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Palo Alto, CA, October 25, 2007 — Telik, Inc. (Nasdaq:
TELK) reported positive preclinical data from its ongoing program to
develop novel small molecule inhibitors of validated cancer targets
including aurora kinases and VEGFR2. The data were presented today
at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer
Therapeutics in San Francisco.
Aurora kinases are enzymes that play a key role
in mitosis, or cell division. They are over-expressed in many human
cancers, including breast, colon, pancreas, prostate and thyroid
cancer, and are associated with carcinogenesis. Several aurora
kinase inhibitors are currently under clinical evaluation for the
treatment of cancer.
The VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2/KDR/Flt-1), a
clinically validated target, plays a pivotal role in controlling
angiogenesis and metastasis. A single agent that targets both aurora
kinases and VEGFR2 may offer advantages of simultaneously attacking
the ability of cancer cells to grow and divide while starving
existing tumors of needed blood supply.
Telik scientists have identified a class of
selective small molecule inhibitors of aurora kinase A and B and
VEGFR2. Treatment of human colorectal cancer cells with two of
these inhibitors, A60 and EA19, prevented cell division, ultimately
leading to cancer cell apoptosis (programmed cell death). These
same compounds are potent inhibitors of VEGF-dependent human
endothelial cell proliferation. These agents demonstrated
significant inhibition of tumor growth in a standard xenograft model
of human colorectal cancer.
"These data support the continued development
of aurora kinase and VEGFR2 inhibitors," said James G. Keck, Ph.D.,
vice president, biology research. "We are actively pursuing studies
which, if successful, could support the filing of an investigational
new drug application."
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 drug development candidates
are TELCYTA®, a tumor-activated small molecule product candidate in
clinical development for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer
and non-small cell lung cancer; and TELINTRA®, which is in clinical
development for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome. 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
www.telik.com
TELIK, the Telik logo, TELCYTA, TELINTRA and
TRAP are trademarks or registered trademarks of Telik, Inc.
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Contact:
Carol DeGuzman
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Telik, Inc.
Tel 650-845-7728
Email cdeguzman@telik.com
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