PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 21 CA-Proteasome-Inhibit
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Telik, Inc.
(Nasdaq: TELK) announced today that its novel small molecule proteasome
inhibitor program met a preclinical development milestone by demonstrating
anticancer activity in preclinical models of human leukemia. The proteasome is
an important cellular structure necessary for the growth and function of
cancer cells and inhibition of the proteasome has been shown to promote cell
cycle arrest and cancer cell death or apoptosis. Bortezomib, an approved drug
for the treatment of multiple myeloma, is based on this mechanism. Telik's
proteasome inhibitors are orally active, non-peptide, non-boron based, and
thus may lead to a drug candidate that might have advantages over Bortezomib
and other proteasome inhibitors.
"The potentially favorable profile of these compounds was achieved through
the use of our TRAP(R) computational drug discovery technology," said James
Keck, Ph.D., Vice President of Biology at Telik. "We are currently conducting
activities necessary to select a potential development candidate."
Preliminary data on Telik's proteasome inhibitor program was presented at
the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
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 drug
candidates resulting from the small molecule proteasome inhibitor program
described above, including the potential ability of such drug candidates to
prevent or stop tumor cell division and starve tumors, and the potential
development of any 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.
SOURCE Telik, Inc.
