Ryvu Therapeutics Receives Orphan Drug Designation From FDA for SEL120 to Treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Ryvu Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel small molecule therapies that address emerging targets in oncology, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an orphan drug designation (ODD) to Ryvu’s SEL120, for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

SEL120 is an oral, selective inhibitor of CDK8 kinase which is implicated in the development of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. A clinical phase 1b study of SEL120 is currently enrolling in 6 investigational sites in USA, investigating safety and preliminary efficacy of SEL120 in treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory AML or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR-MDS).

“The FDA’s granting orphan drug designation to SEL120, is a significant encouragement for advancement of our clinical strategic plan addressing the unmet medical needs in the area of AML treatment, a disease where patients still face poor prognosis” said Setareh Shamsili, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer and Executive VP at Ryvu Therapeutics. “SEL120 has shown strong proof of concept in the preclinical studies and has received a strategic support from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) through its Therapy Acceleration Program® (TAP). SEL120 may have the potential to offer an important therapeutic benefit in AML and in particular to those refractory/relapsed AML patients with the poorest prognosis, worldwide.”

Orphan drug status (ODD) is intended to advance drug development for rare diseases. The FDA provides ODD to drugs and biologics that demonstrate promise for the diagnosis and/or treatment of rare diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.