A new cancer drug has been granted orphan drug status by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

AstraZeneca revealed that AZD2281, which it acquired when it purchased Kudos Pharmaceuticals last year, had received the nod from the EMEA, giving it special benefits during the development process and the right to claim market exclusivity in the years following full approval.

It is currently being investigated for use in patients suffering with breast cancer but is also being explored as a potential treatment option for women with hereditary ovarian cancer.

Both conditions affect significant numbers of women, with the US National Cancer Institute estimating that around 178,480 new cases of breast cancer and 22,430 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed each year in the US alone.

Masters is a global healthcare solutions provider which has many years experience sourcing orphan drugs on behalf of medical professionals who are treating patients with a unique unmet need.

Through its named patient supply program, it can also source drugs still undergoing clinical trials.