MINNEAPOLIS, July 20 (UPI) -- U.S firm Humanetics said Friday it has been granted orphan drug status for its experimental treatment for acute radiation syndrome.
The privately held company said it is developing BIO 300 as a "medical countermeasure for ionizing radiation resulting from a nuclear or radiological attack, act of terrorism or accident," noting that its potential treatment is the first drug targeting ARS to be granted orphan drug designation by the Food and Drug Administration.
The agency gives orphan drug status to companies developing treatments for rare but serious diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.
If Humanetics' anti-radiation therapy is approved, it would get seven years' market exclusivity as an orphan drug.
