Sellas Life Sciences receives FDA fast track designation for SLS009

SELLAS Life Sciences announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has granted Fast Track Designation to SLS009, its novel and highly selective CDK9 inhibitor, for the treatment of relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia. The Fast Track Designation is intended to facilitate the development and review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. “Receiving Fast Track Designation for SLS009 for r/r AML, following the recent Orphan Drug Designation for the same indication, underscores the potential for SLS009 and highlights the critical unmet need for patients with AML who face a poor prognosis due to the progressive nature of the disease,” said Angelos Stergiou, MD, ScD h.c., President and Chief Executive Officer of SELLAS. “The initial positive topline Phase 2a data at the 45 mg dose level demonstrate that SLS009 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine exhibits anti-leukemic effects with a favorable safety profile in AML patients resistant to venetoclax combination therapies. Importantly, as of the last follow-up, eight of the nine patients enrolled in the 45 mg cohort were alive. The first patient enrolled in the study achieved a complete response and continues on study in the seventh month with full peripheral blood recovery. The second enrolled patient is in the sixth month of treatment, further underscoring the potential benefit of adding CDK9 inhibition to the aza/ven regimen. We have now also enrolled several patients in the ongoing 60 mg dose cohort. Our team is committed to advancing the development of SLS009 with the goal of providing effective solutions to patients in need of viable treatment options.”