On April 18, 2024 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) (Moleculin or the Company), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates targeting hard-to-treat tumors and viruses, reported that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation to Annamycin for the treatment of AML (Press release, Moleculin, APR 18, 2024, View Source [SID1234642152]).

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Annamycin is the Company’s next-generation anthracycline that has been designed to be non-cardiotoxic (unlike currently prescribed anthracyclines) and has shown to be non-cardiotoxic in the 82 subjects treated in multiple studies in the U.S. and in Europe. Furthermore, Annamycin has recently shown in Moleculin’s European clinical study for the treatment of AML using Annamycin in combination with Cytarabine (MB-106) a preliminary 60% composite complete response (CRc) rate in 2nd line subjects (N=10) and an overall interim CRc of 39% in all subjects (N=18), regardless of the prior number of therapies, in the European trial. Durability of the CRc’s is developing. One subject has surpassed the one-year mark with a durable complete response. Recruitment in MB-106 has ended for 2nd line subjects while recruitment for 1st line and 3rd line subjects continue. Annamycin is currently in development for the treatment for AML and STS lung mets, and the Company believes the drug may have the potential to treat additional indications.

"We are pleased to receive Orphan Drug Designation from the EMA for Annamycin, which further supports our ongoing efforts to advance this compelling next-generation anthracycline for the treatment of hard-to-treat cancers," commented Walter Klemp, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Moleculin. "Combined with the Orphan Drug Designation we already have in the US and with the new composition of matter patent just awarded by the US Patent and Trademark Office with coverage through 2040, we believe the commercial exclusivity of Annamycin is now very well protected. We continue to be encouraged by the growing body of promising interim clinical data demonstrated by Annamycin. We remain focused on advancing our clinical and regulatory strategies toward our next phase of development, including the planned commencement of a pivotal registration study as a 2nd line therapy in AML before year end."

The EMA grants orphan drug designation to drugs and biologics intended for the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare, life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases or conditions that affect fewer than five in 10,000 people in the European Union. Orphan designation allows companies certain benefits, including reduced regulatory fees, clinical protocol assistance, research grants and up to 10 years of potential market exclusivity in the European Union if approved.

Annamycin currently has Fast Track Status and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML, in addition to Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of STS lung mets.