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Hana Biosciences receives orphan drug designation for cancer drug Ropidoxuridine

13 Jun 2006 - Hana Biosciences announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation for Ropidoxuridine (IPdR) for the treatment of malignant glioma, which makes up approximately half of all primary brain tumors. Ropidoxuridine is a orally available, thymidine analogue and prodrug for IUdR, which demonstrated a survival advantage in Phase II studies in anaplastic astrocytoma, a type of brain tumor. Hana Biosciences also recently received orphan drug designation for Talotrexin for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
 
"This designation not only underscores the need for improved therapies in malignant glioma, it also reiterates the company's development strategy in areas of unmet need. Hana Biosciences is committed to the clinical development of Ropidoxuridine in this disease," commented Greg Berk, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Hana Biosciences.