VICO Therapeutics, a biotech company focusing on the development of RNA modulating therapies for rare neurological disorders, has announced the Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) of the FDA has granted orphan-drug designation for VO659, VICO’s investigational antisense oligonucleotide (AON) therapy, for the treatment of Huntington’s disease (HD).
This news comes a month after the company announced VO659 had received orphan-drug designation for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). This designation completes the quartet of orphan designations for VO659 in HD and SCA in both the US and EU, the company says.
Rupert Sandbrink, CMO at VICO, said: “Huntington’s disease, like many types of SCA, belongs to the group of polyglutamine disorders which are rare genetic and progressive brain diseases. Patients affected by Huntington’s disease experience motor disturbances, personality changes and dementia, leading to increasing disability, loss of independence and reduced survival. Only very limited, symptomatic treatment options are currently available for patients with this devastating disease. Our investigational RNA modulating therapy is aimed to be a disease modifying treatment for polyglutamine disorders, designed to lower the mutant polyglutamine protein levels that cause these neurodegenerative diseases.”
“We are delighted that FDA has granted this orphan-drug designation, following the ODD for SCA one month ago. This is affirmation of the potential of our AON approach.”
The FDA's Office of Orphan Products Development grants Orphan Drug Designation to drugs and biologics that are defined as those intended for the safe and effective treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases/disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the US. The designation allows the company to qualify for incentives including seven years of market exclusivity upon regulatory approval; exemption from FDA application fees for Huntington’s Disease; and tax credits for qualified clinical trials.
