FEB 03, 2016
Immunocore
Ocular Pathology/Oncology
The U.S. FDA has granted orphan drug designation to a novel T-cell receptor drug for uveal melanoma, currently in phase 2 clinical trial for late-stage disease.
The drug is being developed by Immunocore, a British biotech company that specializes in engineering a type of biologic reagent known as immune-mobilizing monoclonal T-cell receptors against cancer (ImmTACs). ImmTACs work by binding to both cancer cells and T-cells, thereby activating the T-cell to release its load of cancer cell killing lytic granules, leading to destruction of the cancer.
The European Medicines Agency's recently agreed to include the drug in its adaptive pathways pilot program, which aims to fast-track approval for new medicines to treat serious conditions with high unmet medical need.