FDA Awards Grants for Treatments of Rare Diseases

FDA announced on Oct. 17, 2016 that the agency had awarded 21 new clinical trial research grants for the development of products to treat rare diseases. The grants, which were awarded to principal investigators from academia and industry, total more than $23 million over four years.

The grants, which were awarded through the Orphan Products Clinical Trial Grants Program, went to clinical studies that evaluate the safety and effectiveness of products. The grants will fund a number of studies, including some targeting devastating forms of brain cancer, with 43% enrolling pediatric patients.

“We are proud of our 30-year track record of fostering and encouraging the development of safe and effective therapies for rare diseases through our clinical trials grant program,” said Gayatri R. Rao, M.D., J.D., director of FDA’s Office of Orphan Product Development, within the Office of Special Medical Programs in a press release. “The grants awarded this year will support much-needed research in 21 different rare diseases, many of which have little, or no, available treatment options.”