Development accelerates for Artemis Therapeutic’s lead anti-viral, anti-parasitic candidate Artemisone.

Clinical stage biopharmaceutical Artemis Therapeutics, Inc. announced recently that its lead candidate, a synthetic artemisinin derivative with potent anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties, was granted FDA’s Orphan Drug Designation. With the designation, the company is free to accelerate the development of Artemisone as a potential new tool to fight Malaria.

Brian M. Culley, Chief Executive Officer of Artemis said the company was delighted to receive orphan drug designation from the FDA for its malaria treatment. "With approximately half of the world's population at risk, malaria presents an unmet global challenge with enormous economic implications. In recent years, artemisinin-resistant malaria has become increasingly common.”

Artemis Therapeutics will continue to focus on developing new therapies for preventing or treating severe, life-threatening diseases stemming from infections and other disorders. According to the company, Artemisone is currently being evaluated for the treatment of p. falciparum malaria and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, including stem-cell transplant CMV.