Oncoheroes Biosciences, a biotech start-up and CataloniaBio & HealthTech member, has been granted orphan drug designation (ODD) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for volasertib to treat paediatric rhabdomyosarcoma and other rare soft-tissue sarcomas.

“All the incentives that come with ODD will help us accelerate clinical development and commercialisation of our first drug, volasertib.In the United States alone, each year 450 families are diagnosed with this type of childhood cancer,” explains Ricardo Garcia, founder and CEO of Oncoheroes. Volasertib is currently in Phase I clinical trials.

The company specialises in new therapies for childhood cancers and is based in Boston, with a laboratory in Barcelona.

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Photo: Ricardo Garcia with his son Richi - © Oncoheroes

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