The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to Agios Pharmaceuticals’ novel pyruvate kinase (PK) activator tebapivat (AG-946) for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
“Receiving orphan drug designation for tebapivat in MDS underscores the importance of bringing new oral treatment options to patients suffering from this rare disease,” said Sarah Gheuens, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head R&D at Agios. “We aim to deliver the first oral therapy that addresses anemia due to ineffective erythropoiesis in lower-risk MDS, which affects approximately 75,000-80,000 patients in the U.S. and EU5 and accounts for approximately 70% of MDS cases.”
Agios completed a Phase 2a study of tebapivat in lower-risk MDS late last year and is currently initiating a Phase 2b study of tebapivat in lower-risk MDS.
The FDA’s Office of Orphan Drug Products grants orphan drug designation to support the development of medicines for rare disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Under the Orphan Drug Act, orphan drug designation qualifies a company for incentives, including tax credits, exemptions from certain FDA fees for clinical trials, and the potential for seven years of market exclusivity following drug approval.
Mitapivat, the company’s lead PK activator, was previously granted FDA orphan drug designation for the treatment of PK deficiency, thalassemia, and sickle cell disease.
