METHYLGENE ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF RACHEL HUMPHREY, MD AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

METHYLGENE ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF RACHEL HUMPHREY, MD AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

Montreal, Quebec. January 4, 2012 - MethylGene Inc. (TSX: MYG) today announced the appointment of Rachel Humphrey, MD, to the post of Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Humphrey is board certified in Medical Oncology and has led the development of multiple oncology agents, two of which are currently commercialized (Nexavar® and YERVOY®).

"Dr. Humphrey brings a wealth of drug development experience to MethylGene, and we look forward to her actively guiding our clinical development programs, particularly MGCD265 for the treatment of cancer and MGCD290 for the treatment of fungal diseases," said Charles Grubsztajn, President and CEO of MethylGene.

Dr. Humphrey joins MethylGene from Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), where she was most recently Vice President, Global Development Lead, Immuno-Oncology. From 2003 to 2011, Dr. Humphrey supervised a number of in-licensed and internal development programs including  the Phase II - IV development of ipilimumab (YERVOY®), which achieved global approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma in 2011. From 1997 until 2003 Dr. Humphrey held increasingly senior clinical development positions at Bayer (XETRA: BAYN), leading the IND filing and the development of the multiple kinase inhibitor sorafenib (Nexavar®), which subsequently achieved global approval for advanced renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Dr. Humphrey received her B.A. degree in biochemistry from Harvard University, her M.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University, and completed her Medical Residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. From 1992 until 1997 Dr. Humphrey worked at the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), first as a Clinical Oncology Fellow and later as a Staff Physician/Scientist in the NCI's HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch.

About MethylGene

MethylGene Inc. (TSX:MYG) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops novel therapeutics for cancer and infectious disease. The Company's lead product candidates include: MGCD265, an oral Met/VEGF receptor kinase inhibitor that is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for solid tumor cancers, and MGCD290, a fungal Hos2 inhibitor, for use in combination with fluconazole for fungal infections, which will start randomized Phase 2 trials in the near term. The Company's partners include Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and EnVivo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.