EU/3/10/743 - orphan designation for prevention of sepsis caused by Gram-positive pathogens in premature infants less than or equal to 34

Pagibaximab

Overview

Please note that this product was withdrawn from the Community Register of designated orphan medicinal products in January 2012 on request of the sponsor.

On 9 June 2010, orphan designation (EU/3/10/743) was granted by the European Commission to Omnicare Clinical Research GmbH, Germany, for pagibaximab for the prevention of sepsis caused by Gram-positive pathogens in premature infants less than or equal to 34 weeks of gestational age.

Omnicare Clinical Research GmbH changed its name to Theorem Clinical Research GmbH in July 2011.

What is sepsis caused by Gram-positive pathogens in premature infants less than or equal to 34 weeks of gestational age?

Sepsis is a severe condition in which bacteria and their toxins circulate in the blood and start to damage the organs. Premature babies born six or more weeks too early (34 weeks or less of gestational age) have a higher risk of developing sepsis in their first month of life. This is because their immune systems (the body's natural defences) are not yet fully developed, and they need invasive procedures, such as mechanical ventilation (using a machine to help them to breathe) or feeding by injection, which puts them at a higher risk of infections in neonatal intensive care units. Sepsis is most often caused by types of bacteria that are classified as 'Gram-positive', which include coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus.

Sepsis caused by Gram-positive bacteria is a life-threatening condition that is one of the causes of high mortality in premature infants less than or equal to 34 weeks of gestational age.

What is the estimated number of patients at risk of developing the condition?

At the time of designation, the number of premature babies born at 34 weeks of gestational age or less was estimated to be between 3.9 and 4.5 people in 10,000 in the European Union (EU)*. This is equivalent to a total of between 198,000 and 228,000 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 the 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 506,500,000 (Eurostat 2010).

What methods of prevention are available?

At the time of designation, no satisfactory methods were authorised in the EU for the prevention of this condition. Common infection-control measures, such as washing hands, are used to keep the infection rate as low as possible in neonatal intensive care units. In addition, feeding with breast milk was recommended to reduce the risk of infections. In some cases, antibiotics were given as preventative measure.

How is this medicine expected to work?

Pagibaximab is a monoclonal antibody (a type of protein) that has been designed to recognise and attach to a main component of the cell wall of Gram-positive pathogens called 'lipoteichoic acid' (LTA), which plays a key role in causing sepsis. By attaching to LTA, pagibaximab is expected to block the activity of LTA, preventing the bacteria from causing sepsis.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The effects of pagibaximab have been evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, a study with pagibaximab in neonates was ongoing.

At the time of submission, pagibaximab was not authorised anywhere in the EU for the prevention of sepsis caused by Gram-positive pathogens in premature babies born at 34 weeks of gestational age or less. Orphan designation of pagibaximab had been granted in the United States of America for the prevention of Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis in babies with a birth weight of 1.5 kg or less.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 3 March 2010 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 and
• 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/3/10/743: Public summary of positive opinion for Pagibaximab for the prevention of sepsis caused by Gram-positive pathogens in premature infants less than or equal to 34 weeks of gestational age

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/COMP/164788/2010 Rev.2

Key facts

• Active substance:
  Pagibaximab
• Intended use:
  Prevention of sepsis caused by Gram-positive pathogens in premature infants less than or equal to 34
• Orphan designation status:
  Withdrawn
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/10/743
• Date of designation:
  09/06/2010
• Sponsor:

  Theorem Clinical Research GmbH; Königsteiner Strasse 10; 65812 Bad Soden a. Ts.; Germany; Telephone: + 49 6196 5228 0; Telefax: + 49 6196 5228 155; [e-mail]