Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,a biopharmaceutical company,  has received two separate orphan drug designations from the US Food and Drug Administration's Office of Orphan Products Development for its bispecific antibody, MM-111, for the treatment of esophageal cancer and for the treatment of gastric as well as gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers.

"We are pleased that the FDA has granted orphan status designation for the development of MM-111 in these two indications," said Victor Moyo, MBChB., vice president of Clinical Investigations at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals. "Patients with HER2-expressing gastric and esophageal cancers have limited treatment options. We are excited to move forward with the development of MM-111 and hope to positively impact the lives of these patients by addressing an unmet medical need."

MM-111 is designed to inhibit ErbB3 (HER3) receptor signaling in cancers that overexpress ErbB2 (HER2). Overexpression of the ErbB2 cell surface receptor has been reported in seven to 34 per cent of gastric cancers according to various scientific articles. Research has shown that ErbB3 expression is associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer and may contribute to resistance to some current standard treatments. Currently, MM-111 is being tested in a phase II study in advanced gastric, esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers.

These two orphan drug designations will potentially provide Merrimack Pharmaceuticals with seven-year marketing exclusivity for MM-111 and other benefits if the drug is approved by the FDA. The FDA's Office of Orphan Products Development is dedicated to supporting the development of products that are promising for treatment and diagnoses of diseases that affect less than 200,000 Americans annually.

Merrimack is a biopharmaceutical company discovering, developing and preparing to commercialize innovative medicines paired with companion diagnostics for the treatment of cancer.