On August 2, 2022 MAIA Biotechnology, Inc., (NYSE American: MAIA) ("MAIA", the "Company"), a targeted therapy, immuno-oncology company focused on developing potential first-in-class oncology drugs, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to THIO, a telomere-targeting agent currently in development to evaluate its activity in multiple cancer indications, for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) (Press release, MAIA Biotechnology, AUG 2, 2022, View Source [SID1234617304]). This is the second orphan drug designation granted to THIO, following receipt of orphan designation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
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"Receiving our second Orphan Drug Designation is an impressive regulatory milestone that highlights the FDA’s recognition of THIO’s potential to improve outcomes for patients with SCLC and HCC," said Vlad Vitoc, M.D., MAIA’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe there is a significant, multi-billion-dollar opportunity for THIO across many difficult-to-treat cancers and we look forward to advancing THIO towards the market and to patients in need for more effective therapies."
"Patients with SCLC have exceptionally poor prognosis, with only 6% of patients remaining alive five years after diagnosis," said Mihail Obrocea, MD, Chief Medical Officer of MAIA. "While clinical progress in SCLC treatment has been incredibly slow to evolve, an increased understanding of the disease biology has demonstrated that targeted therapies, like THIO, may offer a novel therapeutic option for SCLC."
Sergei Gryaznov, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of MAIA, added, "There is significant room for improvement in the treatment landscape for SCLC, with the currently available standard-of-care therapies providing incremental benefit to patients. We are optimistic about our telomere-targeting approach to provide clinical benefit in patients with SCLC, CRC and HCC who have failed first-line therapies and we look forward to evaluating our approach in a future trial."
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women and accounts for about one-fifth of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer is broadly split into NSCLC and SCLC, with about 15% classified as SCLC. About two-thirds of SCLC patients are diagnosed with extensive-stage disease, in which the cancer has spread widely through the lung or to other parts of the body. SCLC is an aggressive, fast-growing cancer that recurs and progresses rapidly despite initial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.
The FDA’s Office of Orphan Products Development grants orphan designation status to drugs and biologics that are intended for the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases, or conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Orphan Drug Designation provides certain benefits, including financial incentives, to support clinical development and the potential for up to seven years of market exclusivity for the drug for the designated orphan indication in the U.S. if the drug is ultimately approved for its designated indication.
About THIO
THIO (6-thio-dG or 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine) is a telomere-targeting agent currently in clinical development to evaluate its activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Telomeres, along with the enzyme telomerase, play a fundamental role in the survival of cancer cells and their resistance to current therapies. THIO is being developed as a second or later line of treatment for NSCLC for patients that have progressed beyond the standard-of-care regimen of existing checkpoint inhibitors.