Zafgen: Beloranib Granted Orphan Drug Designation In EU - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Zafgen, Inc. (ZFGN) announced the European Commission has granted orphan drug designation for beloranib for the treatment of craniopharyngioma, a rare form of benign brain tumor.

Beloranib is an injectable small molecule therapy with a unique mechanism of action that reduces hunger while stimulating the use of stored fat as an energy source. Beloranib is a potent inhibitor of methionine aminopeptidase 2, or MetAP2, an enzyme that modulates the activity of key cellular processes that control metabolism.

Zafgen previously received orphan designation by the European Commission for beloranib for the treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome in July 2014, and by the U.S. FDA for Prader-Willi syndrome in January 2013.