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Callisto Pharmaceuticals Announces Investor Conference Call to Provide Details on Guanilib Strategic Initiative in GI Disorders



    Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex: KAL; FWB: CA4), a developer
    of new drugs against gastrointestinal disorders and cancer announced
    today that it will hold an investor teleconference on January 14, 2008
    at 10:00 AM EST to provide additional details regarding its strategic
    initiative to develop Guanilib for gastrointestinal disorders.

    On October 3, 2007 Callisto announced plans to develop Guanilib,
    its guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) receptor agonist, for chronic
    constipation (CC) and constipation-predominant irritable bowel
    syndrome (IBS-C). Guanilib is an analog of uroguanylin, the natural
    hormone produced by the intestine and a key regulator of intestine
    function. The teleconference will provide additional details on the
    company´s plans for development of Guanilib as well as the large
    upside potential that this drug is capable of generating for the
    company.

    "We have very high hopes for the development of Guanilib," said
    Dr. Gary S. Jacob, Chief Executive Officer of Callisto. "Guanilib acts
    locally on receptors in the lining of the intestine and is not
    absorbed into the rest of the body. The FDA and the public are
    particularly focused on the issue of drug safety, and we believe that
    Guanilib´s safety profile should be a major advantage as we move this
    drug forward into the clinic."

    The value potential of GC-C receptor agonists to treat CC and
    IBS-C was recently set with the announced partnership between
    Microbia, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, Inc., with an upfront payment
    to Microbia of $70 million and milestone payments totaling $260
    million for 50/50 co-development and promotion rights in the US, as
    well as rights for Canada and Mexico. Linaclotide showed promising
    data in a set of Phase IIa clinical trials in CC and IBS-C. Callisto
    plans to file an IND for Guanilib in the first quarter of 2008, and to
    initiate a Phase I trial shortly thereafter. The Company also plans to
    open a Phase Ib trial of Guanilib in CC in the second half of 2008.

    "We believe that the value of Guanilib to Callisto has not yet
    been fully appreciated by Wall Street, and that Callisto is
    significantly undervalued," noted Dr. Jacob. "The planned investor
    conference call is the first step in addressing this issue."

    The teleconference will be held at 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
    on January 14, 2008. The conference can be accessed by calling
    866-202-3109, or +1-617-213-8844 from outside the US. The participant
    code is 61516766. To see the presentation slides and hear the
    teleconference via the web, please go to

    http://phx.corporate-ir.net/
    phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=120912&eventID=1720743. (Due to
    its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet
    browser´s address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

    Note that you will only be able to ask questions after the
    presentation via telephone. The presentation material and the
    teleconference will also be recorded and accessible later via the
    Callisto website at www.callistopharma.com.

    About Guanilib

    Guanilib (also called SP-304) is an analog (synthetic molecule) of
    uroguanylin, a natural gastro-intestinal hormone produced in the gut
    that is a key regulator of intestinal function. Guanilib works by
    activating a unique receptor on intestinal cells. The receptor, called
    the guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) receptor, promotes fluid and ion
    transport in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. Under normal
    conditions, the receptor is activated by the natural hormones
    uroguanylin and guanylin. Activation of the receptor leads to the
    transport of chloride and bicarbonate into the intestine, and water is
    carried with these ions into the lumen of the intestine, thereby
    producing a looser stool. Guanilib, developed by Callisto scientists,
    has been demonstrated to be superior to uroguanylin, in its biological
    activity, protease stability and pH characteristics. The compound is
    not absorbed systemically and demonstrates a very good safety profile.
    Guanilib has also been found to be effective in reducing inflammation
    in animal models of ulcerative colitis. Callisto plans to initiate
    clinical trials of Guanilib in early 2008.

    About Chronic Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

    Chronic constipation is a very common condition. Up to 26 million
    Americans suffer from the condition and of these about 5 million have
    a severe problem. The prevalence is similar in other developed
    countries. Patients with chronic constipation often experience hard
    stools, straining during bowel movements and not enough bowel
    movements during the week. People with chronic constipation can
    experience serious discomfort which adversely affects their ability to
    work and their quality of life. Up to one sixth of adults experience
    Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a condition marked by disturbed
    bowel function and abdominal pain. IBS patients can have three
    different sets of symptoms; diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D),
    constipation-predominant (IBS-C) and mixed or alternating disorder
    (IBS-M). About 35% of patients suffer from IBS-C. IBS accounts for 12%
    of adult visits to primary care physicians in the US.

    There are currently few therapies available for chronic
    constipation or IBS-C. The main product in this market, Zelnorm from
    Novartis Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: NVS), was withdrawn due to
    cardiotoxicity in April 2007 in the US. In 2006 Zelnorm sold about
    $561 million with about a 30% growth rate at the time of withdrawal.

    About Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    Callisto is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development
    of new drugs to treat various forms of gastrointestinal diseases and
    cancer. Callisto´s drug candidates include a drug for gastrointestinal
    disorders as well as two anti-cancer agents. Callisto´s proprietary
    drug Guanilib in late preclinical development for gastro-intestinal
    disorders. Guanilib is a synthetic analog of the human
    gastrointestinal hormone uroguanylin, and acts by activating the
    guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) receptor on epithelial cells of the colon.
    The Company´s lead drug in the clinic, Atiprimod, is presently in a
    Phase II clinical trial in advanced carcinoid cancer, a neuroendocrine
    tumor, and in a Phase II extension trial in advanced carcinoid cancer
    patients. Callisto´s second drug in the clinic, L-Annamycin, is
    currently in a Phase I/II clinical trial in adult relapsed or
    refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia, and in a Phase I clinical trial
    in children and young adults with refractory or relapsed acute
    lymphocytic leukemia or acute myelogenous leukemia. Callisto is also
    listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CA4.
    More information is available at http://www.callistopharma.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements made in this press release are forward-looking.
    Such statements are indicated by words such as "expect," "should,"
    "anticipate" and similar words indicating uncertainty in facts and
    figures. Although Callisto believes that the expectations reflected in
    such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no
    assurance that such expectations reflected in such forward-looking
    statements will prove to be correct. As discussed in the Callisto
    Pharmaceuticals Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
    31, 2006, and other periodic reports, as filed with the Securities and
    Exchange Commission, actual results could differ materially from those
    projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of the
    following factors, among others: uncertainties associated with product
    development, the risk that products that appeared promising in early
    clinical trials do not demonstrate efficacy in larger-scale clinical
    trials, the risk that Callisto will not obtain approval to market its
    products, the risks associated with dependence upon key personnel and
    the need for additional financing.