ProQR Therapeutics today announced that investigational drug QR-313 for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) has received orphan drug designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
QR-313 is a first-in-class RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) due to mutations in exon 73 of the COL7A1 gene. DEB is a rare genetic disease that can lead to severe blistering of the skin resulting in high treatment burden and poor quality of life for patients.
“We are pleased to have ODD designation in the U.S. for our QR-313 program targeting dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa,” said David M. Rodman, MD, Chief Development Strategy Officer of ProQR, “It highlights the unmet need in this devastating disease, for which we aim to make a meaningful difference. Our goal for this disease is to develop a pipeline of programs that can treat DEB mutations in a targeted manner and to actively advance the pipeline through development.”
Poster Presentations at Upcoming Scientific Conferences
The Company will present two posters (# 50 and 51) during the EB2017 – 5th World Conference of Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Conference from September 24-26, 2017 in Salzburg, Austria.
The same posters (# 181 and 194) will also be presented at the 47th Annual European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) Meeting on September 29, 2017 in Salzburg, Austria. Poster #181 is selected for a presentation (walk title: Genetics and Cell Based Therapy 2: Epidermolysis bullosa) on September 29 at 14.35-15.30 CET.
The posters are titled:
- Local delivery of an antisense oligonucleotide for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
- In vitro evaluation of QR-313; an antisense oligonucleotide designed to skip exon 73 from the COL7A1 mRNA.
About Orphan Drug Designation (ODD)
Orphan drugs are intended for the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of serious diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S., or that affect more than 200,000 persons but are not expected to recover the costs of developing and marketing a treatment drug. FDA evaluates scientific and clinical data submissions from sponsors to identify and designate products as promising for rare diseases and to further advance scientific development of such promising medical products. FDA provides incentives for sponsors to develop products for rare diseases, including development program tax benefits and a waiver of the NDA application user fee, as well as market exclusivity for up to seven years in the U.S.
About QR-313
QR-313 is a first-in-class RNA-based oligonucleotide designed to address the underlying cause of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) due to mutations in exon 73 of the COL7A1 gene. Mutations in this exon can cause loss of functional collagen type VII (C7) protein. Absence of C7 results in the loss of anchoring fibrils that normally link the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin together. QR-313 is designed to exclude exon 73 from the mRNA (exon skipping) and produce a functional C7 protein, thereby restoring functionality of the anchoring fibrils.
About ProQR
ProQR Therapeutics is dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA medicines for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10 and dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Based on our unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies we are growing our pipeline with patients and loved ones in mind. *Since 2012*
Filed Under: Drug Discovery