Tremelimumab Receives Orphan Drug Designation from FDA for Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment, Baron & Budd Reports

Drug Attacks Malignant Cells While Leaving Nearby Healthy Cells Unharmed

DALLAS (May 13, 2015) – The mesothelioma law firm of Baron & Budd reports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to tremelimumab, a medication used to treat malignant mesothelioma. The drug’s manufacturer, AstraZeneca, announced the designation on April 15.

The FDA grants orphan drug status to promote the development of new medications to treat diseases that typically affect less than 200,000 people in the United States. The designation provides tax incentives for research as well as seven years of limited marketing exclusivity.

Tremelimumab helps the body’s immune system target malignant cells by binding to a protein known as CTLA-4. It destroys the malignant cells while leaving nearby healthy cells unharmed.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is very aggressive, attacking the lining of the lungs, abdomen and, in some instances, the heart. It has only one known cause – the ingestion or inhalation of asbestos.

“Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones are searching for new treatment options in order to extend their life and enhance their quality of life,” said Russell Budd, president and managing shareholder of the mesothelioma law firm of Baron & Budd. “Tremelimumab shows a great deal of promise in helping to accomplish both of these vitally important goals.”

Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones may be able to take legal action against the asbestos manufacturers responsible for their suffering. Please contact an attorney with the mesothelioma law firm of Baron & Budd to learn more. Call 855-280-7664 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.

About Baron & Budd, P.C.

Established in 1977, Baron & Budd, P.C. is a prominent plaintiffs’ law firm committed to protecting the rights of individuals, municipalities, businesses and other entities. One of the first law firms to successfully litigate an asbestos lawsuit, Baron & Budd continues to actively represent veterans, industry workers, and others who have mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer. Determined to fight for the public interest, Baron & Budd is one of the largest plaintiffs’ firms in the country with a robust practice that includes asbestos exposure cases, environmental contamination, Gulf Oil spill damages, unsafe pharmaceuticals and medical devices, overtime violations, and financial fraud. Baron & Budd achieved the largest mesothelioma verdict in the United States in 2012. Visit Fight Mesothelioma, Baron & Budd’s dedicated mesothelioma website FightMesothelioma.com or call 1.866.855.1229 for information on medical treatments, mesothelioma cancer doctors and treatment centers, high risk jobs, veterans issues and financial assistance for asbestos cancer care.