By Carlo Martuscelli 
 

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation tp AstraZeneca PLC's (AZN.LN) and Merck & Co. Inc.'s (MRK) Lynparza to treat pancreatic cancer, Astra said Tuesday.

Orphan drug designation is given to medicines that aim to treat rare diseases and provides benefits such as market exclusivity and tax breaks. Lynparza was previously granted orphan drug status for ovarian cancer, as well as fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer.

Lynparza is being developed by AstraZeneca and Merck & Co. as part of a strategic collaboration in the field of oncology. It is currently undergoing a phase 3 trial, with results expected in the first half of 2019.

 

Write to Carlo Martuscelli at carlo.martuscelli@dowjones.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 16, 2018 02:36 ET (06:36 GMT)

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