EU/3/12/954 - orphan designation for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
S[+] apomorphine
OrphanHuman
Overview
On 9 February 2012, orphan designation (EU/3/12/954) was granted by the European Commission to University of Sheffield (SITraN), United Kingdom, for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The sponsorship was transferred to Granzer Regulatory Consulting & Services, Germany, in September 2019.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease of the nervous system, where nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary movement gradually deteriorate. This causes loss of muscle function and paralysis. The exact causes are unknown but are believed to include genetic and environmental factors. The symptoms of ALS vary depending on which muscles weaken first, and include loss of balance, loss of control of hand and arm movement, difficulty speaking, swallowing and breathing. ALS usually starts in mid-life and men are more likely to develop the disease than women.
ALS is a long-term debilitating and life-threatening disease because of the gradual loss of function and its paralysing effect on muscles used for breathing which usually leads to death due to respiratory failure.
At the time of designation, ALS affected less than 1 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU)*. This is equivalent to fewer than 51,000 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).
At the time of designation, medicines authorised in the EU to treat ALS included riluzole. Patients also received supportive treatment to temporarily relieve the symptoms of the disease, such as physiotherapy and speech therapy, and devices to assist breathing.
The sponsor has provided sufficient information to show that S[+] apomorphine might be of significant benefit for patients with ALS because it works in a different way to the existing treatments and early studies in experimental models show that it may improve the outcome of patients with this condition. This assumption will need to be confirmed at the time of marketing authorisation, in order to maintain the orphan status.
The cause of the damage to nerves cells in ALS is unclear but there is evidence that toxic molecules containing oxygen called 'reactive oxygen species' (ROS) could be involved.
The medicine is expected to work by increasing the levels of a protein called Nrf2, which 'switches on' the production of certain enzymes that can neutralize the toxic effects of ROS molecules in the nervous system.
The is expected to be able to reach the brain and spinal cord by crossing the 'blood-brain barrier' that separates the nervous system from the bloodstream.
The effects of S[+] apomorphine have been evaluated in experimental models.
At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials with S[+] apomorphine in patients with ALS had not started.
At the time of submission, S[+] apomorphine was not authorised anywhere in the EU for ALS 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 7 December 2011 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
- S[+] apomorphine
- Intended use
- Treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Orphan designation status
- Positive
- EU designation number
- EU/3/12/954
- Date of designation
- Sponsor
Granzer Regulatory Consulting & Services
Review of designation
The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products reviews the orphan designation of a product if it is approved for marketing authorisation.
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: