FDA Grants Profounda Inc. Orphan Drug Designation for treatment of Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE) with Miltefosine
ORLANDO, Fla., June 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Profounda, Inc. ("Profounda") announced today that it has received the US Food and Drug Administration's Orphan Drug Designation for the use of miltefosine to treat Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE. Profounda licensed miltefosine (Impavido) from Knight Therapeutics (USA) Inc.
One of the causes of Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE), a serious infection of the brain and spinal cord, is Balamuthia The Balamuthia amoeba is thought to enter the body when soil or dust containing Balamuthia comes in contact with skin wounds and cuts, or is inhaled or gets in the mouth. The Balamuthia amoebas can then travel to the brain through the blood stream and cause GAE.
Amber Shoemake lost her son Leland Shoemake on September 25(th), 2015 to this terrible disease and has set up a foundation in his name (lelandshoemakefoundation.com). GAE is often diagnosed only after death. However, it can be diagnosed by examining blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and tissue samples from a living patient as well. Amber is hoping to increase awareness of the deadly brain eating amoebas and has said "It took my son so I can talk about that evil all day". In August of 2016, miltefosine played a role in helping a Florida teen survive a similar brain eating amoeba infection, Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) -- Amebic Encephalitis.
Impavido® (miltefosine) is the first and only oral treatment approved by the FDA for visceral, mucosal and cutaneous leishmaniasis (a rare tropical parasitic disease). Leishmaniasis is the second leading parasitic cause of death in the world after malaria, and is rare in the USA, but we do see 15-30 cases per year. Impavido has also received orphan drug designation in treating Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), the brain infection caused by the water-born amoeba Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba Keratitis, and is the first Rx product launched in the U.S. by Profounda, Inc.
Since minutes matter, Profounda has offered any hospital in the country a no charge consignment program in which there are now 15 participating hospitals across the country. Todd MacLaughlan, CEO of Profounda, says "While the number of patients dealing with these deadly amoebic infections is small, the devastating impact to families with loved ones in undeniable," and further, "Increased awareness can lead to a faster diagnosis of GAE and PAM, and access to a potentially successful treatment is key".
About Impavido® (miltefosine)
Impavido® (miltefosine) is an FDA-approved, oral treatment for visceral, mucosal and cutaneous leishmaniasis in patients 12 years of age and older. Please see Full Prescribing Information on www.impavido.com for complete information. In the United States, leishmaniasis may be seen in returning travelers following exposure in endemic regions, and in American soldiers serving in Asia and the Middle East. Miltefosine is an alkyllysophospholipid analogue drug with in vitro activity against the promastigote and amastigote stages of Leishmania species. Miltefosine was included in the WHO essential medicines list as an anti-leishmaniasis medicine in March 2011.
About Profounda, Inc.
Profounda is a product-oriented, privately backed pharmaceutical company that aims to license or develop high quality specialty niche pharmaceutical products in both the branded and generic pharmaceutical markets. Our objectives are to bring high quality, innovative options to patients being treated for various conditions, and to improve the lives of those that take our medication. Profounda's first commercial OTC products, Rhinase® Nasal Gel and Rhinase® Nasal Mist, help patients with nasal dryness associated with allergies. Profounda is also developing a potential first to file generic product competing in a $150+ million brand market. For more information, visit Profounda's website at www.profounda.com.
Contact:
Profounda, Inc.
Todd MacLaughlan
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 407-270-7792
Email: todd@profounda.com
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SOURCE Profounda, Inc.
