EU/3/07/495 - orphan designation for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Methotrexate

Overview

On 24 October 2007, orphan designation (EU/3/07/495) was granted by the European Commission to Only for Children Pharmaceuticals, France, for methotrexate (oral liquid) for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The sponsorship was transferred to Orbona Pharma Ltd, United Kingdom, in May 2014.

For a list of the administrative updates to this public summary of opinion please refer to the PDF document below.

What is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the blood and the bone marrow. The bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside the large bones in the body. Normally, the bone marrow makes cells called “blasts” that mature into several different types of blood cells that have specific functions in the body. These include red cells, white cells and platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of the body. White blood cells fight infection. Platelets make the blood clot. When leukaemia develops, the bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal blood cells. There are several types of leukaemias. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is a cancer of certain white blood cells called lymphocytes. In this disease the lymphocytes multiply continuously and live too long, so there are too many of them circulating in the blood. These leukaemic lymphocytes look normal, but they are not fully developed and do not work properly. Over a period of time, these abnormal cells also replace the normal white cells, red cells and platelets in the bone marrow, which causes anaemia, easy bleeding and bruising, and infections. It is the most common type of leukaemia in young children. This disease also affects adults, especially those aged 65 years and older. Many people with acute leukaemia can be cured; however, despite the available treatments, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia remains a serious and life threatening condition in a subgroup of patients.

What is the estimated number of patients affected by the condition?

At the time of designation, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia affected approximately 0.6 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of around 30,000 people*, and is below the ceiling for orphan designation, which is 5 people in 10,000. This is based on the information provided by the sponsor and the knowledge of the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP).

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*Disclaimer: For the purpose of the designation, the number of patients affected by the condition is estimated and assessed on the basis of data from the European Union (EU 27), Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. At the time of designation, this represented a population of 500,300,000 (Eurostat 2007).

What treatments are available?

Treatment for leukaemia is complex and depends on a number of factors including the type of leukaemia, the extent of the disease and whether the leukaemia has been treated before. It also depends on the patient's age, symptoms, and general health. The primary treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells) followed or combined with radiotherapy (using high-energy x-rays or other types of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells). Bone marrow transplantation is also available. Methotrexate, as oral tablets and injection, is already authorized for the treatment of this condition.

The sponsor has submitted satisfactory argumentation to justify the assumption that methotrexate (oral liquid) might be of potential significant benefit for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, mainly because its administration in children is easier and more precise dosing could be achieved. This assumption will have to be confirmed at the time of marketing authorisation. This will be necessary to maintain orphan status.

How is this medicine expected to work?

Methotrexate blocks the action of a protein (called DHFR), which is necessary for cell growth and replication. This protein favours the synthesis of folic acid in cells, and folic acid is necessary for the duplication of DNA, an obligatory step in cell replication. By blocking this protein, methotrexate is particularly toxic to cells that are rapidly dividing, such as cancer cells (including leukaemia cells).

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, no clinical trials in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia had been initiated.

Methotrexate was authorised in the European Union, in different pharmaceutical forms from methotrexate (oral liquid), for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the time of submission of the application.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 12 September 2007 recommending the granting of this designation.

Opinions on orphan medicinal product designations are based on the following three criteria

• the seriousness of the condition;
• the existence of alternative methods of diagnosis, prevention or treatment;
• either the rarity of the condition (affecting not more than 5 in 10,000 people in the EU) or insufficient returns on investment.

Designated orphan medicinal products are products that are still under investigation and are considered for orphan designation on the basis of potential activity. An orphan designation is not a marketing authorisation. As a consequence, demonstration of quality, safety and efficacy is necessary before a product can be granted a marketing authorisation

EU/3/07/495: Public summary of positive opinion for orphan designation of methotrexate (oral liquid) for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

AdoptedReference Number: EMEA/COMP/469498/2007 Rev. 2

Key facts

• Active substance:
  Methotrexate
• Intended use:
  Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/07/495
• Date of designation:
  24/10/2007
• Sponsor:

  Old Chambers; 93-94 West Street; Farnham; Surrey GU9 7EB; United Kingdom; Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]