Genzyme, a Sanofi company, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough therapy designation to olipudase alfa. This enzyme replacement therapy is being investigated for the treatment of patients with non-neurological manifestations of acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD), also known as Niemann-Pick disease type B, as opposed to type A which is characterized by neurological involvement. ASMD is a serious and life-threatening disorder caused by insufficient activity of the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), which results in toxic accumulation of sphingomyelin. There are currently no approved treatment options for patients with Niemann-Pick disease type B.

Breakthrough therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of investigational new drugs that target serious or life-threatening conditions. The criteria for granting Breakthrough therapy designation are preliminary clinical evidence of substantial improvement on a clinically significant endpoint over available therapies. The Breakthrough therapy designation is distinct from the FDA’s other mechanisms to expedite drug development and review, and will allow for a close collaboration between Genzyme and the FDA on the olipudase alfa development program.

For more details, go to: http://news.genzyme.com/press-release/fda-grants-breakthrough-therapy-designation-genzymes-olipudase-alfa