EU/3/22/2731: Orphan designation for the treatment of small cell lung cancer

Serplulimab belongs to the class of: Antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity; Programmed cell death-1 receptor antagonists; T lymphocyte stimulants

This medicine is a fully humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody, a type of protein that has been designed to attach to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), a receptor found on T cells (a type of cell in the immune system).
Cancer cells can produce certain proteins, PD-L1 and PD-L2, on their surface. These also attach to the PD-1 receptor and, by doing so, switch off the activity of the T cells and prevent them from attacking the tumour. Serplulimab binds to the PD-1 receptors on T cells without switching off their activity. This blocks the PD-1 receptor so PD-L1 and PD-L2 on the surface of the cancer cells can no longer attach and switch off the T cells. This may help to restore immune function through the activation of T cells against tumour cells.

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 small cell lung cancer were ongoing.

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