Tarix Orphan Granted Orphan Drug Status for TXA127 as Potential Treatment for Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (MDC1A)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tarix Orphan LLC today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug status to the company's lead compound, TXA127, for the treatment of laminin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy (LAMA2 MD or MDC1A). Early-onset LAMA2-related muscular dystrophy occurs in approximately 1 in 30,000 individuals and accounts for between 30 and 40 percent of total cases of congenital muscular dystrophy.  TXA127 is a pharmaceutical grade formulation of the naturally occurring peptide Angiotensin (1-­7), which Tarix Orphan is developing for the treatment of a number of orphan and genetic diseases, including congenital muscular dystrophies.

"This is the third U.S. Orphan Drug designation granted to TXA127 for muscular dystrophies, with previously received designations for Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD), our lead indication, and limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD)," commented Richard Franklin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tarix Orphan LLC. "We sought these Orphan Drug designations based on very positive pre-clinical data from mdx, sgcd -/- and DyW models, which correspond to DMD, LGMD and congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1A) respectively. We now look forward to initiating the clinical evaluation of TXA127 in each of these indications, starting with our previously announced Phase 2 study in DMD, which we expect to begin later this year."

Orphan status is granted by the FDA to promote the development of products that demonstrate promise for the treatment of rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans annually. Orphan drug designation entitles Tarix Orphan to a seven-year period of marketing exclusivity in the United States for TXA127 if it is approved by the FDA for the treatment of congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1A), and enables the company to apply for research funding, tax credits for certain research expenses, and a waiver from the FDA's application user fee.

About TXA127
TXA127 is a pharmaceutical grade formulation of the naturally occurring peptide Angiotensin (17) which Tarix Orphan is developing for the treatment of a number of orphan and genetic diseases, with an initial focus on DMD. Additional diseases which may benefit from treatment with TXA127 include congenital muscular dystrophies, Marfan Syndrome, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TXA127 is part of the "alternative renin angiotensin system (RAS)" and counteracts the "classical" RAS, which promotes hypertension, fibrosis, hypertrophy and inflammation.

About Tarix Orphan
Tarix Orphan LLC is a private biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of TXA127, a pharmaceutical formulation of the naturally occurring peptide Angiotensin (1-7), for the treatment of rare neuromuscular and connective tissue diseases. TX127 has shown therapeutic activity in animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1A), Marfan syndrome, and ALS. Tarix Orphan has broad IP protection for TXA127, and Orphan Drug Designations (ODDs) have been granted for DMD and LGMD in the United States, and for DMD in Europe. For more information on Tarix Orphan, please visit our website at www.tarixorphan.com.

Contact:
Elizabeth Wagner, Vice President
Tarix Orphan LLC
[email protected]

For Media:
Joan Kureczka
Kureczka/Martin Associates
(415) 821 2413
[email protected]

SOURCE Tarix Orphan LLC

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