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Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Quarterly Report

        I, Gerald McMahon, Chief Executive Officer of Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company"), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. 1350, that:

a.

the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and



b.

the information contained in the Report 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: November 6, 2009	By:	/s/ GERALD MCMAHON
		Gerald McMahon

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Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Quarterly Report