Telik has announced notification of FDA orphan drug designation to ezatiostat HCL (Telintra) for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

The novel inhibitor of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase P1 1,Telintra activates Jun kinase, which regulates cellular growth and differentiation of blood precursor cells.

Telintra investigational agent is being developed for the treatment of MDS and idiopathic chronic neutropenia.

According to earlier studies, Telintra demonstrated clinically significant and sustained reduction in red blood cell transfusions, transfusion independence and multilineage responses in MDS patients.