EXHIBIT 99.1 EARNINGS PRESS RELEASE

Exhibit 99.1

ACCESS NEWS

Contact: Company Contact: Investor Relations
Stephen B. Thompson Donald C. Weinberger
Vice President & CFO Wolfe Axelrod Weinberger & Associates
(214) 905-5100 (212) 370-4500


ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. ANNOUNCES
SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS


DALLAS, TEXAS, August 10, 2005, ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (AMEX: AKC)
today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2005. The
Company reported a net loss of $3,786,000, or $0.24 per share, for the
second quarter, as compared to net loss of $2,553,000, or $0.17 per share,
for the corresponding quarter in 2004. The net loss for the six month period
ended June 30, 2005 was $6,208,000, or $0.40 per share, compared with a net
loss of $4,904,000, or $0.33 per share for the corresponding period in 2004.

Revenue in the second quarter of 2005 was $249,000 compared to $68,000
in the same quarter of 2004, reflecting an increase in product sales
($201,000) offset by a decrease in licensing revenues ($20,000). For the six
month period, revenue increased to $404,000 compared with $88,000 in the
same period in 2004, reflecting an increase in product sales ($318,000) and
royalty income ($11,000) offset by a decrease in licensing revenues
($13,000). Aphthasol(R) product sales recommenced in September 2004
which accounts for the sales increase in both comparison periods as there
were no sales in 2004. There were licensing contracts signed and
recognized in the second quarter 2004 that were not recurring in 2005
which accounts for the decrease in licensing revenues in both periods of
2005.

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Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Page 2

Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2005 were $3,600,000, an
increase of $1,356,000 compared with 2004. This increase was due mainly
to increased general and administrative expense ($1,044,000), research and
development expense ($159,000) and cost of product sales ($147,000). The
increase in general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the
separation expenses with our former CEO relating to his employment and
separation agreements ($839,000), royalty license expense ($150,000) and
patent expenses ($22,000). Research and development expenses increased
mainly due to OraDisc(TM) manufacturing pre-production costs ($132,000)
and product and clinical costs for AP5346 ($86,000) offset by lower salary
and related costs due to staff reductions ($52,000). Product sales costs
increased due to increased Aphthasol(R) sales in 2005.

Operating expenses for the first six months of 2005 increased $1,546,000
to $5,874,000. Increased expenditures on general and administrative
($979,000), research and development ($334,000) and cost of product sales
($223,000). The increase in general and administrative expenses was mainly
due to the separation expenses with our former CEO ($839,000) and royalty
license expense ($150,000). Research and development expenses increased
mainly due to product and clinical costs for AP5346 ($197,000) and
manufacturing OraDisc(TM) pre-production costs ($113,000). Product sales
costs increased due to increased Aphthasol(R) sales in 2005.

Other income (expense) for the second quarter of 2005 was a loss of
$435,000 compared with a loss of $377,000 in the same quarter in 2004.
Other income (expense) for the first six months of 2005 was a loss of
$738,000 compared with a loss of $664,000 in the same period in 2004.
The increased loss was due to additional interest and amortization of debt
costs due to the Secured Convertible Notes.

Major events since the beginning of the last quarter include:

- - Ongoing negotiations with holders of convertible notes due September 13,
2005.

- - Ongoing negotiations with parties to sell certain assets to provide
additional liquidity.

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Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Page 3

- - The hiring of our Acting CEO, Rosemary Mazanet, and the resignation
of our former CEO.

- - Meeting of our Clinical Advisory Board to discuss AP5346.

- - Closing our Australia laboratory.

- - Significant staff reductions in research and development.

Commenting on the results, spokesperson Stephen B. Thompson, Vice
President & CFO of Access, stated, "We currently have liquid assets to
allow us to continue operations through August 31, 2005. Operating
expenses were higher than with our 2005 plan due to the separation
expenses with our former CEO and a one-time royalty license expense.
During the remainder of this year we expect expenses to decrease as a
result of staff reductions in August 2005, the closing of our Australia
laboratory and reduction in non-critical project costs. We have negotiations
underway with holders of our Convertible Notes which are due September
13, 2005. We are working to maintain the Company's priority projects and
protect the Company's assets. We anticipate a conference call in the next
few weeks to announce new business developments."

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging pharmaceutical company
focused on developing both novel low development risk product candidates
and technologies with longer-term major product opportunities. Access
markets Aphthasol(R) and is developing products for other oral indications.
Access is also developing unique polymer platinates for use in the treatment
of cancer and has an extensive portfolio of advanced drug delivery
technologies including vitamin mediated targeted delivery, oral delivery,
and nanoparticle aggregates.

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Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Page 4

This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking
within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited
to statements made relating to our current negotiations to sell certain assets
and to restructure our Convertible Notes due September 13, 2005, our
expected reduction in expenses and the maintenance of our projects and
protection of our assets. These statements are subject to numerous risks,
including but not limited to the uncertainties associated with our ability to
raise funds to continue our operations, our ability to sell assets, our ability
to restructure our Convertible Notes, research and development activities,
clinical trials, our ability to raise capital, the timing of and our ability to
achieve regulatory approvals, dependence on others to market our licensed
products, collaborations, future cash flow, the timing and receipt of
licensing and milestone revenues, projected future revenue growth and our
ability to generate near term revenues, the future success of the Company's
marketed products Aphthasol(R) and products in development including
polymer platinate, and OraDisc(TM), our ability to develop products from
our platform technologies, our ability to manufacture amlexanox products
in commercial quantities, our sales projections and the sales projections of
our licensing partners, our ability to achieve licensing milestones, our
ability to repay our outstanding debt obligations and other risks detailed in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2004, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
2005 and other reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

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Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)