Hana Biosciences Appoints Thomas J. Tarlow as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs...

Hana Biosciences Appoints Thomas J. Tarlow as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
and Quality

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 12, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hana Biosciences
(Nasdaq:HNAB), a biopharmaceutical company focused on strengthening the
foundation of cancer care, today announced that Thomas J. Tarlow has been
appointed Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality. Mr. Tarlow will be
responsible for the development and implementation of regulatory strategies and
quality systems as well as managing all U.S. and foreign regulatory filings for
the Company's pipeline of dose-intensifying and compliance-enhancing oncology
product candidates.

Mr. Tarlow brings over 21 years of experience serving in various senior
leadership positions with expertise in regulatory strategy, direction and
coordination of development, world-wide registration, and product labeling. He
will report directly to Steven R. Deitcher, M.D., Hana's President and Chief
Executive Officer.

"We are very pleased to have Tom join Hana as a key member of our management
team," said Dr. Deitcher. "Tom's regulatory expertise in orphan drug and
liposome formulation products, including the successful U.S. FDA priority
approval of DOXIL for ovarian cancer, will be invaluable as we rapidly advance
Marqibo, our Optisome encapsulated vincristine product candidate for leukemia,
and our other cancer therapeutics and toxicity care candidates."

Prior to joining Hana, Mr. Tarlow served as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
and Document Archives for Tercica, Inc., where he directed, planned, and
implemented global regulatory activities, and led the development and
implementation of quality systems used to achieve compliance with regulatory
requirements. Previously, he held various senior positions at Amgen, Inc.,
SUGEN, Inc. and ALZA Corporation. While at ALZA, Mr. Tarlow managed regulatory
support for its liposomal formulation technology platforms and achieved U.S. FDA
priority approval of DOXIL(r) for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Mr.
Tarlow received his MS in Comparative Pathology from University of California,
Davis, and AB in Biology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

About Hana Biosciences, Inc.

Hana Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:HNAB) is a South San Francisco, CA-based
biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing
innovative products to strengthen the foundation of cancer care. The company is
committed to creating value by building a best-in-class team, accelerating the
development of lead product candidates, expanding its pipeline by being an
alliance partner of choice, and nurturing a unique company culture. Further
information on Hana Biosciences can be found at www.hanabiosciences.com.

The Hana Biosciences, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3290

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are often,
but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates,"
"expects," "plans," "believes," "intends," and similar words or phrases. These
forward-looking statements include without limitation, statements regarding
Hana's strategy, future operations, outlook, milestones, the success of its
product development, future financial position, future financial results, plans
and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Such statements
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Hana's actual results to differ
materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these
forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations,
forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which
could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from these
statements. Among other things, there can be no assurances that any of Hana's
development efforts relating to its product candidates will be successful, that
Hana will be able to obtain regulatory approval of any of its product
candidates, and that the results of clinical trials will support Hana's claims
or beliefs concerning the effectiveness of its product candidates. Additional
risks that may affect such forward-looking statements include Hana's need to
raise additional capital to fund its product development programs to completion,
Hana's reliance on third-party researchers to develop its product candidates,
and its lack of experience in developing and commercializing pharmaceutical
products. Additional risks are described in the company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Hana assumes no obligation to update these statements, except as
required by law.

-0-
CONTACT: Hana Biosciences, Inc.
Investor & Media Contacts:
Investor Relations Team
(650) 588-6641
investor.relations@hanabiosciences.com

Invigorate Communications
Mariesa Kemble
(608) 850-4745
mkemble@invigoratepr.com