EU/3/22/2639 - orphan designation for treatment of cystic fibrosis

2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl -(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-P-thioadenylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-P-thioguanylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl

Overview

This medicine was designated as an orphan medicine for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in the European Union on 21 June 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

This medicine, also known as SPL23-2, belongs to the class of: antisense oligonucleotides.

Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. The mutations reduce the number of CFTR proteins on the cell surfaces that are needed to regulate the production of mucus in the lungs and pancreatic juice secretion in the gut.

SPL23-2 is a medicine intended for the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients carrying a CFTR mutation called W1282X. This is a mutation in the CFTR gene that results in the production of altered messenger RNA (mRNA; genetic material that contains instructions to make the CFTR protein), which in turn causes non-functional CTFR proteins to form.
SPL23-2 contains a short piece of RNA that attaches to the mutated mRNA and masks the W1282X mutation, allowing the production of partially active CFTR proteins. The activity of these proteins can be further increased by available CFTR medicines.

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 cystic fibrosis 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

Key facts

• Active substance:
  2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl -(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-P-thioadenylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiocytidylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-P-thioguanylyl-(3'-O->5'-O)-2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyl-P-thiouridylyl
• Intended use:
  Treatment of cystic fibrosis
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/22/2639
• Date of designation:
  21/06/2022
• Sponsor:

  AdRes EU B.V.