Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Vanda), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products for the treatment of CNS, has received the 2015 Industry Innovation Award from the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD) in recognition of company's work in developing Hetlioz (tasimelteon) for the treatment of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24). This award was presented to Vanda at the 2015 Portraits of Courage Gala in Washington D.C. on 18th May.
"We are proud to be recognized by NORD for our work on Hetlioz for the treatment of Non-24 and view this award as another opportunity to bring attention to those individuals who are struggling to live with this debilitating condition," said Mihael H. Polymeropoulos, M.D., President and CEO of Vanda. "We thank NORD for their support of Non-24 patients and others in the U.S. who live with rare disorders."
Hetlioz was approved by the US for the treatment of Non-24 in January of 2014. In April 2015, the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion for Hetlioz for the treatment of Non-24. A final decision is expected by the end of the second quarter of 2015.
Established in 1983, NORD is the primary nonprofit organization representing all patients and families affected by rare diseases in the US. NORD is committed to the identification, treatment and cure for all 7,000 rare diseases that affect 30 million Americans. NORD provides programs of advocacy, education, research and patient/family services to improve the lives of all people living with rare diseases.
Non-24 was first described more than 60 years ago, and is a chronic, circadian rhythm disorder resulting from the misalignment of the endogenous master body clock to the 24-hour day, disrupting the sleep-wake cycle. The sleep disturbance causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational and other important areas of functioning. Non-24 affects the majority of totally blind individuals and it has been estimated that approximately 80,000 people in the US have the disorder.
Hetlioz is a melatonin receptor agonist. Hetlioz has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Non-24.