BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., Nov. 17, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:CYCC) (Nasdaq:CYCCP) ("Cyclacel" or the "Company") announced today that updated Phase 2 clinical trial results of sapacitabine for the treatment of advanced myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) will be presented at two poster presentations during the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in New Orleans, LA, on Saturday, December 5, 2009.

The poster abstract details are as follows:

 Abstract:      1061
 Title:         A Randomized Phase 2 Study of Sapacitabine, An Oral
                Nucleoside Analogue, in Elderly Patients with AML
                Previously Untreated or in First Relapse
 Date/Time:     Saturday, December 5, 2009, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
                Central Time
 Session:       Acute Myeloid Leukemia - Therapy, excluding
                Transplantation Poster I
 Poster board:  I-83
 Abstract:      1758
 Title:         A Randomized Phase 2 Study of Sapacitabine, An Oral
                Nucleoside Analogue, in Older Patients with
                Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Refractory to
                Hypomethylating Agents
 Date/Time:     Saturday, December 5, 2009, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
                Central Time
 Session:       Myelodysplastic Syndromes Poster I
 Poster board:  I-780

The abstracts are available online at http://ash.confex.com/ash/2009/webprogram/start.html.

About Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Cyclacel is a diversified biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, mechanism-targeted drugs to treat human cancers and other serious disorders. Sapacitabine, a cell cycle modulating nucleoside analog, is in Phase 2 studies for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in the elderly, myelodysplastic syndromes and lung cancer and in Phase 1 in combination with seliciclib. Seliciclib, a CDK (cyclin dependent kinase) inhibitor, is in Phase 2 for the treatment of lung and nasopharyngeal cancer. CYC116, an Aurora kinase and VEGFR2 inhibitor, is in Phase 1 in patients with solid tumors. Cyclacel's ALIGN Pharmaceuticals subsidiary markets directly in the U.S. Xclair(R) Cream for radiation dermatitis, Numoisyn(R) Liquid and Numoisyn(R) Lozenges for xerostomia. Cyclacel's strategy is to build a diversified biopharmaceutical business focused in hematology and oncology based on a portfolio of commercial products and a development pipeline of novel drug candidates.