EU/3/22/2669: Orphan designation for the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer

This medicine is a monoclonal antibody (a type of protein) designed to recognise and attach to a protein called 'programmed death-1' (PD-1), that is expressed on the surface of T cells (type of cells of the immune system). Cancer cells evade the immune system by expressing programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) which binds to PD-1. This prevents the immune system from recognizing and attacking the cancer cells. By attaching to the PD-1 protein, this medicine is expected to remove this suppressive effect, allowing the immune cells to recognise and kill the cancer cells. This is expected to slow down the growth of the cancer.

Based on description provided by sponsor

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

• The effects of the medicine had been evaluated in experimental models.
• Clinical trials with the medicine in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer had finished.

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

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