TransMolecular, biotechnology company, said that the US FDA has granted orphan drug designation for a drug candidate, 1311-TM601, previously received orphan designation in malignant glioma, to treat Stage IIb-IV melanoma. The company will be entitled to exclusive marketing rights for the compound for the treatment of melanoma for seven years with this designation.

The assignment of orphan status to any drugs developed to treat orphan diseases, otherwise that would not have been achieved due to the economics of drug research and development.