Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NAVB) today announced that Lymphoseek® (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept) Injection has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for use in sentinel lymph node detection in patients with cancer of the head and neck.
The designation is based upon an estimated 40,000 procedures being performed in this patient population. The FDA Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) mission is to advance the evaluation and development of products (drugs, biologics, devices, or medical foods) that demonstrate promise for the diagnosis and/or treatment of rare diseases or conditions.
“This Orphan Drug designation provides further validation of Lymphoseek for sentinel lymph node detection, underscores the need for new innovations in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer, and, importantly strengthens Navidea’s competitive position by providing seven years of market exclusivity in this indication," said Michael Goldberg M.D., Navidea Interim CEO. "This decision follows the FDA Fast Track designation, Priority Review and subsequent sNDA approval of Lymphoseek for guiding sentinel lymph node biopsy in head and neck cancer patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.”
The FDA Orphan Drug Designation program provides a special status to drugs and biologics intended to treat, diagnose or prevent rare, or ‘orphan’, diseases and disorders, defined as affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. This designation provides for a seven-year marketing exclusivity period against competition in head and neck cancers as well as certain incentives, including federal grants, tax credits and a waiver of PDUFA filing fees, which qualifies the Company to request a refund of previously paid filing fees of up to $1.1 million.
About Lymphoseek
Lymphoseek® (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept) Injection is the first and only FDA-approved receptor-targeted lymphatic mapping agent. It is a novel, receptor-targeted, small-molecule radiopharmaceutical used in the evaluation of lymphatic basins that may have cancer involvement in patients with breast cancer, melanoma and head and neck cancer patients with oral cavity carcinoma. Lymphoseek is designed for the precise identification of lymph nodes that drain from a primary tumor, which have the highest probability of harboring cancer. Lymphoseek is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in lymphatic mapping to assist in the localization of lymph nodes draining a primary tumor in patients with breast cancer or melanoma and for use in guiding sentinel lymph node biopsy in head and neck cancer patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. The Company anticipates continuing development of Lymphoseek into other solid tumor areas.
Lymphoseek Indication and Important Safety Information
Lymphoseek (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept) Injection is indicated, using a hand-held gamma counter, for:
- Lymphatic mapping to assist in the localization of lymph nodes draining a primary tumor site in patients with breast cancer or melanoma;
- Guiding sentinel lymph node biopsy, in patients with clinically node negative squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity.
Important Safety Information
In clinical trials with Lymphoseek, no serious hypersensitivity reactions were reported, however Lymphoseek may pose a risk of such reactions due to its chemical similarity to dextran. Serious hypersensitivity reactions have been associated with dextran and modified forms of dextran (such as iron dextran drugs).
Prior to the administration of Lymphoseek, patients should be asked about previous hypersensitivity reactions to drugs, in particular dextran and modified forms of dextran. Resuscitation equipment and trained personnel should be available at the time of Lymphoseek administration, and patients observed for signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity following injection.
Any radiation-emitting product may increase the risk for cancer. Adhere to dose recommendations and ensure safe handling to minimize the risk for excessive radiation exposure to patients or health care workers. In clinical trials, no patients experienced serious adverse reactions and the most common adverse reactions were injection site irritation and/or pain (<1%).
