EU/3/12/1060 - orphan designation for treatment of systemic light chain amyloidosis
Ixazomib
OrphanHuman
Overview
On 8 November 2012, orphan designation (EU/3/12/1060) was granted by the European Commission to Takeda Global Research and Development Centre (Europe) Ltd, United Kingdom, for ixazomib for the treatment of systemic light chain amyloidosis.
In November 2013, Takeda Global Research and Development Centre (Europe) Ltd changed name to Takeda Development Centre Europe Ltd.
The sponsorship was transferred to Takeda Pharma A/S, Denmark, in March 2015.
The sponsor’s address was updated in August 2020.
Please note that this product was withdrawn from the Union Register of orphan medicinal products in April 2021 on request of the Sponsor.
Amyloidosis is a group of diseases in which deposits of proteins (called amyloids) accumulate in organs of the body, such as the heart and kidneys, damaging them and preventing them from working properly. In systemic light chain amyloidosis, the deposits are made of a blood protein called 'immunoglobulin light chain' produced by abnormal blood cells. This condition often occurs in patients with other blood disorders, such as multiple myeloma.
Systemic light chain amyloidosis is a long-term debilitating and life-threatening condition mainly due to damage to the heart.
At the time of designation, systemic light chain amyloidosis affected approximately 0.7 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of around 36,000 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).
*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 509,000,000 (Eurostat 2012).
At the time of designation, there were no treatments authorised in the EU for systemic light chain amyloidosis. Patients were treated with anticancer medicines to kill the abnormal blood cells responsible for the production of immunoglobulin light chain. Some patients also underwent stem cell transplantation. This is a complex procedure where the patient receives stem cells to help restore the bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside the large bones where blood cells are produced).
Ixazomib is expected to work by blocking the proteasome, which is a system within the cells that breaks down proteins when they are no longer needed. By blocking the proteasome of the abnormal blood cells in systemic light chain amyloidosis, the proteins in these cells are not broken down. As a result, the cells eventually die. This is expected to help improve the symptoms of the disease.
Ixazomib is expected to work by blocking the proteasome, which is a system within the cells that breaks down proteins when they are no longer needed. By blocking the proteasome of the abnormal blood cells in systemic light chain amyloidosis, the proteins in these cells are not broken down. As a result, the cells eventually die. This is expected to help improve the symptoms of the disease.
The effects of ixazomib have been evaluated in experimental models.
At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials with ixazomib in patients with systemic light chain amyloidosis were ongoing.
At the time of submission, ixazomib was not authorised anywhere in the EU for systemic light chain amyloidosis. Orphan designation of ixazomib had been granted in the United States of America for this condition.
In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 5 October 2012 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 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.
Key facts
- Active substance
- Ixazomib
- Intended use
- Treatment of systemic light chain amyloidosis
- Orphan designation status
- Withdrawn
- EU designation number
- EU/3/12/1060
- Date of designation
- Sponsor
Takeda Pharma A/S
Review of designation
The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products reviews the orphan designation of a product if it is approved for marketing authorisation.
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: