On 23 October 2006, orphan designation (EU/3/06/405) was granted by the European Commission to MOLOGEN AG, Germany, for genetically modified allogenic (human) tumour cells for the expression of IL-7, GM-CSF, CD80 and CD154, in fixed combination with a DNA-based double stem loop immunomodulator (dSLIM) for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.
Renal cell carcinoma (also called cancer of the kidney or renal adenocarcinoma) is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in certain tissues of the kidney. Inside each kidney, there are tiny tubules that filter and clean the blood, taking out waste products, and making urine. Renal cell carcinoma is a cancer of the lining of the tubules in the kidney. Renal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 85% of all kidney cancers. Signs of cancer are difficult to detect in early stages of the disease, and about half of the patients are diagnosed when the disease has spread around the kidney or to distant parts of the body. Renal cell carcinoma is life-threatening.
At the time of designation renal cell carcinoma affected approximately 3.5 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU)*. This is based on the information provided by the sponsor and knowledge of the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP). This is below the threshold for orphan designation which is 5 in 10,000. This is equivalent to a total of around 161,000 people.
*Disclaimer: For the purpose of the designation, the number of patients affected by the condition is estimated and assessed based on data from the European Union (EU 25), Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This represents a population of 459,700,000 (Eurostat 2004).
There are treatments for most patients with renal cell cancer. These may include surgery (taking out the cancer in an operation), chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells), radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells), hormone therapy (using hormones to stop cancer cells from growing), and biological therapy (using the body's immune system to fight cancer). The primary therapies for advanced cancer are biologic agents, such as interleukin-2 and interferon-?. Other anticancer agents were also authorised in the Community for treatment of renal cell carcinoma at the time of submission of the application for orphan designation.
Satisfactory argumentation has been submitted by the sponsor to justify the assumption that genetically modified allogenic (human) tumour cells for the expression of IL-7, GM-CSF, CD80 and CD154, in fixed combination with a DNA-based double stem loop immunomodulator (dSLIM) might be of potential significant benefit for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma mainly because this could represent an additional treatment option for patients with renal cell carcinoma, when cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). This assumption will have to be confirmed at the time of marketing authorisation. This will be necessary to maintain the orphan status.
The medicinal product is a so called tumour vaccine, meaning that it is a treatment aiming at activating the patients' own immune system (the body's natural defence system) against the tumour cells. The product consists of two compounds: the first substance is human renal cell carcinoma cells that have been modified to express specific molecules on their surface so that the immune system can be waken up to recognise, and ultimately to destroy, the tumour cells. These cells are modified in a way that they start producing molecules called IL-7, GM-CSF, CD80 and CD154. IL-7 and GM-CSF are so called cytokines that are important signalling substances for the immune system, while CD80 and CD154 are molecules that support the immune system in its work. The second substance in this combination product is the so called DNA-based double stem loop immunomodulator (dSLIM) that is thought to increase the activation of the immune system against the renal cell carcinoma cells. By activating the immune system of the patients specifically against the renal cell carcinoma cells, this medicinal product is expected to decrease the growth of these tumours.
The effects of genetically modified allogenic (human) tumour cells for the expression of IL-7, GM-CSF, CD80 and CD154 were evaluated in experimental models.
At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials in patients with renal cell carcinoma were ongoing.
Genetically modified allogenic (human) tumour cells for the expression of IL-7, GM-CSF, CD80 and CD154 was not authorised anywhere worldwide for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma, nor designated as orphan medicinal product elsewhere for this condition, at the time of submission.
According to Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) adopted on 6 September 2008 a positive opinion recommending the grant of the above-mentioned designation.
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.
Mologen AG
Fabeckstrasse 30
D-14195 Berlin
Germany
Tel. +49 30 8417 880
Fax +49 30 8417 8850
E-mail: info@mologen.com
EMA publishes information on orphan medicinal product designation adopted by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) on the IRIS online platform:
For contact details of patients’ organisations whose activities are targeted at rare diseases, see:
European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS), a non-governmental alliance of patient organisations and individuals active in the field of rare diseases.
Orphanet, a database containing information on rare diseases, which includes a directory of patients’ organisations registered in Europe.
The list of medicines that have received an orphan designation in the EU is available on the European Commission's website: