08:18 AM EST, 12/12/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Medicus Pharma ( MDCX ) , up 9% in U.S. pre-market trading, said on Thursday that its investigational new animal drug has received Minor Use in Major Species (MUMS) designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its doxorubin-containing microneedle array (D-MNA) to treat external squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in horses.

MUMS entitles the company to an extended 7-year period of exclusive marketing following approval or conditional approval.

D-MNA is a dissolvable transdermal patch with cellulose based microneedle arrays that are tip-loaded with the chemotherapy drug. The microneedles penetrate the topmost layer of the skin to puncture the tumor, dissolve and release doxorubicin into the target tumor, and eradicate the cancer cells.

Medicus Pharma ( MDCX ) was last seen up US$0.25, to US$3.05, in New York trading.