Benralizumab for HES get orphan drug tag

The US FDA has granted Orphan Drug designation benralizumab (Fasenra) for the treatment of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES).

HES is a group of rare, potentially fatal disorders characterised by high numbers of eosinophils in blood and tissues, which can cause progressive damage to any organ in the body.

Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds directly to IL-5 receptor on eosinophils and attracts natural killer cells to induce rapid and near-complete depletion of eosinophils via apoptosis.

Benralizumab was developed by AstraZeneca with MedImmune.