On 29 August 2016, orphan designation (EU/3/16/1732) was granted by the European Commission to Biogen Idec Limited, United Kingdom, for synthetic ribonucleic acid oligonucleotide directed against superoxide dismutase 1 messenger ribonucleic acid (also known as BIIB067) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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, causing loss of muscle function and paralysis. The exact causes are unknown but are believed to include genetic and environmental factors. The symptoms of ALS depend on which muscles weaken first, and include loss of balance, loss of control of hand and arm movement, and 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 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 from respiratory failure.
At the time of designation, ALS affected approximately 1 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of around 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 28), Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This represents a population of 513,700,000 (Eurostat 2016).
At the time of designation, riluzole was authorised in the EU to treat ALS. Patients also received supportive treatment to relieve the symptoms of the disease, such as physiotherapy and breathing support.
The sponsor has provided sufficient information to show that medicine might be of significant benefit for patients with ALS, with laboratory studies showing improvement in movements not seen with the currently authorised product. This assumption will need to be confirmed at the time of marketing authorisation, in order to maintain the orphan status.
In some patients with ALS, the condition is caused by a mutation (change) in a gene responsible for producing the enzyme SOD1. This mutation leads to the production of a defective SOD1 which is toxic to nerve cells eventually causing them to die. This medicine is made of a small strand of synthetic genetic material that blocks the production of defective SOD1. By reducing the amount of defective SOD1, this medicine is expected to improve the symptoms of ALS.
The effects of the medicine 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 ALS were ongoing.
At the time of submission, the medicine 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 13 July 2016 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.
Biogen Netherlands B.V.
The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products reviews the orphan designation of a product if it is approved for marketing authorisation.
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| May 2019 | The sponsorship was transferred to Biogen Netherlands B.V., Netherlands. |
EMA publishes information on orphan medicinal product designation adopted by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) on the IRIS online platform:
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.
The list of medicines that have received an orphan designation in the EU is available on the European Commission's website: