TELINTRA® (Ezatiostat HCl, TLK199) is a small molecule product candidate designed to stimulate the production of blood cells in the bone marrow. Many conditions are characterized by depleted bone marrow, including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a form of pre-leukemia in which the bone marrow produces insufficient levels of one or more of the 3 major blood elements (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets). A reduction in blood cell levels is also a common, toxic effect of many standard chemotherapeutic drugs.

In preclinical testing, TELINTRA was shown to increase white blood cell production in normal animals as well as in animals in which white cells were depleted by treatment with standard cancer drugs. Similar effects may provide a new approach to treating MDS.

Data from a Phase 2 trial of TELINTRA in MDS presented at the 48th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology demonstrated that TELINTRA treatment was associated with improvement in all three types of blood cells in patients with all types of MDS, including those in intermediate and high-risk groups.

In early 2006, clinical development was initiated with a new, oral formulation of TELINTRA in MDS patients. If successful, this formulation may support evaluation of TELINTRA in additional types of blood disorders characterized by low levels of blood cells.

TELINTRA, like all of the drug candidates in Telik's pipeline, was developed through the application of our proprietary TRAP® technology.

Physicians and patients seeking additional information on TELINTRA may contact clinicaltrials@telik.com.