EARNINGS RELEASE 11-17-2005

EXHIBIT 99.1

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

ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. ANNOUNCES
THIRD QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

DALLAS, TEXAS, November 17, 2005, ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (AMEX:AKC)
today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005. The
Company reported a net loss of $2,063,000, or $0.13 per share, for the third
quarter, as compared to net loss of $2,428,000, or $0.16 per share, for the
corresponding quarter in 2004. The net loss for the nine month period ended
September 30, 2005 was $8,271,000, or $0.53 per share, compared with a net
loss of $7,332,000, or $0.49 per share for the corresponding period in 2004.

Revenue in the third quarter of 2005 was $237,000 compared to $185,000
in the same quarter of 2004, reflecting an increase in product sales
($57,000) offset by a decrease in royalty income ($5,000). For the nine
month period, revenue increased to $641,000 compared with $273,000 in
the same period in 2004, reflecting an increase in product sales ($375,000)
and royalty income ($6,000) 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. 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 the nine months of 2005.

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Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Page 2

Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2005 were $1,873,000, a
decrease of $541,000 compared with 2004. This decrease was due mainly
to decreased research and development expense ($513,000), decreased
general and administrative expense ($106,000) offset by increased cost of
product sales ($83,000). The decrease research and development expenses
was mainly due to lower salaries and related expenses principally due to the
reduction in staff ($188,000), lower expenses for our Australian laboratory
which is now closed ($119,000), lower OraDisc(TM) manufacturing pre-
production costs ($98,000), lower product and clinical costs for AP5346
($83,000) and other net decreases ($25,000). The decrease in general and
administrative expenses was mainly due to lower property and franchise
taxes ($42,000), lower patent expenses ($39,000) and other net decreases
($25,000). Product sales costs increased due to increased Aphthasol(R) sales
in 2005.

Operating expenses for the first nine months of 2005 increased $1,005,000
to $7,747,000. Increased expenditures on general and administrative
($873,000), and cost of product sales ($306,000) were offset by lower
research and development ($179,000). The increase in general and
administrative expenses was mainly due to the separation expenses with our
former CEO ($839,000), increased royalty license expense ($150,000) and
higher legal expenses ($118,000) offset by lower patent expenses
($137,000) and other net expenses ($97,000). Product sales costs increased
due to increased Aphthasol(R) sales in 2005. Research and development
expenses decreased mainly due to lower salaries and related expenses
principally due to the reduction in staff ($166,000), lower expenses for our
Australian laboratory which is now closed ($86,000), lower OraDisc(TM)
manufacturing pre-production costs ($21,000) and other net decreases
($11,000) offset by higher product and clinical costs for AP5346 ($105,000).

Other income (expense) for the third quarter of 2005 was a loss of
$427,000 compared with a loss of $199,000 in the same quarter in 2004.
Other income (expense) for the first nine months of 2005 was a loss of
$1,165,000 compared with a loss of $863,000 in the same period in 2004.
The increased loss was due to additional interest and amortization of debt
costs due to our then outstanding Secured Convertible Notes. The Secured
Convertible Notes were paid in full on October 12, 2005.

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Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Page 3

Major events since the beginning of the third quarter include:

* We sold our oral care business to Uluru, Inc., a private Delaware
company, for up to $20.6 million. This transaction closed on October 12,
2005. This includes our interest in Aphthasol(R), all OraDisc(R) products,
all Residerm(R) products, and all of our assets related to these products.
In addition, we have licensed to Uluru our nanoparticle hydrogel aggregate
technology which could be used for applications such as local drug delivery
and tissue filler in dental and soft tissue applications. The CEO of Uluru is
Kerry P. Gray, the former CEO of Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In
conjunction with the sale transaction, we received a fairness opinion from
a nationally recognized investment banking firm.

At the closing of this agreement we received $8.7 million. In addition, at
the one year anniversary of the agreement we may receive up to $3.7
million, and we will receive an additional $1 million within 24 months after
closing or earlier upon the achievement of a milestone. Additional payments
of up to $7.2 million may be made upon the achievement of certain
additional milestones.

* We closed our laboratory in Australia. The development work performed
in Australia will now be performed in the Dallas laboratory while the
animal work performed in Australia will be completed in contract facilities.

* The $2.6 million Secured Convertible Notes were paid in full on October
12, 2005 in conjunction with the sale of our oral care assets.

* On Nov. 9, 2005 we announced the restructuring and partial repayment
of our 7.0% convertible promissory notes due September 13, 2005.

One holder of $4.015 million worth of convertible notes agreed to amend
their notes to a new maturity date, April 28, 2007, with the conversion
price being reduced from $5.50 per share to $1.00 per share. In addition,
the Company may cause a mandatory conversion of the notes into common
stock if the Company's stock trades at a price of at least 1.5 times the
conversion price for a minimum number of trading days. There is also a
provision to allow for a minimum price for conversion in the event of a
change of control.

The Company was unable to reach a conversion agreement with the second
holder of $4.015 million worth of notes, and has instead settled his claim
by paying him this amount plus expenses and interest as outlined in the
terms of the note.

The holder of $5.5 million worth of convertible notes agreed to amend their
note to a new maturity date of September 13. 2010.

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Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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* We have engaged an investment banker to assist the Company in
evaluating its strategic alternatives including for its Oncology business.

* Meeting of our Clinical Advisory Board to discuss AP5346.

* Significant staff reductions in research and development.

Commenting on the results, Stephen B. Thompson, Vice President & CFO
of Access, stated, "Our negotiations with all of our note holders have
resulted in having long term debt on our balance sheet instead of short
term debt. The sale of our oral care assets to Uluru, Inc. has allowed us to
concentrate on our efforts on the AP5346 program and our other priority
projects. The staff reductions and closing of our Australian laboratory have
cut our burn rate. We will have a conference call today at 12 noon eastern
time to discuss our current projects, status of our convertible debt and
quarterly financial results."

To participate please dial (800) 313-7484 about five to ten minutes prior to
the initiation of the teleconference. International callers may dial (415) 908-
6229. The conference call will also be available on replay starting on or
around 2:00 PM EST and ends at 5:00 PM EST November 23rd. For the
US replay, please dial (800) 633-8284 for international callers dial (402)
977-9140 (Reservation #21269166).

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging pharmaceutical company
developing unique polymer linked cytotoxics for use in the treatment of
cancer. Its lead product AP5346 is in Phase II clinical testing. The
Company also has other advanced drug delivery technologies including
vitamin-mediated targeted delivery and oral drug delivery.

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 cash needs, whether the efforts
of our investment banker will be successful, our data presented on our
product AP5346, and the results of our Phase II clinical trials relating to
our products, including AP5346. 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, 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, our ability to develop products
from our platform technologies, 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
September 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)