EU/3/09/669 - orphan designation for prevention of graft rejection during pancreatic islet transplantation
dextran sulfate
OrphanHuman
Overview
On 9 October 2009, orphan designation (EU/3/09/669) was granted by the European Commission to TikoMed AB, Sweden, for low molecular weight dextran sulfate for the prevention of graft rejection during pancreatic islet transplantation.
Pancreatic islet transplantation is the transplantation of 'islets' from the pancreas of a donor into a patient. Islets are clusters of cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin, a hormone that controls the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Once transplanted, the pancreatic islets find a blood supply and start to produce insulin.
Graft rejection during pancreatic islet transplantation is a problem that can occur during a pancreatic islet transplant, when the recipient's body rejects the transplanted islets (the 'graft'). Graft rejection is caused by the patient's immune system (the body's natural defences) recognising the transplanted graft as 'foreign'. This results in inflammation and damage to the pancreatic islets.
Pancreatic islet transplantation is used to treat patients who have a severe and life-threatening form of type 1 diabetes (a disease in which the pancreas cannot produce insulin). Graft rejection during pancreatic islet transplantation is a life-threatening condition because failure of transplantation due to graft rejection will expose the patients again to the life-threatening complications of type 1 diabetes.
At the time of designation, the number of patients at risk of graft rejection during pancreatic islet transplantation was estimated to be less than 0.1 people in 10,000 in the European Union (EU)*. This is equivalent to a total of fewer than 5,000 people, and is below the threshold for orphan designation, which is 5 people in 10,000. This is based on the information provided by the sponsor and knowledge of the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP).
*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. This represents a population of 504,800,000 (Eurostat 2009).
At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, several immunosuppressive medicines (medicines that reduce the activity of the immune system) were authorised in the EU to prevent rejection after organ transplantation. However, no satisfactory methods were authorised in the EU for the prevention of graft rejection during pancreatic islet transplantation.
Low molecular weight dextran sulfate is expected to work by blocking two processes that are involved in graft rejection: activation of the complement system and blood coagulation (clotting). The complement system is a group of proteins of the immune system that are involved in the inflammation process. In addition, blood coagulation may be triggered by the pancreatic islets during pancreatic islet transplantation and can be harmful to the transplanted graft. By blocking the complement system and blood coagulation, this medicine is expected to prevent the damage to the transplanted pancreatic islets as they are injected into the patient, reducing the risk of graft rejection.
The effects of low molecular weight dextran sulfate have been evaluated in experimental models.
At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials in patients undergoing pancreatic islet transplantation were ongoing.
At the time of submission, low molecular weight dextran sulfate was not authorised anywhere in the EU for the prevention of graft rejection during pancreatic islet transplantation or designated as an orphan medicinal product elsewhere for this condition.
In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 8 July 2009 recommending the granting of this designation.
- 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 Community) 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.
Key facts
- Active substance
- dextran sulfate
- Intended use
- Prevention of graft rejection during pancreatic islet transplantation
- Orphan designation status
- Positive
- EU designation number
- EU/3/09/669
- Date of designation
- Sponsor
TikoMed AB
Karlsfältsvägen 349
SE-26365 Viken
Sweden
Telephone: + 46 42 23 84 40
E-mail: info@tikomed.com
EMA list of opinions on orphan medicinal product designation
EMA publishes information on orphan medicinal product designation adopted by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) on the IRIS online platform:
Patients' organisations
For contact details of patients’ organisations whose activities are targeted at rare diseases, see:
European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS), a non-governmental alliance of patient organisations and individuals active in the field of rare diseases.
Orphanet, a database containing information on rare diseases, which includes a directory of patients’ organisations registered in Europe.
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: