The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted fast track designation to APR-246 for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome who have TP53 mutations. In addition, FDA also granted Orphan Drug Designation to APR-246 for treatment of MDS.
“The granting of Fast Track designation and Orphan Drug Designation by FDA for APR-246 in TP53mutated MDS underscores the significant unmet medical need in this disease,” said Christian S. Schade, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aprea. “With our Phase 3 clinical study in MDS underway, we look forward to continuing our productive dialogue with FDA and bringing APR-246 to patients as soon as possible.”
The FDA’s Fast Track program facilitates the development of drugs intended to treat serious conditions and that have the potential to address unmet medical needs. A drug program with Fast Track status is afforded greater access to the FDA for the purpose of expediting the drug’s development, review and potential approval. In addition, the Fast Track program allows for eligibility for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review, if relevant criteria are met, as well as for Rolling Review, which means that a drug company can submit completed sections of its New Drug Application (NDA) for review by FDA, rather than waiting until every section of the NDA is completed before the entire application can be submitted for review.
Orphan Drug Designation is granted by the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development to advance the evaluation and development of safe and effective therapies for the treatment of rare diseases or conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. The designation can provide development and commercial incentives for designated compounds and medicines, including eligibility for a seven-year period of market exclusivity in the U.S. after product approval, FDA assistance in clinical trial design, tax credits related to clinical trial expenses, and an exemption from FDA user fees.