Stem Cell Mobilization Treatment Gets Orphan Status from FDA

Orphan Drug Designation is granted to therapeutics intended to treat rare diseases that affect not more than 200,000 people in the United States. Orphan Drug Designation entitles the sponsor to a seven-year marketing exclusivity period, clinical protocol assistance with the FDA, as well as federal grants and tax credits.

The Orphan Drug Designation was granted for use of BL-8040, in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), to mobilize human stem cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood for collection for autologous or allogeneic (donor-based) transplantation.

"We are very pleased to have our second Orphan Drug Designation for BL-8040, in this case for stem cell mobilization treatment, after already having received the designation last year for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia," stated Dr. Kinneret Savitsky, chief executive officer of BioLineRx. "This is in line with our 2014 development plan for BL-8040, which includes clinical studies for both AML and stem cell mobilization. BL-8040 was already shown to be highly effective in mobilizing stem cells in combination with G-CSF in a Phase 1/2 study in multiple myeloma patients, and initial results of BL-8040's Phase 2 study for AML patients indicate that BL-8040 on a stand-alone basis triggers substantial mobilization of cancer cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood. We are eagerly looking forward to the results of the clinical trials in both indications expected in the second half of this year."

Date: January 23, 2014

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Stem Cell Mobilization Treatment Gets Orphan Status from FDA