The European Commission has granted orphan drug designation to Cethrin developed by Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for the treatment of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The drug had received the same status from FDA in 2005. Currently being tested for restoration of sensory and motor function, Cethrin is in Phase-II of its clinical trial.
The designation provides the drug with market exclusivity for a period of 10 years in the EU (7 years in the U.S). The Commission considered SCI as one of the rare and critical conditions lacking effective therapies.