Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) affects approximately 2.8 in 10,000 people in the EU and a recent statistic estimated 5-year survival rate of 58 % for patients suffering from STS within the EU.
The EC decision is based on a recommendation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP).
Orphan Drug Designation is granted for medicinal products that are intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of rare diseases affecting less than 5 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU).
The Orphan Medicinal Product status of L19TNF entails a number of incentives, including 10-year market exclusivity once the product receives marketing authorisation.
Duccio Neri, co-founder and CEO of the Philogen group, said: "We are very pleased to receive Orphan Drug Designation for L19TNF in soft tissue sarcoma.
"The initial clinical results with L19TNF are very promising and we look forward to continue the development of such an important drug".
About L19TNF
L19TNF is a fully human antibody-based biopharmaceutical product, which allows for selective accumulation of the anti-cancer agent TNF in high concentrations at the site of disease.
The recruiting Phase Ib study (PH-L19TNFDOXO-01/12; EudraCT 2012-000950-75) is assessing safety of the combination of doxorubicin and L19TNF in advanced solid tumours including patients with STS.