Hemispherx Biopharma Europe NV/SA, a branch of Hemispherx Biopharma Inc., recently announced that it has received a positive opinion for its new Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) treatment from the Committee on Medical Products (COMP).
The positive review is about the company’s Orphan Medical Product Application for its new Alferon N Injection. COMP stated the product meets all criteria specified for designation. The organization also said that the sponsor has sufficiently proved there are not any current treatments for MERS.
In light of this, COMP has issued a recommendation that Alergon N Injection receive orphan medical product designation for MERS indication.
In 2012, health professionals first identified MERS
in Saudi Arabia. This illness is due to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. MERS infections result in severe acute respiratory illness and cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Some patients die from the disease, and others develop pneumonia, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal symptoms and kidney failure.
“Alferon has great experimental potential as an early onset therapeutic for this dread disease,”
Hemispherx President
Tom Equels said. “Hemispherx is dedicated to making Alferon available for MERS clinical trials, emergency uses and early access programs consistent with all applicable laws.”
