BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Edgewise Therapeutics, Inc., (Nasdaq: EWTX), a leading muscle disease biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has granted EDG-5506 Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) and Becker muscular dystrophy (Becker) and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) for the treatment of Duchenne. EDG-5506 is an investigational orally administered small molecule designed to prevent contraction-induced muscle damage in dystrophinopathies, including Duchenne and Becker. EDG-5506 is currently advancing in multiple Phase 2 trials for individuals with Duchenne, Becker and other dystrophinopathies. The FDA previously granted Fast Track designation for the investigation and development of EDG-5506 for the treatment of Becker.
“Receiving orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations are important milestones in advancing our novel small molecule therapeutic approach to treating individuals with Duchenne and Becker,” said Kevin Koch, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Edgewise. “These regulatory designations highlight the urgent and critical need for new and better therapeutic options for people living with these rare, serious or life-threatening disorders.”
Benefits of ODD and RPDD
The FDA grants ODD to support development of medicines for rare diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Potential benefits of the ODD include market exclusivity for the first ODD drug for an approved indication within the ODD for a seven-year period upon FDA approval, federal tax credit for qualified clinical research expenses incurred in the U.S., and a waiver of Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) fees (currently worth over $4 million).
RPDD acknowledges therapies under investigation for rare pediatric diseases affecting less than 200,000 people in the U.S. with serious or life-threatening manifestations primarily affecting individuals up to 18 years of age. RPDD provides priority review of the marketing application, and, if approved for marketing, grants that sponsor a priority review voucher which can be transferred or sold to another sponsor.
About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne is a severe, degenerative muscle disorder with a median life expectancy of around 30 years old. People living with Duchenne begin to lose their ability to walk without assistance by their early teens and nearly all will require the use of a wheelchair by the time they are in their mid-teens. Duchenne is the most common type of muscular dystrophy, and genetic mutations in the dystrophin gene result in contraction-induced muscle damage, which is the primary driver of irreversible muscle loss and impaired motor function. Currently, there is no cure for Duchenne; early, active multidisciplinary care from neuromuscular specialists, cardiologists, physical therapists, and other specialists is critical for optimized disease management. Current therapeutic options for Duchenne are inadequate to prevent significant morbidity and mortality; novel therapies in development for Duchenne, including muscle targeted interventions, aim to positively impact disease trajectory.
About Becker Muscular Dystrophy
Becker is a genetic, progressive neuromuscular disorder that imposes significant physical, emotional, financial, and social impacts predominantly on males and their caregivers. Genetic mutations in the dystrophin gene resulting in Becker lead to contraction-induced muscle damage, which is the primary driver of muscle loss and impaired motor function in muscular dystrophies. Functional decline can begin at any age, and once that muscle loss occurs, the decline in function is irreversible and continues throughout the individual’s life. Some individuals living with Becker experience heart failure from cardiomyopathy, which may result in heart transplantation or early death. Currently, there is no cure for Becker; early and long-term multidisciplinary care from neuromuscular specialists, cardiologists, physical therapists, and other specialists is critical for optimized disease management. Novel therapies are in development for Becker, including muscle targeted interventions, aimed at positively impacting disease trajectory.
About EDG-5506 for Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophies
EDG-5506 is an orally administered small molecule designed to prevent contraction-induced muscle damage in dystrophinopathies including Duchenne and Becker. EDG-5506 presents a novel mechanism of action designed to selectively limit the exaggerated muscle damage caused by the absence or loss of functional dystrophin. By minimizing the progressive muscle damage that leads to functional impairment, EDG-5506 has the potential to benefit a broad range of patients suffering from debilitating neuromuscular disorders. Its unique mechanism of action provides the potential to establish EDG-5506 as a foundational therapy in dystrophinopathies, either as a single agent therapy or in combination with available therapies and those in development. The Company is advancing EDG-5506 through the clinic including completing enrollment of a Phase 2 study cohort, called CANYON, evaluating safety and effects on function and biomarkers of muscle damage in adult males with Becker, which has been expanded to include an additional 120 adult participants in a pivotal cohort called GRAND CANYON, which is currently enrolling. In Duchenne, the Company is advancing its Phase 2 clinical trials, LYNX, assessing safety, pharmacokinetics and biomarkers of muscle damage, and FOX, which includes children and adolescents previously treated with gene therapy. For more information on Edgewise’s clinical trials www.edgewisetx.com/clinical-trials.
About Edgewise Therapeutics
Edgewise Therapeutics is a leading muscle disease biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for muscular dystrophies and serious cardiac conditions. The Company’s deep expertise in muscle physiology is driving a new generation of first-in-class therapeutics. EDG-5506 is an orally administered skeletal myosin inhibitor in clinical trials in patients with Becker, Duchenne, and Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophies as well as McArdle Disease. EDG-7500, currently in a Phase 1 trial, is a novel cardiac sarcomere modulator for the treatment of HCM and other disorders of cardiac diastolic dysfunction. The entire team at Edgewise is dedicated to our mission: changing the lives of patients and families affected by serious muscle diseases. To learn more, go to: www.edgewisetx.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and Threads.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding the potential of, and expectations regarding EDG-5506; and statements regarding Edgewise’s expectations relating to its clinical trials. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “goal,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon Edgewise’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics and operating as an early clinical stage company including the potential for Edgewise’s product candidates to cause serious adverse events; Edgewise’s ability to develop, initiate or complete clinical trials for, obtain approvals for and commercialize any of its product candidates; the timing, progress and results of clinical trials for EDG-5506 and EDG-7500; Edgewise’s ability to enroll and maintain patients in clinical trials; Edgewise’s ability to raise any additional funding it will need to continue to pursue its business and product development plans; the timing, scope and likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals; the potential for any clinical trial results to differ from preclinical, interim, preliminary, topline or expected results; Edgewise’s ability to develop a proprietary drug discovery platform to build a pipeline of product candidates; Edgewise’s manufacturing, commercialization and marketing capabilities and strategy; the size of the market opportunity for Edgewise’s product candidates; the loss of key scientific or management personnel; competition in the industry in which Edgewise operates; Edgewise’s reliance on third parties; Edgewise’s ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its product candidates; general economic and market conditions; and other risks. Information regarding the foregoing and additional risks may be found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in documents that Edgewise files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Edgewise assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
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