Talon Therapeutics, Inc. announced its New Drug Application (NDA) seeking accelerated approval of Marqibo (vincristine sulfate liposomes injection) has been accepted for filing by the US FDA. Marqibo will be reviewed by the US FDA under Subpart H — accelerated approval of new drugs for serious or life threatening illnesses, for the treatment of adult Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in second or greater relapse or that has progressed following two or more lines of anti-leukaemia therapy.
“Two important hurdles have been crossed with the acceptance for filing of the Marqibo NDA and affirmation of the accelerated approval review path. We remain 100 per cent focused on our goal of an FDA approval of Marqibo,” stated Steven R Deitcher, president, chief executive officer and Board Member of Talon Therapeutics. “The patients we are seeking to treat represent a rare haematologic malignancy and have a grave prognosis. The accelerated approval path has the potential to provide access to a new, well-tolerated, and effective treatment more quickly for these patients. We aim to initiate and commence enrollment in the phase III confirmatory trial, that recently received an SPA, prior to the May PDUFA date,” Dr Deitcher added.
In August 2011, Talon received Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement from the FDA for its proposed phase III confirmatory study, named HALLMARQ, for the treatment of adults = 60 years old with newly diagnosed ALL. In addition to the phase III adult, front-line ALL study, Talon is developing Marqibo for paediatric cancers (solid tumours and haematologic malignancies) in a phase I-II clinical study conducted by the National Cancer Institute and for newly diagnosed aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) to be conducted by the German High Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group.
Marqibo is a novel, targeted Optisome encapsulated formulation product candidate of the FDA-approved anticancer drug vincristine. Talon has been primarily developing Marqibo for the treatment of adult, Ph- ALL. Vincristine, a microtubule inhibitor, is FDA-approved for ALL and is widely used as a single agent and in combination regimens for treatment for haematologic malignancies such as lymphomas and leukaemias. Talon's encapsulation formulation is designed to provide prolonged circulation of the drug in the blood and accumulation at the tumour site. These characteristics are intended to increase the dose of vincristine delivered in a safe and effective manner.
Talon Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to seizing upon medical opportunities, efficiently and expertly leading product candidates through clinical development, and transferring value to patients, patient care providers, shareholders, corporate partners, and employees.