An advance in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) has been made with the European Medicines Agency's designation of CRS-207 as an orphan drug. An orphan drug is one that has been developed expressly for the treatment of a rare condition, also called an orphan disease.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from cells of the mesothelium, the protective lining of many of the body's internal organs. It is commonly the result of asbestos exposure; the disease is usually found in the outer lining of the lungs and the internal chest wall.
CRS-207 is a product of Berkeley, California-based Aduro Biotech, Inc.
“The receipt of Orphan Drug Designation in the EU for CRS-207 for the treatment of MPM marks a significant regulatory milestone for Aduro, as we expand our operations in Europe and advance our therapies closer to the commercial marketplace,” Stephen Isaacs, CEO of Aduro, said. “We look forward to working with the EMA to expeditiously advance CRS-207 through development with the goal of bringing this potential therapy to patients throughout Europe suffering from mesothelioma.”
CRS-207 is the subject of a current Phase Ab study. Subjects in the study are MPM patients who are undergoing chemotherapy; CRS-207 is intended to be used in combination with chemotherapy.
For more information, visit www.aduro.com.
