ZIOPHARM Palifosfamide PICASSO Trial Abstract Selected for 2010 Best of ASCO® Meeting Program

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIOP) announced today that its abstract, "A
phase II randomized controlled trial of palifosfamide plus doxorubicin vs.
doxorubicin in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (PICASSO)", to be presented at
the 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting, has been selected as part of the 2010 Best of
ASCO® educational program. Best of ASCO® sessions will be held in both San
Francisco and Boston in the United States and in several countries around the
world in the months following the ASCO Annual meeting, which is taking place
this year June 4th-8th in Chicago.

According to ASCO, the 2010 Best of ASCO® program promises to feature topics
that highlight the latest scientific findings and practice-changing advances in
cancer prevention and treatment, allowing faculty members to provide a clinical
context for this new scientific information. These sessions appeal to
subspecialties in oncology and provide a unique forum for this information to be
discussed.

Best of ASCO® Presentation and Abstract Details for USA

Best of ASCO® San Francisco
July 16-17, 2010
The Palace Hotel in San Francisco, California

ZIOPHARM Abstract #10004 -- A phase II randomized controlled trial of
palifosfamide plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin in patients with soft tissue
sarcoma (PICASSO) by C. Verschraegen et al - on Friday, July 16 at 2:45 p.m.

Best of ASCO® Boston
July 23-24, 2010
The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts

ZIOPHARM Abstract #10004 -- A phase II randomized controlled trial of
palifosfamide plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin in patients with soft tissue
sarcoma (PICASSO) by C. Verschraegen et al - on Friday, July 23 at 2:45 p.m.

For information on the Best of ASCO® International please click on the website
link below:
http://www.asco.org/ascov2/Meetings/International+Meetings/Best+of+ASCO+International

About ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.:

ZIOPHARM Oncologyis a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and
commercialization of a diverse portfolio of cancer drugs. The Company is
currently focused on three clinical programs.

Palifosfamide (ZymafosTM or ZIO-201) references a novel composition (tris
formulation) that comprises the functional active metabolite of ifosfamide, a
standard of care for treating sarcoma, lymphoma, testicular, and other cancers.
Palifosfamide delivers only the cancer fighting component of ifosfamide. It is
expected to overcome the resistance seen with ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide,
two of the most commonly used DNA-alkylating drugs used to treat cancers.
Palifosfamide does not have the toxic metabolites of ifosfamide that cause the
debilitating side effects of "fuzzy brain" (encephalopathy) and severe bladder
inflammation. It may also have other advantages. Intravenous palifosfamide is
currently in a randomized Phase II trial to treat unresectable or metastatic
soft tissue sarcoma in the front- and second-line setting with the Company
having reported interim positive results in late 2009; a registration trial in
the same setting is expected to initiate following U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) review in the first half of this year. An oral form of
palifosfamide has been developed preclinically to the investigational new drug
application stage.

Darinaparsin (ZinaparTM or ZIO-101)is a novel mitochondrial-targeted agent
(organic arsenic) being developed for the treatment of various hematologic and
solid cancers. Preclinical and clinical studies to date have demonstrated that
darinaparsin is considerably less toxic than inorganic arsenic, particularly
with regard to cardiac toxicity. The Company has reported favorable results from
a Phase II trial with IV-administered darinaparsin in lymphoma, particularly
peripheral T-cell lymphoma ("PTCL"), at the American Society of Clinical
Oncology (ASCO) in May of 2009 which would serve as the basis for ongoing
clinical study in PTCL following regulatory review and available financial
resources Phase I trials with the oral form are ongoing in both hematological
malignancies and solid tumors.

Indibulin (ZybulinTM or ZIO-301)is a novel, oral tubulin binding agent that
targets both mitosis and cancer cell migration. In addition, indibulin is
expected to have several potential benefits, including oral dosing, application
in multi-drug resistant tumors, no neuropathy and minimal overall toxicity. In
multiple Phase I trials in cancer patients, oral indibulin has been administered
both as a single agent and in combination with favorable activity and a
promising safety profile that does not include the neurotoxicity seen with all
of the other classes of tubulin binding agents. Most recently, results of oral
indibulin in combination with oral capecitabine (Xeloda®) were presented at last
year`s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) along with the preclinical
findings of a novel dosing schedule conducted under the direction of Dr. Larry
Norton; employing this dosage schedule, the Company has initiated a Phase I
study in breast cancer patients with the Breast Cancer Medicine Service at
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

ZIOPHARM`s operations are located in Boston, MA with an executive office in New
York City. Further information about ZIOPHARM may be found at www.ziopharm.com.

ZIOP-G

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements for ZIOPHARM Oncology,
Inc. that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company'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 assurance
that any of the Company's development efforts relating to its product candidates
will be successful, or such product candidates will be successfully
commercialized. Other risks that affect forward-looking information contained in
this press release include the possibility of being unable to obtain regulatory
approval of the Company's product candidates, the risk that the results of
clinical trials may not support the Company's claims, the risk that pre-clinical
or clinical trials will proceed on schedules that are consistent with the
Company`s current expectations or at all, risks related to the Company's ability
to protect its intellectual property and its reliance on third parties to
develop its product candidates, risks related to the sufficiency of existing
capital reserves to fund continued operations for a particular amount of time
and uncertainties regarding the Company`s ability to obtain additional financing
to support its operations thereafter. The Company assumes no obligation to
update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Tyler Cook, 617-259-1982
tcook@ziopharm.com
or
Media:
Dennis S. Dobson, 203-258-0159
dsdobson@optonline.net

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