FDAnews
www.fdanews.com/articles/61084-y-s-therapeutics-molecule-yspsl-given-orphan-status

Y'S THERAPEUTICS' MOLECULE YSPSL GIVEN ORPHAN STATUS

July 21, 2006

Y's Therapeutics has announced that the FDA and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) have granted orphan drug designation and orphan medicinal product designation, respectively, for its investigational drug YSPSL (rPSGL-Ig) in the prevention of graft dysfunction in kidney transplantation.

YSPSL (rPSGL-Ig) is a clinical-stage recombinant molecule resulting from fusion of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) to human IgG1. YSPSL blocks a class of adhesion molecules known as selectins and prevents the accumulation of both leukocytes and platelets at sites of inflammation. Specifically, it binds to selectins expressed on activated platelets and endothelial cells. Consequently, YSPSL inhibits binding of inflammatory cells bearing selectin ligands as well as subsequent inflammatory activity, platelet coagulation and thrombosis.