U.S. FDA grants Orphan Drug Designation to Deramiocel for the treatment of Becker Muscular Dystrophy, broadening Capricor’s focus in neuromuscular diseasesCapricor remains on track for the August 31, 2025, PDUFA date for Deramiocel in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy following successful FDA Pre-License Inspection SAN DIEGO, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capricor Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CAPR), a biotechnology company developing transformative cell and exosome-based therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseas ...

Core Insights - SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. has initiated dosing of the first pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient in a Phase 2 trial for SLS009, a selective CDK9 inhibitor, supported by Rare Pediatric Disease Designation [1][2] Group 1: Clinical Development - The Phase 2 trial is an open-label, single-arm, multi-center study aimed at evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of SLS009 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine at two dose levels: 45 mg and 60 mg [3] - The target response rate for the optimal dose level is set at 20%, with a target median survival of at least 3 months [3] - The trial includes cohorts for ASXL1-mutated AML patients and those with myelodysplasia-related molecular abnormalities, aiming to identify biomarkers for the target patient population [3] Group 2: Regulatory and Market Implications - SELLAS received FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for SLS009 in July 2024, which may provide regulatory advantages and eligibility for a Priority Review Voucher (PRV) upon future NDA approval [2] - PRVs have recently been valued at approximately $100 million, indicating significant market potential for the company if successful [2] Group 3: Company Overview - SELLAS is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for various cancer indications, with its lead product candidate GPS targeting the WT1 protein [4] - SLS009 is positioned as a potentially first-in-class CDK9 inhibitor, demonstrating a high response rate in AML patients with unfavorable prognostic factors, including ASXL1 mutation [4]