EU/3/22/2582 - orphan designation for treatment of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Enzastaurin hydrochloride

Overview

This medicine was designated as an orphan medicine for the treatment of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in the European Union on 24 February 2022.

This means that the developer will receive scientific and regulatory support from EMA to advance their medicine to the stage where they can apply for a marketing authorisation.

Orphan designation does not mean the medicine is available or authorised for use. All medicines, including designated orphan medicines, must be authorised before they can be marketed and made available to patients in the EU.

During the medicine's development, doctors may be able to enrol patients in clinical trials investigating the medicine. For information on ongoing clinical trials in the EU, see:

• EU Clinical Trials Register

• ClinicalTrials.gov

How the medicine is expected to work

Enzastaurin hydrochloride blocks the function of two enzymes called protein kinase C beta and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase-B. These enzymes are thought to be hyperactive in patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, contributing to serious complications of the disease. By blocking enzyme activity, enzastaurin hydrochloride is expected to prevent complications such as aneurysms (abnormal swelling of a blood vessel), dissections (tear along the inside wall of an artery), and ruptures (breakage of an artery).

Based on description provided by sponsor

Stage of development at time of orphan designation

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation:

• The effects of the medicine had been evaluated in experimental models.
• No clinical trials with the medicine in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome had been started.

More information on how potential new medicines are tested during their development is available on Authorisation of medicines.

About orphan designation

Medicines intended for rare diseases can be granted an orphan designation during their development.

The orphan designation allows the developer to benefit from:

• scientific and regulatory support to advance their medicine to the stage where they can request marketing authorisation;

• market exclusivity once the medicine is on the market.

To qualify for orphan designation, a medicine must meet a number of criteria:

• it must be intended for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a disease that is life-threatening or chronically debilitating;

• the prevalence of the condition in the EU must not be more than 5 in 10,000 or it must be unlikely that marketing of the medicine would generate sufficient returns to justify the investment needed for its development;

• there are no satisfactory alternative methods for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of the condition or, if such a method exists, the medicine is of significant benefit to those affected by the condition.

EMA's Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) is responsible for issuing opinions on applications for orphan designations.

The Agency sends the COMP opinion to the European Commission, which is responsible for granting the orphan designation. The full list of orphan designations is available in the Community register of orphan medicinal products for human use.

For more information, see:

• Orphan designation: Overview

• Rare diseases, orphan medicines - Getting the facts straight

Minutes of the COMP meeting on 18-20 January 2022

AdoptedReference Number: EMA/COMP/63104/2022

Key facts

• Active substance:
  Enzastaurin hydrochloride
• Intended use:
  Treatment of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/22/2582
• Date of designation:
  24/02/2022
• Sponsor:

  Dlrc Pharma Services Limited; Chesterfield House; Clonmannon; Ashford A67 WR29; Co. Wicklow; Ireland; E-mail: [e-mail]