Meveol by Alaxia is granted orphan drug status for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in EU

Sept. 2, 2009 - PRLog -- LYON, France Alaxia announced that its drug candidate OSCN / Lactoferrin it develops under the name Meveol, was designated Orphan Drug for the treatment of cystic fibrosis by the Commission of European Communities on favorable opinion of the European Medicines Agency ( EMEA).

Philippe Bordeau, CEO of the company Alaxia said: "This is a significant step in developing a treatment for frequent respiratory infections and problems associated in CF patients. The aim of our company is to make available to patients as soon as possible an innovative form of treatment that has proven effective in vitro and in animals, including bacterial strains are most difficult to address within CF : Burkholderia cepacia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA.

About Orphan Drug designation:
Orphan drug designation is intended to encourage research and the rapid availability of drug therapies for patients with rare diseases. After expertise by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and in particular the COMP (Committee of orphan) the most promising compounds have special provisions to promote and accelerate their development.
Under EU directives, the designation of orphan medicinal product under 10 years of exclusivity potential market in the European Union from the placing on the market .. Alaxia also benefit from the expertise of the EMEA in optimizing the clinical development of its drug candidates and participation in the development of clinical trial protocols.

About Meveol: OSCN / Lactoferrin
Scheduled for administration by inhalation, the hypothiocyanite / Lactoferrin (Meveol), based on recent discoveries that highlight a failure of primary immune system in patients with cystic fibrosis. Product Meveol aims to compensate for this by giving directly to the lungs natural antimicrobial molecules that are not produced because of the disease.

About CF
Cystic fibrosis is the most common genetic diseases potentially serious pediatric age in Western populations. It is characterized by impaired CFTR protein that regulates the transport of water and salts (chloride channels but also Cl-channel rhodanide SCN-) in epithelial cells. The inactivation of the CFTR channel is because of multiple failures impairing the immune systems of human airways.

Although significant progress has been made in the management and care, it is still not cured. The average age of death in France is 24 years.

About Alaxia Alaxia is an innovative company located in the heart of the pharmaceutical pool of excellence, Lyon France. It aims to develop new therapeutic solutions in the context of rare diseases, including cystic fibrosis.


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