May 20, 2024
IQ-AI Ltd
("IQ-AI" or the
"Company")
Imaging Biometrics Announces
Second U.S. FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Designation Granted to
GaM
For the Treatment of
Pediatric-Type Diffuse High Grade Glioma ("HGG")
Further to the announcements made on
8 November 2023 and 10 May 2024, Imaging Biometrics ("IB"), Elm
Grove, WI, a wholly owned subsidiary of IQ-AI Ltd (LSE:
IQAI), today announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(the "FDA") has granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation ("RPDD")
to IB-003 for the treatment of pediatric-type diffuse HGG. IB-003
is the Company's lead drug candidate, oral gallium maltolate
("GaM").
Recently, the FDA granted RPDD to
GaM for the treatment of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor
("ATRT").
Pediatric-type diffuse HGG, which
now consists of four molecularly distinct subtypes according to the
2021 World Health Organization Classification of the Central
Nervous System, fifth edition ("2021 WHO CNS5"), falls within this
population. Prior to the WHO reclassification, these tumors
were referred to as pediatric glioblastoma. The four subtypes
include diffuse midline glioma, diffuse hemispheric glioma H3
G34-mutant, diffuse pediatric high-grade glioma H3 wildtype and IDH
wildtype, and infant-type hemispheric glioma.
Rare pediatric diseases are defined
by the FDA as serious or life threatening that affect less than
200,000 people under 18 years of age. Like ATRT, pediatric-type
diffuse HGG meets this criterion. These cancers have a poor
prognosis primarily due to the early dissemination of cancer cells
through the cerebrospinal fluid. Moreover, treating these tumors is
especially difficult due to their location and the challenges of
surgically resecting tumor tissue.
This RPDD designation request also
leveraged data obtained from the pre-clinical study by Mona
Al-Gizawiy, PhD in the laboratory of Kathleen Schmainda, PhD at the
Medical College of Wisconsin. As announced on 27 June 2023, the
study showed growth inhibition and a survival benefit from
treatment with IB-003. Specifically, median overall survival for
pediatric glioblastoma was 21 days in the control group and 49 days
in the treated group.
Having multiple RPDDs offers both
strategic and financial advantages in advancing treatment for rare
pediatric diseases. Of these, priority review vouchers ("PRV") are
the most significant. Upon new drug application ("NDA") approval by
the FDA, a sponsor becomes eligible for a PRV. The PRV can then be
redeemed to obtain a priority review for another NDA, or they can
be sold or transferred to other companies.
"This second Rare Pediatric Disease
Designation for IB-003 reflects our commitment to address the needs
of children affected by these conditions," said Trevor Brown, CEO
of IQ-AI Ltd. "Building upon these designations, we are exploring
ways to accelerate and expand the application of
IB-003."
--ENDS-
The Directors of the Company accept
responsibility for the contents of this announcement.
For further information, please
contact:
IQ-AI Ltd
Trevor Brown/Vinod Kaushal/Brett
Skelly/Michael Schmainda
Tel: 020 7469 0930
|
Peterhouse Capital Limited (Financial Adviser and Broker)
Lucy Williams/Heena
Karani
Tel: 020 7220 9797
|
About Imaging Biometrics® LLC: IB is a wholly owned subsidiary
of IQ-AI Limited, (LON: IQAI), and focuses on delivering
quantitative imaging platforms and therapeutics that transform how
clinicians diagnose and treat patients more efficiently and
effectively. For more information about Imaging Biometrics, visit
the company's website at www.imagingbiometrics.com. Follow
IB on Twitter, @IQAI_IB.