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Telik's Aurora Kinase-VEGFR Dual Inhibitor Program Meets a Preclinical Development Milestone

Posted on: Thursday, 21 August 2008, 18:00 CDT

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Telik, Inc. announced today that the lead compounds of its Aurora kinase and VEGFR dual inhibitor program met a significant development milestone. Aurora kinase is a critical signaling enzyme whose function is required for cancer cell division, while vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) plays a key role in tumor blood vessel formation, ensuring an adequate supply of nutrients to support tumor growth. Telik's lead compounds prevented tumor growth in preclinical models of human colon cancer and human leukemia by inhibiting both Aurora kinase and VEGFR. A development drug candidate is being selected, and assuming successful completion of preclinical studies, a Phase 1 clinical study may be initiated.

"Our computational TRAP(R) technology enabled us to combine and process information on the properties of single target molecules resulting in compounds with the desired dual target mechanism of action," said Steve Schow, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at Telik. "The ability to inhibit two targets may reduce the ability of cancer cells to evade the inhibition of one target alone and results in a better outcome."

The initial data demonstrating the activity of Telik's lead compounds was presented at the EORTC-AACR-NCI Meeting held in Belgium in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Telik, Inc. of Palo Alto, CA, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel small molecule drugs to treat serious diseases. The company's most advanced investigational drug candidates in clinical development are TELINTRA(R), a modified glutathione analog for the treatment of cytopenias due to myelodysplastic syndrome or chemotherapy, and TELCYTA(R), a tumor-activated prodrug for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Telik's product candidates were discovered using its proprietary drug discovery technology, TRAP, which enables the rapid and efficient discovery of small molecule drug candidates. Additional information is available at http://www.telik.com/.

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including statements regarding the potential qualities and capabilities of the lead compounds described above, including the potential ability of the lead compounds to prevent or stop tumor cell division and starve tumors, and the potential development of a drug candidate to treat cancer. These forward-looking statements are based upon Telik's current expectations. There are important factors that could cause Telik's results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. Detailed information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by statements in this press release may be found in Telik's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. Telik does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

TELIK, the Telik logo, TELINTRA, TELCYTA, and TRAP are trademarks or registered trademarks of Telik, Inc.

Telik, Inc.

CONTACT: Patricia P. Frias, Corporate Communications of Telik, Inc.,+1-650-845-7927, pfrias@telik.com

Web site: http://www.telik.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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