EU/3/12/978 - orphan designation for treatment of perinatal asphyxia
melatonin
OrphanHuman
Overview
On 2 April 2012, orphan designation (EU/3/12/978) was granted by the European Commission to Dr Nicola J Robertson, United Kingdom, for melatonin for the treatment of perinatal asphyxia.
The sponsorship was transferred to Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Italy, in July 2015.
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.
At the time of designation, perinatal asphyxia affected less than 1 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU)*. This is equivalent to a total of fewer than 51,000 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. This represents a population of 506,300,000 (Eurostat 2011).
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.
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone. The exact way in which it could work in perinatal asphyxia is not fully understood, but data from experimental models show that it has a protective effect on nerve cells by increasing their survival.
At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, the evaluation of the effects of melatonin in experimental models was ongoing.
At the time of submission, no clinical trials with melatonin in patients with perinatal asphyxia had been started.
At the time of submission, melatonin 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 8 February 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
- melatonin
- Intended use
- Treatment of perinatal asphyxia
- Orphan designation status
- Positive
- EU designation number
- EU/3/12/978
- Date of designation
- Sponsor
UCL Research Limited
Review of designation
The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products reviews the orphan designation of a product if it is approved for marketing authorisation.
Update history
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | The sponsorship was transferred from Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. to UCL Research Limited. |
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: