07:34 AM EDT, 06/16/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Zai Lab ( ZLAB ) said Tuesday that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted orphan drug designation to its experimental therapy, zocilurtatug pelitecan, for the treatment of pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas, a type of lung cancer.

The company said the designation follows a recommendation from the EMA's Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, which cited preliminary clinical data suggesting that the therapy may offer a clinically meaningful advantage over currently approved treatments for relapsed or refractory extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, including the potential for durable responses.

Zai Lab ( ZLAB ) said the orphan designation provides regulatory incentives that may support the therapy's development, including potential market exclusivity upon approval, reduced regulatory fees, and enhanced regulatory support.