Anavex Life Sciences (NASDAQ:AVXL) has received FDA orphan drug designation for ANAVEX 2-73 for the treatment of infantile spasms.
ANAVEX 2-73 already has orphan drug designation for the treatment of Rett syndrome.
An infantile spasm is a specific type of seizure seen in an epilepsy syndrome of infancy and childhood known as West Syndrome. Infantile spasms occur in roughly two-to-three per 10,000 live births, with peak incidence at six months of age and less than 10% of cases presenting after 12 months of age. Children with symptomatic spasms more frequently exhibit neurological deficits and cognitive and developmental delays.
