EU/3/11/865 - orphan designation for treatment of retinitis pigmentosa

9-cis-Retinyl acetate

Overview

On 13 May 2011, orphan designation (EU/3/11/865) was granted by the European Commission to ORS Oxford Ltd, United Kingdom, for 9-cis-retinyl acetate for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa.

What is retinitis pigmentosa?

Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of hereditary diseases of the eye that lead to progressive loss of sight. In patients with retinitis pigmentosa, cells in the retina (the light-sensitive surface at the back of the eye) become damaged and eventually die.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a long-term debilitating disease because it causes the patient's sight to get worse, eventually leading to blindness.

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

At the time of designation, retinitis pigmentosa was estimated to affect less than 3 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU)*. This is equivalent to a total of fewer than 152,000 people, and is below the ceiling 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. This represents a population of 506,300,000 (Eurostat 2011).

What treatments are available?

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, no satisfactory methods were authorised in the EU for treating retinitis pigmentosa. Patients with the condition were given sunglasses to slow down the damage to the retina, genetic counselling (discussion of the risks of passing the condition on to children) and general support.

How is this medicine expected to work?

11-cis-Retinal is a substance derived from vitamin A that the specialised light-sensitive photoreceptor cells in the retina need, to be able to translate light into nerve impulses. In retinitis pigmentosa, the retina does not produce or regenerate enough of 11-cis-retinal and the photoreceptor cells become depleted and damaged.

9-cis-Retinyl acetate is expected to be taken by mouth and converted into 9-cis-retinal in the retina. 9-cis-Retinal is similar to the deficient 11-cis-retinal and is expected to replace it, thus enabling the photoreceptor cells to function properly.

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 9-cis-retinyl acetate in experimental models was ongoing.

At the time of submission, clinical trials with 9-cis-retinyl acetate in patients with retinitis pigmentosa were ongoing.

At the time of submission, 9-cis-retinyl acetate was not authorised anywhere in the EU for retinitis pigmentosa 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 9 February 2011 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/3/11/865: Public summary of opinion on orphan designation: 9-cis-Retinyl acetate for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/COMP/167703/2011 Rev. 1

Key facts

• Active substance:
  9-cis-Retinyl acetate
• Intended use:
  Treatment of retinitis pigmentosa
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/11/865
• Date of designation:
  13/05/2011
• Sponsor:

  Granzer Regulatory Consulting & Services GmbH;

Review of designation

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