FDA grants orphan drug designation to Soligenix’s SGX94 for treatment of Acute Radiation Syndrome

Sep 16 2013

Soligenix, Inc. (OTCQB: SNGX) (Soligenix or the Company), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing products to treat inflammatory diseases and biodefense countermeasures where there remains an unmet medical need, announced today that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to the active ingredient SGX94 for the treatment of acute radiation syndrome (ARS). SGX94 is an innate defense regulator (IDR), a new class of short, synthetic peptides that accelerates resolution of tissue damage following exposure to a variety of agents including bacterial pathogens, trauma, radiation and/or chemotherapy. 

The US Orphan Drug Act is intended to assist and encourage companies to develop safe and effective therapies for the treatment of rare diseases and disorders.  In addition to providing a seven year term of market exclusivity upon final FDA approval, orphan drug designation also positions Soligenix to be able to leverage a wide range of financial and regulatory benefits, including government grants for conducting clinical trials, waiver of expensive FDA user fees for the potential submission of a New Drug Application, and certain tax credits.

"The FDA's decision to grant SGX94 orphan drug designation signifies an important step for Soligenix as we continue to expand our biodefense pipeline and the many potential applications of our novel IDR technology," stated Christopher J. Schaber, PhD, President & Chief Executive Officer of Soligenix. "SGX94's activity in preclinical models has demonstrated the potential to mitigate damage to the skin and gastrointestinal tract, as well as enabling clearance of infection as a result of damage to the hematopoietic system, all of which occur with varying severity in ARS. The marketing exclusivity that orphan drug designation imparts adds significantly to the existing patent estate surrounding SGX94."