EU/3/10/769 - orphan designation for treatment of post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis

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

Overview

On 25 August 2010, orphan designation (EU/3/10/769) 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 post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis.

The sponsorship was transferred to Baxter Innovations GmbH, Austria, in March 2015.

The sponsorship was transferred to CTI Life Sciences Ltd, United Kingdom, in November 2016 and subsequently to CTI Life Sciences Deutschland GmbH, Germany, in May 2019.

This medicine is now known as pacritinib.

What is post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis?

Myelofibrosis is a disease 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. It can develop as a reaction to polycythaemia vera (overproduction of red blood cells).

In myelofibrosis, 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 the disease can develop several symptoms, including pain in the bones, tiredness, weakness, infections and bleeding.

Post-polycythaemia vera 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).

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

At the time of designation, post?polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis affected less than 0.01 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of fewer than 500 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).

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

What treatments are available?

At the time of designation, although hydroxyurea and busulfan were authorised in the EU for primary myelofibrosis (myelofibrosis of unknown cause), there were no treatments authorised specifically for post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis.

Treatments for this disease were aimed at relieving symptoms. They 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.

How is this medicine expected to work?

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.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

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 post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis were ongoing.

At the time of submission, this medicine was not authorised anywhere in the EU for post-polycythaemia vera 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.

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/3/10/769: Public summary of opinion on orphan designation: 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 treat...

AdoptedReference Number: EMA/COMP/360348/2010 Rev.1

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 post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/10/769
• Date of designation:
  25/08/2010
• Sponsor:

  Universitaetsstrasse 71 ; Lindenthal ; Cologne ; North Rhine-Westphalia ; 50931 ; Germany; Tel. [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]

Review of designation

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