Pharming Group announces that it has received a positive decision from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on a Paediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) submission for leniolisib, an oral, selective phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) inhibitor, for the treatment of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome (APDS) in patients from 1 year of age to less than 18 years of age. The company also announces that the MHRA has granted Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM) designation to leniolisib for the treatment of APDS.

A PIP is a development plan aimed at ensuring that the necessary data are obtained to support the marketing authorization of a medicine in the pediatric population. All applications for marketing authorization for new medicines in children require the results of studies as described in an agreed PIP, unless the medicine is exempt due to a deferral or waiver. The leniolisib PIP includes two planned global clinical trials in pediatric patients with APDS, the first in children ages 4-11 years and the second in children ages 1-6 years. The Company expects to initiate recruitment for this pediatric program for leniolisib during the second half of 2022.

A PIM designation indicates that a medicinal product is a promising candidate for the MHRA's Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS), which provides pre-market access to products that are intended for the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of a life-threatening or seriously debilitating condition and have the potential to address an unmet medical need.

Anurag Relan MD, Pharming's Chief Medical Officer, commented: "We are pleased to have received agreement of this PIP and the PIM designation from the MHRA, these represent important regulatory milestones as we continue to advance leniolisib for the treatment of APDS, a rare, often debilitating, and sometimes fatal condition. The agreed PIP and the PIM designation further support our confidence in the potential of leniolisib to address APDS, as they provide us with a pathway toward marketing authorization in the United Kingdom. Pharming looks forward to continuing to work with regulatory authorities globally to bring leniolisib to patients with this significant unmet medical need as expeditiously as possible."

Leniolisib, which has received Orphan Drug Designation in Europe, received the same designation from the US Food and Drug Administration on January 30, 2018.