PALO ALTO, Calif., April 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Telik, Inc. reported positive preclinical results with its lead cancer product candidate, TELCYTA(R) (TLK286), that support TELCYTA's unique mechanism of targeted activation in cancer cells and the synergy observed when TELCYTA is administered in combination with platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs. The data were reported at the 97th annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Washington, DC:
TLK286, a Novel Glutathione Analog Prodrug, Induces Irreversible G2 Cell Cycle Arrest and Premature Senescence; Abstract # 2071; Poster Session: Cell Cycle Components in Therapeutics; April 3, 2006, 8:00 am - noon
The potential for development of cancer cell resistance to TELCYTA was studied and compared to the development of resistance to several widely used cancer drugs. The results demonstrated that human ovarian cancer cells treated continuously with TELCYTA for more than 18 months and ongoing have not developed resistance to TELCYTA. In contrast, ovarian cancer cells treated with cancer drugs including carboplatin, paclitaxel or conventional alkylator-based drugs, as expected, readily developed resistance to those drugs.
Telik scientists also evaluated the effects of TELCYTA treatment on the cancer cell cycle. Human lung and ovarian cancer cells treated with TELCYTA exhibited cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase, resulting in significant growth inhibition, a profile that may enhance the effects of combinations of TELCYTA and platinum-based cancer drugs.
These data provide additional in vitro evidence supporting TELCYTA's novel mechanism of action employing targeted activation that may offer advantages in inhibiting cancer cell growth as monotherapy and in combination regimens.
About TELCYTA
TELCYTA is a novel, small molecule cancer cell-activated prodrug activated by an enzyme present in cancer cells. TELCYTA has been evaluated in multiple Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials as a single agent and in combination regimens in advanced ovarian, non-small cell lung, breast and colorectal cancer. Three Phase 3 registration trials of TELCYTA are underway: ASSIST-1, a single agent trial in platinum refractory or resistant ovarian cancer; ASSIST-2, a single agent trial in platinum resistant non-small cell lung cancer; and ASSIST-3, a trial to evaluate TELCYTA in combination with carboplatin in second line platinum refractory or resistant ovarian cancer. TELCYTA was discovered through the application of Telik's proprietary drug discovery technology, TRAP.
About Telik
Telik, Inc. of Palo Alto, CA is a biopharmaceutical company working to discover, develop and commercialize small molecule drugs to treat serious diseases. The company's most advanced drug development candidate is TELCYTA (TLK286), a tumor-activated small molecule product candidate that is in Phase 3 registration trials in advanced ovarian 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 www.telik.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements. For this purpose, any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding the potential for TELCYTA (TLK286) to treat one or more types of cancer. There are a number of important factors that could cause Telik's results to differ adversely and materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, the following: none of Telik's product candidates, including TELCYTA, has been determined to be safe or effective in humans or received regulatory approval for marketing; it may take Telik several years to complete clinical trials of its product candidates, including TELCYTA, prior to seeking regulatory approval for any indication; success in preclinical testing and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and interim results of clinical trials do not necessarily predict final results; if Telik's competitors develop and market products that are more effective than Telik's product candidates, or obtain regulatory approval before Telik does, Telik's commercial opportunity will be reduced or eliminated; if Telik does not obtain regulatory approval to market its products in the United States and foreign countries, it will not be permitted to commercialize its product candidates; if Telik is unable to contract with third parties to manufacture its product candidates in sufficient quantities and at an acceptable cost, clinical development of product candidates could be delayed; and if Telik is unable to raise adequate funds in the future, it will not be able to continue to fund its operations and clinical trials to develop its product candidates. 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 annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. TELIK, TRAP, TELCYTA and TELINTRA are trademarks of Telik, Inc. Telik does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Telik, Inc.CONTACT: Carol D. DeGuzman, Senior Director, Corporate Communications ofTelik, Inc., +1-650-845-7728, or cdeguzman@telik.com
Web site: http://www.telik.com/
