EU/3/05/278: Orphan designation for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
3-[5-(2-Fluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazole-3-yl]-benzoic acid (ataluren)
Table of contents
Overview
This medicine is now known as ataluren.
On 27 May 2005, orphan designation (EU/3/05/278) was granted by the European Commission to The Matthews Consultancy Ltd, United Kingdom, for 3-[5-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazole-3-yl]-benzoic acid for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The sponsorship was transferred to Voisin Consulting S.A.R.L., France, in May 2007 and subsequently to PTC Therapeutics Limited, United Kingdom in April 2012. In October 2014 the sponsorship was transferred to PTC Therapeutics International Limited, Ireland.
3-[5-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazole-3-yl]-benzoic acid for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been authorised in the EU as Translarna since 31 July 2014.
Key facts
Active substance |
3-[5-(2-Fluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazole-3-yl]-benzoic acid (ataluren)
|
Medicine name |
Translarna
|
Intended use |
Treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
|
Orphan designation status |
Positive
|
EU designation number |
EU/3/05/278
|
Date of designation |
27/05/2005
|
Sponsor |
PTC Therapeutics International Limited |
Review of designation
During its meeting of 10 to 12 June 2014, the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) reviewed the designation EU/3/05/278 for Translarna (ataluren1) as an orphan medicinal product for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The COMP assessed whether, at the time of marketing authorisation, the medicinal product still met the criteria for orphan designation. The Committee looked at the seriousness and prevalence of the condition, and the existence of other methods of treatment. The COMP recommended that the orphan designation of the medicine be maintained2.
1 Previously known as 3-[5-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazole-3-yl]-benzoic acid.
2 The maintenance of the orphan designation at time of marketing authorisation would, except in specific situations, give an orphan medicinal product 10 years of market exclusivity in the EU. This means that in the 10 years after its authorisation similar products with a comparable therapeutic indication cannot be placed on the market.
Recommendation for maintenance of orphan designation at the time of marketing authorisation: Translarna (ataluren) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (PDF/78.35 KB)
First published: 04/09/2014
Last updated: 04/09/2014
EMA/COMP/340003/2014
Patients' organisations
For contact details of patients’ organisations whose activities are targeted at rare diseases, see:
Orphanet, a database containing information on rare diseases, which includes a directory of patients’ organisations registered in Europe.
European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS), a non-governmental alliance of patient organisations and individuals active in the field of rare diseases.
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: