EU/3/12/983 - orphan designation for treatment of acute liver failure

heterologous human adult liver-derived stem cells

Overview

On 26 April 2012, orphan designation (EU/3/12/983) was granted by the European Commission to Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH, Germany, for heterologous human adult liver-derived stem cells for the treatment of acute liver failure.

The sponsorship was transferred to Unicyte S.R.L., Italy in August 2021.

What is acute liver failure?

Acute liver failure is the sudden loss of normal liver functions in a patient with a previously normal liver and without evidence of chronic (long-term) liver disease. The most common first sign of liver failure is jaundice (yellowing of the skin). Acute liver failure brings serious complications such as bruising and bleeding due to impaired blood clotting, cerebral oedema (swelling around the brain), convulsions (fits) and coma. The most common causes of acute liver failure in Europe are toxic damage (for example due to consumption of large amounts of alcohol or overdose of medicines such as paracetamol) or viral hepatitis (an infectious disease that affects the liver).

Acute liver failure is a long-term debilitating and life-threatening disease because of its damaging effects on the brain and other organs.

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

At the time of designation, acute liver failure affected approximately 0.6 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU)*. This is equivalent to a total of around 30,000 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 designation, the main treatment option for acute liver failure was liver transplantation. Patients with acute liver failure caused by paracetamol overdose were treated with N-acetylcysteine.

The sponsor has provided sufficient information to show that heterologous human adult liver-derived stem cells might be of significant benefit for patients with acute liver failure, because early studies show that this medicine may improve the liver's ability to function and delay the need for liver transplantation. In addition the greater availability of liver stem cells used to make the medicine compared with new livers for transplantation may contribute to improving the outcome of patients. 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 is made up of stem cells derived from the liver of an adult donor ('heterologous'). Stem cells are cells that can develop into different types of cell. When implanted in a patient, it is believed that these heterologous liver-derived stem cells will develop into mature, healthy liver cells. The new cells are expected to improve the liver's ability to function and thereby relieve the symptoms of the disease.

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 heterologous liver-derived stem cells in experimental models was ongoing.

At the time of submission, no clinical trials with heterologous liver-derived stem cells in patients with acute liver failure had been started.

At the time of submission, heterologous liver-derived stem cells was not authorised anywhere in the EU for acute liver failure 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 March 2012 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/3/12/983: Public summary of opinion on orphan designation: Heterologous human adult liver-derived stem cells for the treatment of acute liver failure

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/COMP/222564/2012

Key facts

• Active substance:
  heterologous human adult liver-derived stem cells
• Intended use:
  Treatment of acute liver failure
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/12/983
• Date of designation:
  26/04/2012
• Sponsor:

  Unicyte S.R.L.; Via Ernesto Lugaro 15; 10126 Turin (TO); Italy; 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.