Harvard Medical School and Harvard Medical International.

James Kingsbury joins University Hospital (UH) from his previous position at the University Hospital and Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, where he served as the Executive Director and Senior Vice-President. There, he was responsible for the leadership, direction, and operations of the university's hospital. He implemented innovative techniques such as programs in interdisciplinary teams, physician involvement in management, chronic care model, and residency education model. Mr. Kingsbury also recently served as the Associate Dean at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where he worked in a variety of leadership capacities while directing the implementation and management of clinical programs, services, and recruitment.

Dubai Healthcare City CEO Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi praised Mr. Kingsbury's achievements to senior management, "We are privileged to have such an accomplished world-class leader join our institution. I am certain his past experience and record of achievement will serve him as he works to showcase University Hospital as an internationally recognizable institution of research, education, technology, and patient services."

In addition to extensive university medical experience, Mr. Kingsbury has achieved a high reputation in the healthcare industry while serving as an effective leader in high-level positions at other hospitals and healthcare corporations. He has been recognized for managing high rates of growth, achieving financial-turnarounds, leading major staff developments and revisions to residency training programs, as well as overseeing significant construction and expansion to facilities.

Originally from Nebraska, Mr. Kingsbury received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota and his Master of Public Health and Hospital Administration from the University of California at Berkeley.

As CEO of University Hospital, James Kingsbury will be an integral part in driving the success of the hospital and positioning it as a renowned healthcare educational and research facility. He will work with leadership of Dubai Healthcare City to direct clinical operational planning and construction. Mr. Kingsbury will lead the comprehensive recruitment process for world-class professionals from throughout the region, the United States, as well as throughout the world. He will also oversee finances, marketing strategy, and plan the permanent governance structure of UH.

DHCC serves as a regional center of medical services, life sciences research, and post graduate medical education, as well as a global center of excellence in regulated complimentary medicine and wellness services. UH is affiliated with the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center Institute for Postgraduate Educations and Research that will play a vital role in conducting fellowship programs and supervised residencies at the UH. It was master planned and clinically designed in collaboration with Harvard Medical International. UH reflects the transformation of Dubai into one of the most economically and technologically advanced service economies in the Middle East.

Mr. Kingsbury is approaching his job with great enthusiasm, "Dubai Healthcare City and University Hospital are unrivaled examples of the exciting opportunities for healthcare in the Middle East. I am excited about the challenges that lay ahead, and am confident that my previous positions have prepared me to lead such a prestigious institution."

Construction of the 400-bed, 1.4 million square feet University Hospital campus began in June 2007. When completed, UH will showcase specialty programs in oncology, neurology, neurosurgery, musculoskeletal health, orthopedics, diabetes, metabolic diseases, women's health, and cardiovascular and thoracic services. Additionally, the hospital will offer core programs in dermatology, gastroenterology, neonatology, ENT, OB/GYN, ophthalmology, urology, reconstructive surgery, general surgery, and general medicine. UH will incorporate unique features including clinical strength through collaborative care, state-of-the-art healthcare information systems, and the most technologically-advanced complex for kidney and liver transplants. Tentatively, UH will begin patient operations in quarter one of 2011.

About Dubai Healthcare City:

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) was conceived with the objective of creating an internationally recognized center of excellence for medical services, medical education, and life science research and development in the Middle East. It is the world's first healthcare free zone and was created using a phased approach.

The first phase, which is 4.1 million square feet in size, is home to Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center which comprises of the University Hospital, the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center Institute for Postgraduate Education and Medical Research, the Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR), and the Harvard Al Maktoum Medical Library. DHCC features a medical cluster comprised of day clinics, diagnostic centers, rehabilitation centers, transplantation centers, hospitals, clinics, and a sector for pharmaceutical and equipment suppliers. Some of the medical cluster's other renowned partners are Mayo Clinic, Boston University Institute for Dental Research, Education Dubai and the Boston University Dental Health Center Dubai at Dubai Healthcare City, AstraZeneca, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Centre, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Consultant Physicians (in affiliation with The American University of Beirut), Fresenius Medical Care, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Moorfields Eye Hospital (NHS Trust), the 230 multispecialty City Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, Wyeth, Smith & Nephew, Sanofi Aventis, Swiss Academy of Scientific Acupuncture, Yateem Group, Dragger Medical, Alvi Armani, Dr. Nicolas & ASP, and the German Heart Center.

The second phase, which is 20 million square feet in size, will feature a dedicated wellness cluster comprised of wellness centers, nutrition centers, resorts and spas, and sports medicine facilities.

About Tatweer:

Launched in December 2005, Tatweer is one the region's most dynamic enterprises and a member of Dubai Holding. Comprising 10 market-leading brands, it oversees an ambitious business development plan.

