Marshall Edwards (Nasdaq: MSHL) Awarded Key Patent For Compositions Of Lead Oncology Drug Candidates

Palm Beach, FL 12/20/11 (StreetBeat) -- Marshall Edwards, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSHL), an oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapeutics targeting cancer metabolism, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a new patent, U.S. Patent No. 8,080,675, covering a number of the Company's isoflavone-based compounds, including lead oncology drug candidates ME-143 and ME-344, and their pharmaceutical compositions. The patent is estimated to provide protection until March 2027.

"This patent represents another important milestone in our efforts to develop our lead drug candidates into valuable treatment options for patients with cancer," said Daniel P. Gold , Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Marshall Edwards . "Furthermore, this demonstrates our commitment to further strengthening the intellectual property portfolio we acquired earlier this year, which will be essential for partnering any of our drug candidates and enhancing shareholder value."

Marshall Edwards completed the acquisition of its isoflavone-based intellectual property portfolio, including worldwide rights to lead oncology drug candidates ME-143 and ME-344, from Novogen Limited in May 2011 . The portfolio now includes 11 issued U.S. patents, at least 14 U.S. patent applications, at least 40 issued foreign patents and at least 80 foreign patent applications.

About Marshall Edwards

Marshall Edwards, Inc. is a San Diego -based oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel anti-cancer therapeutics. The Company's lead programs focus on two families of small molecules that result in the inhibition of tumor cell metabolism. The first and most advanced is a NADH oxidase inhibitor program that includes lead candidate ME-143. The Company initiated a Phase I clinical trial of intravenous ME-143 in patients with solid refractory tumors in September 2011 and expects final data from the trial by the second quarter of 2012. The second program is a family of mitochondrial inhibitors that includes lead candidate ME-344. The Company is currently conducting the necessary pre-clinical animal toxicity studies to support submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ME-344 in the first quarter of 2012.

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