GERMANTOWN, Md., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq and ArcaEx(R): AVRX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics, today announced that Gary Lessing, Executive Vice President and CFO is scheduled to provide an update on the Company at the Rodman & Renshaw 3rd Annual Global Healthcare Conference. The conference will be held at the Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel in Monte Carlo, Monaco on May 15-16, 2006. Mr. Lessing is scheduled to present on Monday, May 15th at 1:00 p.m. CEST (Central European Summer Time) / 7:00 a.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). The presentation will be available live via a webcast and can be accessed through the investor page of Avalon Pharmaceuticals' website at: http://www.avalonrx.com/. An archive of the presentation will be available for 90 days following the conference. About Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Avalon Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics. Avalon seeks to discover and develop novel therapeutics through the use of a comprehensive, innovative and proprietary suite of technologies based upon large-scale gene expression analysis which it calls AvalonRx(R). Avalon Pharmaceuticals was established in 1999 and is headquartered in Germantown, Maryland. Contacts: Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Noonan Russo Gary Lessing Wendy Lau (Media) Executive Vice President & CFO Tel: (212) 845-4272 Tel: (301) 556-9900 Fax: (301) 556-9910 Jane Petrino (Investors) Email: Tel: (212) 845-4274 DATASOURCE: Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Gary Lessing, Executive Vice President & CFO of Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-301-556-9900, Fax, +1-301-556-9910, ; or Wendy Lau, Media, +1-212-845-4272, or Jane Petrino, Investors, +1-212-845-4274, both of Noonan Russo for Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Web site: http://www.avalonrx.com/

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