Pharmaceutical Business review

Micromet Receives Orphan Drug Designation From EMEA For Blinatumomab

Micromet has received Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for BiTE antibody blinatumomab (MT103), for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Blinatumomab is a novel therapeutic antibody that activates a patient’s T cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells.

Micromet, in June, achieved its primary endpoint in an ongoing phase 2 study of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. The data showed 81% response rate in ALL patients with minimal residual disease (MRD), said the company.

Micromet is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

BiTE antibodies represent a new class of antibodies that activate the T cells of a patient’s immune system to eliminate cancer cells.