Microbion Corporation announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation for pravibismane for the treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections. Pravibismane, which Microbion is developing as a topical treatment as well as an inhalation suspension, already had orphan drug designation for the treatment of lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients, and early development of inhaled pravibismane has been supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and by CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator).
Microbion CEO Karim Lalji commented, “This designation comes at an opportune time as Microbion plans to initiate a Phase 3 program for topical pravibismane treatment of chronic wounds and a Phase 1 program with inhaled pravibismane for treatment of NTM lung infections. In an in vivo study using a chronic NTM lung infection model, inhaled pravibismane demonstrated an over 18-fold reduction of M. abscessus, the most pathogenic and rapidly growing species, for which no approved therapy exists. We are encouraged by the potential of pravibismane to address the critical unmet need of NTM infections.”
Chief Scientific Officer Jeff Millard said, “We are pleased that the FDA has granted pravibismane this second orphan drug designation for the treatment of NTM infections. Our in vitro and in vivo data for the activity of pravibismane against pulmonary NTM infections and related biofilms, demonstrate unique and highly differentiated, potent activity compared to other agents currently used to treat NTM, while being well tolerated. We look forward to working closely with all our stakeholders and patients to advance the development of pravibismane for the treatment of NTM infections.”
Read the Microbion press release.
