May 31 2011
YM BioSciences Inc. (NYSE Amex: YMI), (TSX: YM), today announced that it has received positive opinions from the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products of the European Commission to grant Orphan Medicinal Product Designation to its JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, CYT387, for the treatment of primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis and post-essential thrombocythaemia myelofibrosis. Myelofibrosis is a chronic debilitating unmet medical need in which a patient's bone marrow is replaced by scar tissue, and for which treatment options are limited or unsatisfactory.
"CYT387 has demonstrated early efficacy in improving the key aspects of myelofibrosis including anemia, splenomegaly and a range of debilitating symptoms," said Dr. Nick Glover, President and CEO of YM BioSciences. "Having our JAK inhibitor designated as an orphan drug for the treatment of myelofibrosis in Europe, in addition to our previously obtained orphan designation in the US, will help ensure that we are able to advance this drug as efficiently as possible for these patient groups."