ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a biotechnology company that develops antibody-based targeted anticancer products, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to its lorvotuzumab mertansine (formerly IMGN901) product candidate when used for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Through a separate process, ImmunoGen has received a positive opinion for lorvotuzumab mertansine as an orphan medicinal product for the treatment of SCLC from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) and is awaiting final designation from the European Commission. The compound previously was granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma in both the US and European Union (EU).
“Lorvotuzumab mertansine has shown encouraging initial activity and tolerability when used as a single agent to treat relapsed SCLC, a very difficult cancer”
"Lorvotuzumab mertansine has shown encouraging initial activity and tolerability when used as a single agent to treat relapsed SCLC, a very difficult cancer," commented Daniel Junius, President and CEO. "We believe this product candidate has the potential to make a real difference for patients with SCLC, and we're planning to start a trial later this year that assesses the compound, used together with standard care, for first-line treatment of this cancer."