Overview
On 25 August 2010, orphan designation (EU/3/10/768) was granted by the European Commission to Voisin Consulting S.A.R.L., France, for 11-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-14,19-dioxa-5,7,26-triaza-tetracyclo[19.3.1.1(2,6).1(8,12)] heptacosa-1(25),2(26),3,5,8,10,12(27),16,21,23-decaene for the treatment of primary myelofibrosis.
This medicine is now known as pacritinib.
Primary myelofibrosis is a disease of unknown cause in which the bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside the large bones) becomes dense and fibrous, and starts producing abnormal immature blood cells that replace the normal blood cells.
In this disease, some immature blood cells migrate from the bone marrow to other organs, such as the spleen and liver, where they mature. This causes the organs to become enlarged. Patients with primary myelofibrosis can develop several symptoms, including pain in the bones, tiredness, weakness, infections and bleeding.
Primary myelofibrosis is a debilitating disease that is long lasting and may be life threatening because it can lead to severe anaemia (low red blood cell counts) and infections, and can result in leukaemia (cancer of the white blood cells).
At the time of designation, primary myelofibrosis affected approximately 0.3 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of around 15,000 people*, and is below the threshold 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).
*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).
At the time of designation, hydroxyurea and busulfan (which are also used to treat cancer) were authorised in the EU for primary myelofibrosis. In addition, treatments aimed at relieving the symptoms of the disease were used. These included androgens (male hormones), glucocorticoids (a type of steroid) and erythropoietin (a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells) to treat anaemia, and surgery to remove the enlarged spleen. In some patients, haematopoietic (blood) stem-cell transplantation was used. This is a complex procedure where the patient receives stem cells from a matched donor to help restore the bone marrow.
The sponsor has provided sufficient information to show that this medicine might be of significant benefit for patients with primary myelofibrosis because it works in a different way to existing treatments and because early studies show that it might improve the outcome of patients with this condition. These assumptions will need to be confirmed at the time of marketing authorisation, in order to maintain the orphan status.
This medicine is thought to work by blocking an enzyme known as Janus kinase 2 (JAK2). This enzyme can be found in some receptors on the surface of cells and is involved in the reproduction and growth of blood cells. In myelofibrosis, JAK2 is overactivated. By blocking this enzyme, this medicine is expected to slow down the abnormal growth of blood cells, reducing the symptoms of the disease.
The effects of this medicine have been evaluated in experimental models.
At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials with this medicine including patients with primary myelofibrosis were ongoing.
At the time of submission, this medicine was not authorised anywhere in the EU for primary myelofibrosis. Orphan designation of this medicine had been granted in the United States of America for the treatment of myeloproliferative disorders with the JAK2 V617F mutation.
In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 2 June 2010 recommending the granting of this designation.
- 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.
Key facts
- Active substance
- 11-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-14,19-dioxa-5,7,26-triaza-tetracyclo[19.3.1.1(2,6).1(8,12)] heptacosa-1(25),2(26),3,5,8,10,12(27),16,21,23-decaene
- Intended use
- Treatment of primary myelofibrosis
- Orphan designation status
- Positive
- EU designation number
- EU/3/10/768
- Date of designation
- Sponsor
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ)
Review of designation
The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products reviews the orphan designation of a product if it is approved for marketing authorisation.
Update history
Date | Update |
---|---|
July 2024 | The sponsorship was transferred to Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) |
May 2019 | The sponsorship was transferred to CTI Life Sciences Deutschland GmbH, Germany |
November 2016 | The sponsorship was transferred to CTI Life Sciences Ltd, United Kingdom |
March 2015 | The sponsorship was transferred to Baxter Innovations GmbH |
EMA list of opinions on orphan medicinal product designation
EMA publishes information on orphan medicinal product designation adopted by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) on the IRIS online platform:
Patients' organisations
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.
EU register of orphan medicines
The list of medicines that have received an orphan designation in the EU is available on the European Commission's website: