NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Bedminster, N.J., said the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) granted orphan drug designation to teduglutide to treat short bowel syndrome (SBS). Earlier this year, the MHLW's expert committee on unapproved new drugs and new indications with high medical needs asked NPS Pharma Japan KK to develop teduglutide for adult SBS.