EU/3/07/466 - orphan designation for treatment of orthostatic hypotension in patients with multiple system atrophy

L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine

Overview

On 2 August 2007, orphan designation (EU/3/07/466) was granted by the European Commission to The Weinberg Group LLC, United Kingdom, for L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension in patients with multiple system atrophy.

The sponsorship was transferred to The Weinberg Group Limited, United Kingdom, in March 2009, to Diamond BioPharm Limited, United Kingdom, in March 2011 and to H. Lundbeck A/S, Denmark, in December 2015.

Please note that this product was withdrawn from the Union Register of orphan medicinal products in January 2022 on request of the Sponsor.

What is multiple system atrophy?

Multiple system atrophy is a progressive disorder of the nervous system, which may secondarily affect several organs of the body. Symptoms such as constipation, impotence in men and urinary incontinence usually predominate early in the course of the disease. Other symptoms that may develop later include impaired speech, difficulties with breathing and swallowing, and inability to sweat (anhidrosis). There may be tremors and rigidity reminiscent of Parkinson's disease. A majority of patients develop orthostatic (postural) hypotension during the course of the disease. Orthostatic hypotension is an excessive drop in blood pressure when the patient stands, which causes dizziness or momentary blackouts. The condition is chronically debilitating to the patient and life-threatening due to loss of consciousness.

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

At the time of designation, multiple system atrophy affected approximately 0.5 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU)*. This is equivalent to a total of around 25,000 people, and is below the threshold for orphan designation, which is 5 people in 10,000. This is based on the information provided by the sponsor and 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 27), Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This represents a population of 498,000,000 (Eurostat 2006).

What treatments are available?

Orthostatic hypotension in patients with multiple system atrophy can be treated by increasing water and salt intake, using compression stockings, and by the use of medication authorised for the condition in some countries in the Community at the time of submission of the application for orphan drug designation.
Satisfactory argumentation has been submitted by the sponsor to justify the assumption that the medicinal product might be of potential significant benefit for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension in patients with multiple system atrophy.

The assumption will have to be confirmed at the time of marketing authorisation. This will be necessary to maintain the orphan status.

How is this medicine expected to work?

When a person stands up, gravity causes blood to settle in the veins in the legs, so less blood reaches the heart for pumping, and as a result the blood pressure drops. The body normally responds automatically to the drop in blood pressure by increasing the rate at which the heart beats and by narrowing the veins to return more blood to the heart. In patients with postural hypotension, this compensating reflex fails to occur, resulting in symptomatic low blood pressure. L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine treatment is expected to restore the normal reflex by acting on both, the heart and blood vessels.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, the effects of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine had been evaluated in experimental models; no clinical trials in multiple system atrophy patients with orthostatic hypotension had been initiated.

L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine was authorised in Japan for treatment of orthostatic hypotension in patients with Shy-Drager syndrome (subgroup of multiple system atrophy), at the time of submission of the application for orphan designation.

Orphan designation of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine had been granted in the United States for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in patients with primary autonomic failure, dopamine-?-dehydroxylase deficiency or nondiabetic autonomic neuropathy.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 27 June 2007 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 Community) 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.

EU/3/07/466: Public summary of positive opinion for orphan designation of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension in patients with multiple system atrophy

AdoptedReference Number: EMEA/COMP/364826/2007

Key facts

• Active substance:
  L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine
• Intended use:
  Treatment of orthostatic hypotension in patients with multiple system atrophy
• Orphan designation status:
  Withdrawn
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/07/466
• Date of designation:
  02/08/2007
• Sponsor:

  H. Lundbeck A/S; Ottiliavej 9; 2500 Valby; Denmark; Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]; http://www.lundbeck.com/dk/kontakt-os