Aeterna Zentaris granted FDA orphan-drug designation for AEZS-108 in ovarian cancer

May 6 2010

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. ( AEZS, TSX: AEZ), ("the Company") a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrinology, today announced that it has received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), orphan-drug designation for AEZS-108, its doxorubicin targeted conjugate compound, for the treatment of ovarian cancer. AEZS-108 is currently in a Phase 2 trial in advanced ovarian and advanced endometrial cancer in Europe.

Juergen Engel, Ph. D., President and CEO of Aeterna Zentaris stated, "We are very pleased with AEZS-108 gaining orphan-drug designation for ovarian cancer from the FDA as it would provide it with extra market exclusivity protection. We look forward to reporting the final results from our ongoing European Phase 2 study in ovarian and endometrial cancer, later this year."