PALO ALTO, Calif., July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Telik, Inc. , today announced the publication of research in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters describing a novel class of small molecule compounds that could potentially lead to a new treatment for diabetes. These unique compounds are the result of an extensive medicinal chemistry effort at Telik to optimize the original lead structure identified through the application of Telik's TRAP(R) technology.
The compounds developed activate the insulin receptor and may have the potential to be an orally administered treatment for diabetes. Such small molecules have been actively sought after since the discovery of insulin in the 1920s by Banting and Best, and could represent a completely different approach to the treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Telik's publication, Robinson, L. et al., "5-Substituted isophthalamides as insulin receptor sensitizers," Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 18: 3492 (2008), describes a series of compounds that are capable of activating the insulin receptor and were also shown to increase glucose transport into adipocytes.
"Telik's drug development focus does not include diabetes and other metabolic diseases," said Marc Steuer, Senior Vice President, Business Development. "It is our intention, therefore, to seek a licensee with the requisite development skills and expertise in this therapeutic area."
About Telik
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 capabilities and qualities of the small molecules described above. 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 March 31, 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.
CONTACT: Patricia P. Frias, Corporate Communications of Telik, Inc.,
+1-650-845-7927, pfrias@telik.com
Web site: http://www.telik.com/
