EU/3/12/1076 - orphan designation for treatment of perinatal asphyxia

Allopurinol sodium

Overview

On 6 December 2012, orphan designation (EU/3/12/1076) was granted by the European Commission to Pharmathen SA, Greece, for allopurinol sodium for the treatment of perinatal asphyxia.

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

What is perinatal asphyxia?

Perinatal asphyxia happens when babies are born without enough oxygen in their blood. This is generally due to interruptions of the oxygen supplied by the mother through the placenta or the umbilical cord. Perinatal asphyxia can cause damage to the brain and other organs.

Perinatal asphyxia is a long-term debilitating disease because it can lead to the child being severely handicapped, with mental retardation and physical disabilities. It is also life-threatening, as up to a fifth of the babies with the condition will die within the first days after birth.

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

At the time of designation, perinatal asphyxia affected approximately 0.7 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to 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).

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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 509,000,000 (Eurostat 2012).

What treatments are available?

At the time of orphan designation, there was no treatment for perinatal asphyxia authorised in the EU. Babies with perinatal asphyxia received supportive treatment, and they were sometimes cooled down to a body temperature lower than normal (hypothermia) for 12 to 72 hours after birth to reduce the extent of the damage caused by the asphyxia.

How is this medicine expected to work?

Allopurinol has been used for many years as tablets in the treatment of gout. It works by blocking an enzyme called xanthine oxidase, which plays an important part in converting substances in the body called purines into another substance, uric acid. The action of xanthine oxidase is thought to contribute to the damage in perinatal asphyxia. In addition, allopurinol seems to increase the amount of other substances that help protect brain cells from damage. For the treatment of perinatal asphyxia, allopurinol sodium is expected to be given by injection.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The effects of allopurinol sodium have been evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, preliminary clinical trials with allopurinol sodium in patients with perinatal asphyxia had finished.

At the time of submission, allopurinol sodium was not authorised anywhere in the EU for perinatal asphyxia 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 7 November 2012 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/3/12/1076: Public summary of opinion on orphan designation: Allopurinol sodium for the treatment of perinatal asphyxia

AdoptedReference Number: EMA/COMP/721436/2012

Key facts

• Active substance:
  Allopurinol sodium
• Intended use:
  Treatment of perinatal asphyxia
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/12/1076
• Date of designation:
  06/12/2012
• Sponsor:

  Pharmathen S.A.; Monumental Plaza Building A; 44 Kifisias Avenue; 151 25 Marousi; Attiki; Greece; Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]

Review of designation

The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products reviews the orphan designation of a product if it is approved for marketing authorisation.