ChemoCentryx Gets Orphan Drug Status For CCX168 From EU - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - ChemoCentryx, Inc., (CCXI) said that the European Commission or EU has granted orphan medicinal product designation for CCX168, an orally administered inhibitor targeting the receptor for the complement protein known as C5a or C5aR, for the treatment of microscopic polyangiitis or MPA and granulomatosis with polyangiitis or GPA. Both conditions are forms of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody or ANCA-associated vasculitis.

ChemoCentryx' President and Chief Executive stated: "We believe that CCX168 may have therapeutic value in treating MPA and GPA since CCX168 targets the chemo-attractant C5a receptor which we believe plays an essential role in the inflammatory process in ANCA-associated diseases."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA has also granted orphan-drug status for CCX168 this year.