The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for Arch Oncology’s next-generation anti-CD47 IgG2 antibody, AO-176, for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM). Multiple myeloma is a cancer of mature plasma cells in the bone marrow, the condition is associated with lesions that develop in the ribs, back, and pelvis and lead to severe pain. Multiple myeloma can further weaken the immune system and increase susceptibility to infections and hypercalcemia. The antibody treatment, AO-176, blocks the interaction between signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) and the transmembrane protein CD47, effectively inducing a phagocytosis of tumor cells. Common treatment options for multiple myeloma include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, and targeted cancer-cell therapies. Arch Oncology is a clinical-stage immune-oncology company that develops protein best-in-class therapies for patients with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
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