Telik’s Aurora Kinase-VEGFR Dual Inhibitor Program Meets a Preclinical Development Milestone

    PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 21 /EMWNews/ -- Telik, Inc.

(Nasdaq: TELK) announced today that the lead compounds of its Aurora kinase

and VEGFR dual inhibitor program met a significant development milestone.

Aurora kinase is a critical signaling enzyme whose function is required for

cancer cell division, while vascular endothelial growth factor receptor

(VEGFR) plays a key role in tumor blood vessel formation, ensuring an

adequate supply of nutrients to support tumor growth. Telik's lead

compounds prevented tumor growth in preclinical models of human colon

cancer and human leukemia by inhibiting both Aurora kinase and VEGFR. A

development drug candidate is being selected, and assuming successful

completion of preclinical studies, a Phase 1 clinical study may be

initiated.



    "Our computational TRAP(R) technology enabled us to combine and process

information on the properties of single target molecules resulting in

compounds with the desired dual target mechanism of action," said Steve

Schow, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at Telik. "The ability to inhibit

two targets may reduce the ability of cancer cells to evade the inhibition

of one target alone and results in a better outcome."



    The initial data demonstrating the activity of Telik's lead compounds

was presented at the EORTC-AACR-NCI Meeting held in Belgium in the fourth

quarter of 2007.



    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 the lead

compounds described above, including the potential ability of the lead

compounds to prevent or stop tumor cell division and starve tumors, and the

potential development of a 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.