Vanda Pharma's VGT-1849A Gets Orphan Drug Designation From FDA

(RTTNews) - Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VNDA) Friday announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation for VGT-1849A, a selective antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-based JAK2 inhibitor for the treatment of polycythemia vera (PV).

Orphan Drug Designation is granted by the FDA to investigational therapies addressing rare medical conditions and provides benefits to drug developers.

Polycythemia Vera is a form of a rare hematologic malignancy that is estimated to affect 1 in 2000 Americans.

Polycythemia Vera is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by aberrant hematopoiesis of myeloid lineage with exuberant red cell production and increased release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. More than 95% of PV patients harbor the JAK2 V617F gain-of-function mutation leading to aberrant JAK2 production.