Volasertib, Boehringer Ingelheim's Investigational Oncology Compound, is Granted Orphan Drug Designation for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in the U.S. and EU

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., April 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Commission (EC) have granted Orphan Drug Designation to volasertib for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Volasertib is currently being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of patients aged 65 or older, with previously untreated AML, who are ineligible for intensive remission induction therapy. Volasertib has not been approved by the FDA or EC regulatory authorities; its safety and efficacy have not been established.

AML is an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and blood. It accounts for approximately one-third of all adult leukemias in the Western world and has one of the lowest survival rates of all leukemias. AML is primarily a disease of later adulthood; the average age of an AML patient is 65-70 years. The recommended standard of care is currently intensive chemotherapy, but many patients due to age and comorbidities cannot tolerate this therapeutic approach. For them, options are limited and their prognosis is typically poor. Volasertib is currently being investigated in this specific patient population.

"The FDA and EC Orphan Drug Designations mark an important milestone in our global development program for volasertib," said Sabine Luik, M.D., senior vice president, Medicine & Regulatory Affairs,  Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Boehringer Ingelheim is deeply committed to supporting the community of patients living with acute myeloid leukemia, with a current research focus on these older patients who have very limited treatment options."

In both the U.S. and EU, Orphan Drug Designation is a status given to investigational compounds intended to treat a rare disease or condition that has limited treatment options. To qualify for FDA's Orphan Drug Designation, the drug must, among other requirements, address a disease that affects fewer than 200,000 total people in the U.S. The designation qualifies the sponsor for various development incentives, including tax credits for qualified clinical testing and exemption from user fees under certain circumstances. The Orphan Drug Designation does not change the standard regulatory requirements and process for obtaining market approval. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) defines a rare disease as one affecting no more than five people per 10,000 in the EU.

Following the Breakthrough Therapy Designation granted to volasertib by the FDA in 2013, Boehringer Ingelheim is continuing to engage in dialogue with the FDA to help expedite the development of volasertib as a potential treatment option. Publication of the Phase I/II trial data that was used in support of the Breakthrough Therapy Designation is expected later this year.

About Volasertib
Volasertib is an investigational compound that inhibits enzymes called Polo-like kinase (Plk). Plk1 is the best characterized kinase of the Plk family. Plk1 regulates cell division (mitosis). This inhibition can result in prolonged cell cycle arrest, ultimately leading to cell death (apoptosis).

Volasertib is  currently being evaluated in clinical trials for various solid tumors and hematological cancers. Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the first companies to advance Plk inhibitors into clinical development. Volasertib has not been approved by the FDA or EC regulatory authorities; its safety and efficacy have not been established. 

About the Volasertib Clinical Trial Program
Initiated in January 2013, POLO-AML-2 (Clinical Trial Identifier: NCT01721876) is an ongoing global Phase III trial designed to assess the efficacy and safety of volasertib in combination with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC), compared to placebo in combination with LDAC, in patients aged 65 or older with previously untreated AML, ineligible for intensive remission induction therapy. The trial is currently enrolling eligible patients. 

About Boehringer Ingelheim in Oncology 
Building on scientific expertise and excellence in the fields of pulmonary and cardiovascular medicine, metabolic disease, neurology, virology and immunology, Boehringer Ingelheim has embarked on a major research program to discover and develop innovative cancer treatments.  Working in close collaboration with the international scientific community and a number of the world's leading cancer centers, Boehringer Ingelheim's commitment to oncology is underpinned by using advances in science to develop a range of targeted therapies for various solid tumors and hematological cancers. The current focus of late-stage research includes compounds in three areas: signal transduction inhibition, angiogenesis inhibition and cell-cycle kinase inhibition. The company is also evaluating a robust and growing pipeline of early-stage oncology compounds in areas including growth/survival signaling, immunotherapy and epigenetics.

For information about participating in a Boehringer Ingelheim clinical trial, please visit www.bicancertrials.com or call 1.866.725.7110. Healthcare providers interested in learning more about Boehringer Ingelheim clinical trials in oncology can visit www.inoncologyus.com for additional information. 

About Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, CT, is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 142 affiliates and more than 47,400 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

Social responsibility is a central element of Boehringer Ingelheim's culture. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim's endeavors.

For more information, please visit http://www.us.boehringer-ingelheim.com

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SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.