EU/3/10/798 - orphan designation for treatment of adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome

Synthetic double-stranded short interfering RNA oligonucleotide directed against proopiomelanocortin

Overview

On 1 October 2010, orphan designation (EU/3/10/798) was granted by the European Commission to UKR Regulatory Affairs Ltd, United Kingdom, for synthetic double-stranded short interfering RNA oligonucleotide directed against proopiomelanocortin for the treatment of adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome.

The sponsorship was transferred to Diurnal Limited, United Kingdom, in October 2016.

The sponsorship was transferred to Diurnal Limited, United Kingdom, in October 2016 subsequently to Diurnal Europe B.V., Netherlands, in February 2019.

What is adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome?

Cushing's syndrome is a disorder characterised by an excess of the hormone cortisol in the blood. Adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome is usually caused by a tumour of the pituitary gland (a gland located at the base of the brain) that produces large amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates the production of excess cortisol.

Patients with Cushing's syndrome have 'central' weight gain (affecting the face and torso but not the limbs), growth of fat above the collar bone and the back of the neck, a roundish face, easy bruising, excessive growth of coarse hair on the face, weakening of the muscles and bones, depression and high blood pressure.

ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome is a severe disorder that is long-lasting and may be life-threatening because of its complications, including diabetes, high blood pressure and mental problems.

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

At the time of designation, ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome affected not more than 0.6 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of not more than 30,000 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).

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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, the main treatment for ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome involved surgery to remove the tumour responsible for causing the high cortisol levels, sometimes followed by radiotherapy (treatment with radiation). Several medicines were used in the EU to reduce the production of cortisol or prevent it from working.

The sponsor has provided sufficient information to show that the medicine 'synthetic double-stranded short interfering RNA oligonucleotide directed against proopiomelanocortin' might be of significant benefit for patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome because it works in a different way to existing treatments, and early studies in experimental models show that it might be used in combination with existing treatments to 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.

How is this medicine expected to work?

This medicine contains a small strand of genetic material called RNA that has been designed to interfere with or block the gene for proopiomelanocortin, which is responsible for the production of ACTH. By blocking this gene, the production of ACTH is reduced, relieving the symptoms of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, the evaluation of the effects of this medicine was ongoing.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, no clinical trials with this medicine in patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome had been started.

At the time of submission, this medicine was not authorised anywhere in the EU for ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome or designated as an orphan medicinal product elsewhere for this condition.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 8 July 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/3/10/798: Public summary of opinion on orphan designation: Synthetic double-stranded short interfering RNA oligonucleotide directed against proopiomelanocortin for the treatment of adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushin...

AdoptedReference Number: EMA/COMP/477182/2010 Rev. 1

Key facts

• Active substance:
  Synthetic double-stranded short interfering RNA oligonucleotide directed against proopiomelanocortin
• Intended use:
  Treatment of adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/10/798
• Date of designation:
  01/10/2010
• Sponsor:

  Diurnal Europe B.V.; Van Heuven Goedhartlaan 935 A; Amstelveen ; Noord-Holland ; 1181 LD ; Netherlands; 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.