Cleveland BioLabs, Inc. today announced that CBLB502, a drug under development for the treatment of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS), has been granted Fast Track status by the FDA.
The Fast Track program is designed to expedite the review of investigational drugs for the treatment of patients with serious or life-threatening diseases where there is an unmet medical need. Fast Track designations allow a company to file a New Drug Application (NDA) or Biologics License Application (BLA) on a rolling basis and permits the FDA to review the filing as it is received, rather than waiting for the complete submission prior to commencing the review process. Additionally, NDAs and BLAs for fast track development programs are eligible for priority review, which may result in an abbreviated review time of six months.
“We are extremely pleased that the lead indication for CBLB502 has been assigned Fast Track status, and look forward to working closely with the FDA to expedite the program’s review process,” said Michael Fonstein, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland BioLabs.
About CBLB502CBLB502 is a derivative of a microbial protein that potentially reduces injury from acute stresses, such as radiation and chemotherapy, by mobilizing several natural cell protective mechanisms, including inhibition of programmed cell death (apoptosis), reduction of oxidative damage and induction of regeneration-promoting cytokines.
CBLB502 is being developed by Cleveland BioLabs under the FDA’s Animal Efficacy Rule to treat ARS or radiation poisoning from any exposure to radiation such as a nuclear or radiological weapon / dirty bomb, or from a nuclear accident. This approval pathway requires demonstration of efficacy in representative animal models and safety, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and biomarker testing in healthy human volunteers.
