The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to a medicine intended to help tackle paediatric Crohn's disease, drug maker DOR BioPharma has revealed.

Crohn's causes the tissue in the gastrointestinal tract to become inflamed, resulting in abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

The US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains that while the disease can develop in people of all ages, young adults are the group most likely to be diagnosed with it.

With such disruptive symptoms, younger patients can find it particularly difficult to cope with.

Oral BDP (beclomethasone dipropionate), the corticosteroid drug developed by DOR BioPharma, is designed to target the inflamed tissue in order to help ease the discomfort.

The firm is also currently exploring BDP's potential to both prevent and treat Graft-versus-Host disease, a complication that can sometimes follow a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

It is already used to help treat people suffering with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Masters is a global healthcare solutions provider with many years of experience in obtaining orphan drugs for medical professionals who are treating patients with rare medical conditions.