**Exhibit
      10.17**


**HANA
      BIOSCIENCES, INC.**


**Amendment
      to Stock Option Agreement**







This
      Amendment to Stock Option Agreement (this “ Amendment ”)
      is
      made and entered into as of the 30th day of June, 2006, between Fred L. Vitale
      (“ Optionee ”)
      and
      Hana Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”).




**Background**




A.       Optionee
      and the Company entered into a Stock Option Agreement dated February 1, 2004
      (the “ Stock
      Option Agreement ”).




B.       
      Pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement, the Company granted Optionee an option
      to purchase 141,007 shares of the Company’s common stock, as adjusted to reflect
      stock splits, combinations, mergers and other adjustments prior to the date
      hereof.




C.       The
      applicable exercise price relating to the Stock Option Agreement was less than
      the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the Stock
      Option Agreement.




D.       Due
      to the tax implications of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
      as
      amended, the Company and Optionee have agreed to amend the Stock Option
      Agreement in order to increase the exercise price to equal the fair market
      value
      of the Company’s common stock as of the date of the Stock Option Agreement.




E.       
      To compensate the Optionee for increasing the exercise price, the Company has
      issued to Optionee 7,377 shares of restricted common stock, subject to the
      terms
      set forth in that certain Restricted Stock Agreement by and between the Company
      and Optionee dated of even date herewith.




F.       Optionee
      and the Company hereby agree to amend the terms of the Stock Option Agreement
      to
      reflect the adjustment to the exercise price as set forth below.




**Agreement**




Now,
      Therefore ,
      the
      parties hereto agree as follows:




I. Adjustment
      to Exercise Price .
      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Stock Option
      Agreement, the exercise price set forth in the Stock Option Agreement shall
      be
      increased from $0.336 per share (as adjusted) to $0.833.




II. General .




A.       Except
      as specifically amended by this Amendment, the terms of the Stock Option
      Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without
      amendment.




B.       Nothing
      herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed as conferring
      upon
      or giving to any person, firm, or corporation other than the parties hereto,
      any
      rights or benefits under or by reason of this Amendment.




C.       Each
      party hereto agrees to execute such further documents as may be necessary or
      desirable to effect the purposes of this Amendment.




D.       This
      Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
      be
      deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same
      agreement.




E.       This
      Amendment, together with the Stock Option Agreement, embodies the entire
      agreement made between the parties hereto with respect to matters covered herein
      and shall not be modified except in a writing signed by each of the parties
      hereto.








IN
      WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment to Stock Option
      Agreement as of the date first written above.







**OPTIONEE**
              
              /s/
                Fred L. Vitale
              Name:
                Fred L. Vitale**HANA
                BIOSCIENCES, INC.**
              
              By:/s/ John P. Iparraguirre
              John
                P. Iparraguirre
              Vice
                President, Chief Financial Officer











2