Lantern Pharma bags FDA orphan drug status for LP-184 in pancreatic cancer

Lantern Pharma has secured orphan drug designation for its small molecule drug candidate LP-184 from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

According to the Texas-based clinical stage biopharma company, LP-184 is a next generation alkylating agent that selectively damages DNA in cancer cells that over-express certain biomarkers or those harboring mutations in DNA repair pathways.

Pancreatic cancer is among the various targeted indications in cancer for which LP-184 is being developed.

Lantern Pharma said that its small molecule drug candidate has been designed for targeting a specific subset of pancreatic cancer patients who are defined genetically. The alkylating agent can potentially improve beneficial therapeutic options for patients and could eventually improve survival in people with pancreatic cancer, said Lantern Pharma.

Panna Sharma — President and CEO of Lantern Pharma said: “Receipt of Orphan Drug Designation is an important accomplishment for the LP-184 program and for our company. This designation further validates our data-driven approach to oncology drug development as well as the groundbreaking collaborative R&D approach we are advancing with leading institutions such as Fox Chase Cancer Center.

“Orphan Drug Designation is designed to provide a number of benefits, including seven years of market exclusivity, which complements our growing portfolio of patents that provide us additional commercial and market protections.”

Lantern Pharma said that it has started discussions on the design for the first human clinical trials of LP-184 in collaboration with Dr. Igor Astsaturov, an NCI-funded, physician scientist and co-leader of the Marvin & Conchetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute at Fox Chase Cancer Center, along with other important opinion leaders in the pancreatic cancer treatment landscape.