Photo by Jorge Ferreira
, the plant from which artemisinin is derived
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to artemisone, a product candidate for the treatment of malaria.
Artemisone is a synthetic derivative of the antimalarial drug artemisinin, which “has been optimized for potency, stability, and safety,” according to Artemis Therapeutics, Inc., the company developing artemisone.
The company said phase 2 trial data suggest artemisone is effective against Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
Ninety-five patients were enrolled in the trial, and they received a 2-day or 3-day course of artemisone. Patients also received a second antimalarial drug on the final day of artemisone treatment (in compliance with recommendations from the World Health Organization).
At 28 days, the cure rates were 100% in both the 2-day and 3-day course groups. However, parasite clearance time was 25% faster with the 2-day course.
Artemis Therapeutics, Inc. has not yet released safety data from this trial.
Phase 1 data suggested artemisone was well tolerated by healthy subjects. There were no serious adverse events in the trial and no clinically relevant changes in laboratory and vital parameters, according to researchers.
About orphan designation
The FDA grants orphan designation to products intended to treat, diagnose, or prevent diseases/disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the US.
The designation provides incentives for sponsors to develop products for rare diseases. This may include tax credits toward the cost of clinical trials, prescription drug user fee waivers, and 7 years of market exclusivity if the product is approved.