Its current portfolio is divided into Energy & Healthcare, Tourism & Entertainment, and Industry & Real Estate offerings. Its entities include Dubai Healthcare City, the region's hub for world-class quality healthcare services; Mizin, one of the most advanced real estate companies in the region; Universal City Dubailand, the 22 million square feet development, featuring Universal Studios Dubailand as a centrepiece; "The Tiger Woods - Dubai," an exclusive golf community that will include the first Tiger Woods designed golf course; Dubailand, one of the biggest leisure, entertainment, and tourism destinations in the Middle East; Dubai Industrial City, an industrial township to develop Dubai as a leading manufacturing hub; Bawadi, the world's leading hospitality and entertainment project hosting 51 luxury hotels and more than 60,000 hotel rooms; Dubai Energy, investing in regional and global energy opportunities and building a diversified investment portfolio; Dubai Mercantile Exchange, the first energy futures exchange in the Middle East set up in partnership with the New York Mercantile Exchange, and Global Village, a premier family destination for culture, entertainment, cuisine, and commerce.

Tatweer's entities continue to consolidate a group of life-improving industries in addition to pioneering joint venture initiatives with leading global conglomerates. They continuously strive for world-class performance, while implementing leadership development to drive and sustain business excellence, quality, and high performance.

Media Contacts:
Catherine Hill
(202) 530-4546
Catherine.Hill@bm.com

Neil Grace
(202) 530-4558
Neil.Grace@bm.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Dubai Healthcare City

CONTACT: Catherine Hill, +1-202-530-4546, Catherine.Hill@bm.com, or Neil
Grace, +1-202-530-4558, Neil.Grace@bm.com, both for Dubai Healthcare City

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NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (NASDAQ:VION) today announced that it received a letter, dated March 24, 2008, from The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., notifying the Company that it does not comply with Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(3) which requires the Company to have a minimum of $2,500,000 in stockholders' equity, or $35,000,000 market value of listed securities, or $500,000 of net income from continuing operations for the most recently completed fiscal year or two of the three most recently completed fiscal years.

As a result, Nasdaq Staff is reviewing the Company's eligibility for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market. To facilitate this review, the Company has been asked to provide a specific plan to achieve and sustain compliance with all The Nasdaq Capital Market listing requirements by April 15, 2008, including the time frame for completion of the plan.

The Company is preparing its plan for submission to Nasdaq by the specified date. If, after the conclusion of Staff's review, it is determined that the Company's plan does not adequately address the issues noted, Nasdaq will provide written notification that the Company's securities will be delisted. At that time, the Company may appeal the Staff's decision to a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel.

Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is committed to extending the lives and improving the quality of life of cancer patients worldwide by developing and commercializing innovative cancer therapeutics. Vion has two agents in clinical trials. Cloretazine(R) (VNP40101M), a unique alkylating agent, is being evaluated in a Phase II pivotal trial as a single agent in elderly patients with previously untreated de novo poor-risk acute myelogenous leukemia. Clinical trials of Cloretazine(R) (VNP40101M) with temozolomide in brain tumors, and with stem cell transplantation in advanced hematologic malignancies, are also being conducted. Triapine(R), a potent inhibitor of a key step in DNA synthesis, is being evaluated in clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. For additional information on Vion and its product development programs, visit the Company's Internet web site at www.vionpharm.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risk factors which may cause Vion's plans to differ or results to vary from those expected, including Vion's potential inability to obtain regulatory approval for its products, particularly Cloretazine(R) (VNP40101M), delayed or unfavorable results of drug trials, the possibility that favorable results of earlier preclinical studies or clinical trials are not predictive of safety and efficacy results in later clinical trials, the need for additional research and testing, the potential inability to secure external sources of funding to continue operations, the inability to access capital and funding on favorable terms, continued operating losses and the inability to continue operations as a result, and a variety of other risks set forth from time to time in Vion's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risks attendant to the forward- looking statements included under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in Vion's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. In particular, there can be no assurance as to the results of any of the Vion's clinical trials, that any of these trials will continue to full accrual, or that any of these trials will not be discontinued, modified, delayed or ceased altogether. Except in special circumstances in which a duty to update arises under law when prior disclosure becomes materially misleading in light of subsequent events, Vion does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

COMPANY CONTACT: Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Alan Kessman, Chief Executive Officer
Howard B. Johnson, President & CFO
(203) 498-4210

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

CONTACT: Alan Kessman, Chief Executive Officer, or Howard B. Johnson,
President & CFO, both of Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-203-498-4210

Web site:

http://www.vionpharm.com/

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