EU/3/17/1838

On 27 February 2017, orphan designation (EU/3/17/1838) was granted by the European Commission to Opsona Therapeutics Ltd, Ireland, for humanised IgG4 monoclonal antibody to the human toll-like receptor type 2 (also known as OPN-305) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is cancer of the pancreas, a small organ that lies behind the stomach. The pancreas has two functions: to produce a fluid that helps with the digestion of food, and to produce hormones such as insulin. Due to the absence of symptoms in the early stages of pancreatic cancer, the majority of patients are diagnosed when the cancer has spread nearby or to other parts of the body.

Pancreatic cancer is a very severe and life-threatening disease that is associated with shortened life expectancy.

What is the estimated number of patients affected by the condition?

At the time of designation, pancreatic cancer affected less than 2 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of fewer than 103,000 people*, and is below the ceiling for orphan designation, which is 5 people in 10,000. This isbased on the information provided by the sponsor and the knowledge of the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP).

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*Disclaimer: For the purpose of the designation, the number of patients affected by the condition is estimated and assessed on the basis of data from the European Union (EU 28), Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This represents a population of 515,700,000 (Eurostat 2017).

What treatments are available?

At the time of designation, several medicines were authorised in the EU for treating pancreatic cancer. Treatments included surgery, radiotherapy (treatment with radiation) and chemotherapy (medicines to treat cancer).

The sponsor has provided sufficient information to show that this medicine might be of significant benefit for patients with pancreatic cancer. Laboratory data indicate that, when this medicine is used in combination with the cancer medicines gemcitabine and paclitaxel (attached to a human protein called albumin), it could reduce tumour size. These assumptions will need to be confirmed at the time of marketing authorisation in order to maintain the orphan status.

How is this medicine expected to work?

The medicine is a monoclonal antibody (a type of protein), that has been designed to attach to another protein called the human toll-like receptor type 2 (TLR2). TLR2 is part of the immune system (the body’s natural defences) and may play a role in the spread of cancer. By attaching to TLR2, this medicine is expected to block its activity, thereby reducing cancer spread.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The effects of the medicine have been evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, no clinical trials with the medicine in patients with pancreatic cancer had been started.

At the time of submission, the medicine was not authorised anywhere in the EU for pancreatic cancer or designated as an orphan medicinal product elsewhere for this condition.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 19 January 2017 recommending the granting of this designation.

Opinions on orphan medicinal product designations are based on the following three criteria:

• the seriousness of the condition;
• the existence of alternative methods of diagnosis, prevention or treatment;
• either the rarity of the condition (affecting not more than 5 in 10,000 people in the EU) or insufficient returns on investment.

Designated orphan medicinal products are products that are still under investigation and are considered for orphan designation on the basis of potential activity. An orphan designation is not a marketing authorisation. As a consequence, demonstration of quality, safety and efficacy is necessary before a product can be granted a marketing authorisation.

The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products reviews the orphan designation of a product it it is approved for marketing authorisation.