Unsurprising FDA 'breakthrough' designation for Alexion's hypophosphatasia drug

Wall Street was not surprised on 28 May by the US FDA granting Alexion Pharmaceuticals' investigational hypophosphatasia (HPP) drug asfotase alfa (ENB-0040) a breakthrough therapy designation, given the high unmet medical need for the potentially life-threatening, ultra-rare metabolic genetic disease.

Wall Street was not surprised on 28 May by the US FDA granting Alexion Pharmaceuticals' investigational hypophosphatasia (HPP) drug asfotase alfa (ENB-0040) a breakthrough therapy designation, given the high unmet medical need for the potentially life-threatening, ultra-rare metabolic genetic disease.

After all, said Guggenheim Securities analyst Dr Bret Holley, there already was a high likelihood of US approval of asfotase alfa based on positive Phase II results, which

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