Refusal of orphan designation for prevention of spaceflight-related radiation and microgravity

melatonin
OrphanHuman

Overview

Melatonin has not been designated as an orphan medicine for the prevention of spaceflight-related radiation and microgravity in the European Union, despite an application from the sponsor.

Absence of orphan designation does not preclude the development of this medicine, including its use in clinical trials. The medicine can be authorised if its quality, safety and efficacy are demonstrated.

During the medicine's development, doctors may be able to enrol patients in clinical trials investigating the medicine. For information on ongoing clinical trials in the EU, see:

The sponsor applied for orphan designation on the basis of the seriousness and the rarity of the condition, as well as an assumption of potential benefit of this medicine over currently available methods of treatment.

The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) recommended against granting the orphan designation because the proposed condition was not considered acceptable for the purpose of an orphan designation.

The COMP adopted its negative opinion on 13 April 2022. Following the appeal withdrawal by the sponsor, a negative decision was issued by the European Commission on 14 October 2022.

Medicines intended for rare diseases can be granted an orphan designation during their development.

The orphan designation allows the developer to benefit from:

  • scientific and regulatory support to advance their medicine to the stage where they can request marketing authorisation;
  • market exclusivity once the medicine is on the market.

To qualify for orphan designation, a medicine must meet a number of criteria:

  • it must be intended for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a disease that is life-threatening or chronically debilitating;
  • the prevalence of the condition in the EU must not be more than 5 in 10,000 or it must be unlikely that marketing of the medicine would generate sufficient returns to justify the investment needed for its development;
  • there are no satisfactory alternative methods for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of the condition or, if such a method exists, the medicine is of significant benefit to those affected by the condition.

EMA's Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) is responsible for issuing opinions on applications for orphan designations.

The Agency sends the COMP opinion to the European Commission, which is responsible for granting the orphan designation. The full list of orphan designations is available in the Community register of orphan medicinal products for human use.

For more information, see:

Minutes of the COMP meeting 6-8 September 2022

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/COMP/772376/2022

English (EN) (566.63 KB - PDF)

First published:
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Key facts

Active substance
melatonin
Intended use
Prevention of spaceflight-related radiation and microgravity
Orphan designation status
Negative
EU designation number
N/A
Date of refusal of designation
Sponsor

Worphmed S.r.l.

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:

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