NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--XyloCor Therapeutics Inc., a privately held biotech company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has grantedFast Track designation to its lead product candidate XC001 (AdVEGF-All6A+), a cardiovascular angiogenic gene therapy. XC001 is a one-time treatment being investigated for improving exercise tolerance in patients who have chronic angina that is refractory to standard medical therapy and not amenable to conventional revascularization procedures such as coronary artery bypass surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention and stents.

Achieving Fast Track status validates the need for XC001, which has the potential to be a unique treatment for this serious condition with high unmet need - chronic, refractory angina, said Al Gianchetti, President and Chief Executive Officer of XyloCor. This designation is supported by strong scientific evidence for XC001 and clinical validation of this mechanism of action in refractory angina. This important designation is intended to contribute to an expedited development and regulatory review process, which can get the drug sooner to patients who can benefit from it.

The FDA Fast Track designation is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of new drugs and vaccines intended to treat or prevent serious conditions and that demonstrate the potential to address an unmet medical need.

XC001 is a novel gene therapy that promotes angiogenesis, the formation of new vessels that can provide arterial blood flow to myocardial regions with inadequate blood supply. Enhancing myocardial blood flow with therapeutic angiogenesis is intended to relieve myocardial ischemia, improve regional and global left ventricular performance, alleviate angina symptoms and disability and potentially improve prognosis.

There are many patients in the United States with refractory angina and there are no available treatment options, said Magnus Ohman, Professor of Medicine, The Kent and Siri Rawson Director, Duke Program for Advanced Coronary Disease, Duke University School of Medicine. These patients have significant limitations in terms of their daily activities because of the chest pain associated with their ischemic disease and XC001 could be an important new option for them.

An IND for XC001 is open with the FDA and XyloCor intends to commence clinical trials upon funding.

About XyloCor

XyloCor Therapeutics is a private biopharmaceutical company developing novel gene therapy for people with unmet medical need from advanced coronary artery disease.XyloCor is focused on developing its lead product, XC001, for patients with refractory angina with no treatment options and its secondary product, XC002, for patients with cardiac tissue damage from heart attacks. XyloCor was founded by Dr. Ronald Crystal and Dr. Todd Rosengart, who both sit on XyloCors advisory board. Dr. Crystal is the Bruce Webster Professor and Chairman, Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and Director of the Belfer Gene Therapy Core Facility.Dr. Rosengart is Professor and Chairman, DeBakey Bard Chair of Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine.XyloCor has a licensing agreement with Cornell University granting the company worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize XC001. With a strong scientific foundation, compelling preclinical and clinical evidence and an experienced team, XyloCor is poised for success and to help patients lead better, healthier lives. For more information, visit http://www.xylocor.com.

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FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to XyloCor Therapeutics Lead ... - Business Wire (press release)