Release

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals to Sponsor & Present at the Martin Center's 2012 Sickle Cell Disease Conference

SAN DIEGO, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: ANX) today announced that the Company is a sponsor of and will be presenting at the Martin Center's 2012 Indiana Statewide Sickle Cell Disease Conference at the Indiana Landmarks Center in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 20, 2012. The conference seeks to bring awareness to the continued presence of sickle cell disease (SCD) and to inform the SCD community about current and proposed therapies for the disease.

"We are pleased to join with Novartis and Indiana University Health as a gold sponsor of the Martin Center's conference," stated Brian M. Culley, Chief Executive Officer of ADVENTRX. "We look forward to discussing ANX-188 and its potential to treat patients with sickle cell disease with the research, healthcare and patient communities' representatives present at the conference."

Martin Center, Inc. is a human services agency dedicated to aiding and enhancing the lives of those affected by sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait in Central and Southern Indiana. Its programs include support and education for sickle cell and other abnormal hemoglobin conditions.

About ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing proprietary product candidates. The Company's lead product candidate is ANX-188, a rheologic, antithrombotic and cytoprotective agent that improves microvascular blood flow and has potential application in treating a wide range of diseases and conditions, such as complications arising from sickle cell disease. We also are developing ANX-514, a novel, detergent-free formulation of the chemotherapy drug docetaxel. More information can be found on the Company's web site at www.adventrx.com.

Forward Looking Statements
ADVENTRX cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on ADVENTRX's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding ADVENTRX's development plans for ANX-188, including the nature and timing of future clinical studies, and ANX-188's potential as an effective treatment for sickle cell disease patients. Among the factors that could cause or contribute to material differences between ADVENTRX's actual results and those indicated from the forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties inherent in ADVENTRX's business, including, but are not limited to: the potential for ADVENTRX to delay, reduce or discontinue current and/or planned development activities, partner its product candidates at inopportune times or pursue less expensive but higher-risk development paths if it is unable to raise sufficient additional capital as needed; ADVENTRX's ability to obtain additional funding on a timely basis or on acceptable terms, or at all; the potential for delays in the commencement or completion of its planned clinical studies including as a result of difficulties or delays in completing manufacturing process development activities and manufacturing clinical trial material; the risk of suspension or termination of a clinical study including due to lack of adequate funding; the risk that planned clinical studies of ADVENTRX's product candidates, including ANX-188, are not successful and, even if they are successful, that the FDA could determine they are not sufficient to support an NDAs for the product candidate; the risk that the FDA does not grant market approval of ADVENTRX's product candidates, including ANX-188, on a timely basis, or at all; ADVENTRX's reliance on third parties to assist in the conduct of important aspects of its product candidates' development programs, including the manufacture of clinical trial material, the conduct of clinical studies and regulatory submissions related to product approval, and that such third parties may fail to perform as expected; and other risks and uncertainties more fully described in ADVENTRX's press releases and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ADVENTRX's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available at www.sec.gov.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date when made. ADVENTRX does not intend to revise or update any forward-looking statement set forth in this press release to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.