EU/3/18/1996 - orphan designation for treatment of neonatal encephalopathy
melatonin
OrphanHuman
Overview
On 21 March 2018, orphan designation (EU/3/18/1996) was granted by the European Commission to Therapicon Srl, Italy, for melatonin for the treatment of neonatal encephalopathy.
The sponsor’s address was updated in August 2018.
The sponsorship was transferred to Worphmed Srl, Italy, in August 2018.
Neonatal encephalopathy refers to brain damage that occurs around the time of birth in babies who are not premature. Symptoms include reduced level of consciousness, seizures (fits), difficulty breathing, low muscle tone and poor reflexes. It is often caused by low levels of oxygen in the blood.
Neonatal encephalopathy is a long-term debilitating disease due to its effects on mental and physical development, and can often be life-threatening in the most severe cases.
At the time of designation, neonatal encephalopathy affected less than 1 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of fewer than 52,000 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 517,400,000 (Eurostat 2018).
At the time of designation, there were no satisfactory treatments authorised in the EU for neonatal encephalopathy. Babies with neonatal encephalopathy received therapeutic hypothermia, whereby the baby's body is cooled down to a body temperature lower than normal (hypothermia) to reduce extent of damage.
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone. The exact way it works in neonatal encephalopathy is not clear. It is thought that melatonin can help reduce brain damage in several ways through its effects in reducing inflammation and cell death and in countering the effects of toxic molecules in the brain.
The effects of melatonin have been evaluated in experimental models.
Melatonin has been authorised in the EU for short-term treatment of insomnia.
At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, no clinical trials with melatonin in patients with neonatal encephalopathy had been started.
At the time of submission, melatonin was not authorised anywhere in the EU for neonatal encephalopathy. Orphan designation of melatonin had been granted in the United States for treatment of neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 15 February 2018 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
- melatonin
- Intended use
- Treatment of neonatal encephalopathy
- Orphan designation status
- Positive
- EU designation number
- EU/3/18/1996
- Date of designation
- Sponsor
Worphmed Srl
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: