EU/3/10/739 - orphan designation for treatment of citrullinaemia type 2

Glyceryl tri-(4-phenylbutyrate)

Overview

On 10 June 2010, orphan designation (EU/3/10/739) was granted by the European Commission to Hyperion Therapeutics Limited, United Kingdom, for glyceryl tri-(4-phenylbutyrate) for the treatment of citrullinaemia type 2.

What is citrullinaemia type 2?

Citrullinaemia type 2 is one of the inherited disorders known as 'urea cycle disorders', which cause ammonia to accumulate in the blood. Patients with citrullinaemia type 2 lack 'glutamate aspartate transporter', one of the liver enzymes that are needed to get rid of excess nitrogen. In the absence of this enzyme, excess nitrogen accumulates in the body in the form of ammonia, which can be toxic at high levels, especially to the brain. Symptoms of the disease may appear during adulthood and include lethargy (lack of energy), vomiting, loss of appetite, seizures (fits) and coma.

Citrullinaemia type 2 is a long-term debilitating and life-threatening disease that leads to mental retardation and is associated with poor overall survival.

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

At the time of designation, citrullinaemia type 2 affected less than 1.2 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of fewer than 61,000 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 the knowledge of the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP).

---

*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. At the time of designation, this represented a population of 506,300,000 (Eurostat 2010).

What treatments are available?

At the time of designation, no satisfactory methods were authorised in the EU for the treatment of citrullinaemia type 2. Patients were advised to control their dietary intake of proteins, which are rich in nitrogen, to reduce the amount of ammonia formed in the body.

How is this medicine expected to work?

Glyceryl tri-(4-phenylbutyrate) is a 'prodrug' of phenylbutyrate. It consists of three molecules of phenylbutyrate linked together. After it is swallowed, the medicine is expected to be broken down into phenylbutyrate in the gut. Phenylbutyrate works by being converted into phenylacetate in the body and combining with the amino acid glutamine, which contains nitrogen, to form a substance that can be removed from the body by the kidneys. This allows the levels of nitrogen in the body to decrease, reducing the amount of ammonia produced.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The effects of glyceryl tri-(4-phenylbutyrate) have been evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, a study with glyceryl tri-(4-phenylbutyrate) in patients with urea cycle disorders had been completed.

At the time of submission, glyceryl tri-(4-phenylbutyrate) was not authorised anywhere in the EU for citrullinaemia type 2. Orphan designation of glyceryl tri-(4-phenylbutyrate) had been granted in the United States of America for the maintenance treatment of patients with deficiencies in enzymes of the urea cycle.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 3 February 2010 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.

EU/3/10/739: Public summary of opinion on orphan designation: Glyceryl tri-(4-phenylbutyrate) for the treatment of citrullinaemia type 2

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/COMP/122534/2010 Rev. 1

Key facts

• Active substance:
  Glyceryl tri-(4-phenylbutyrate)
• Intended use:
  Treatment of citrullinaemia type 2
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/10/739
• Date of designation:
  10/06/2010
• Sponsor:

  Immedica Pharma AB;