EU/3/12/972 - orphan designation for treatment of GNE myopathy

sialic acid (also known as aceneuramic acid)

Overview

Please note that this product was withdrawn from the Community Register of designated Orphan Medicinal Products in June 2018 on request of the Sponsor.

On 16 October 2015, orphan designation (EU/3/12/972) was granted by the European Commission to Ultragenyx UK Limited, United Kingdom, for sialic acid (also known as aceneuramic acid) for treatment of GNE myopathy.

The sponsorship was transferred to Ultragenyx Germany GmbH, Germany, in January 2017.

What is GNE myopathy?

GNE myopathy is an inherited muscle-wasting disease. Patients with the disease have a mutation (change) in a gene responsible for the GNE enzyme which is involved in the production of sialic acid. Lack of sialic acid is believed to be the cause of the wasting of muscles in people with this condition. The disease worsens over time as more muscles become affected, progressively reducing mobility and eventually confining the patient to a wheelchair.

GNE myopathy is a life-threatening and long-term debilitating condition due to progressive muscle wasting, which means that the patient becomes unable to live independently.

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

At the time of designation, GNE myopathy affected less than 0.1 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of fewer than 5,000 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).

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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 28), Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This represents a population of 512,900,000 (Eurostat 2015).

What treatments are available?

At the time of submission, no satisfactory methods were authorised in the EU for the treatment of GNE myopathy. Patients received treatment to relieve their symptoms such as physiotherapy to improve muscle strength, and other physical supports to aid mobility.

How is this medicine expected to work?

As a lack of sialic acid is believed to cause the muscle wasting in this condition, this medicine is expected to work by providing the missing sialic acid and thus helping to ensure normal muscle function.

The medicine is being developed as 'extended-release' tablets, designed to release the active substance over a prolonged period. This is important because sialic acid is quickly removed from the blood and a constant supply of sialic acid is needed to improve muscle function in this condition.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The effects of sialic acid have been evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials with the medicine in patients with GNE myopathy were ongoing.

At the time of submission, the medicine was not authorised anywhere in the EU for GNE myopathy.

This medicine had been designed orphan on 5 March 2012 for the treatment of hereditary inclusion body myopathy. At the request of the sponsor and having assessed the additional data submitted, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 3 September 2015 recommending the orphan condition be changed to GNE myopathy, the new preferred name for hereditary inclusion body myopathy.

Orphan designation had been granted in the United States for hereditary inclusion body myopathy.

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/3/12/972: Public summary of opinion on orphan designation: Sialic acid for treatment of GNE myopathy

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/159934/2017

Key facts

• Active substance:
  sialic acid (also known as aceneuramic acid)
• Intended use:
  Treatment of GNE myopathy
• Orphan designation status:
  Withdrawn
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/12/972
• Date of designation:
  16/10/2015
• Sponsor:

  Ultragenyx Germany GmbH;

Review of designation

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