EU/3/08/532 - orphan designation for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

filgrastim

Overview

On 1 April 2008, orphan designation (EU/3/08/532) was granted by the European Commission to Sygnis Bioscience GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, for filgrastim for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The sponsorship was transferred to Dr Ulrich Bogdahn, Germany, in April 2014 and subsequently to NeuroVision Pharma GmbH, Germany, in February 2015.

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

What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive disease of the nervous system. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis occurs when specific nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary movement gradually deteriorate. The loss of these so-called motor neurons causes the muscles under their control to weaken and waste away, leading to paralysis. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis varies from patient to patient, depending on which muscles weaken first. Symptoms may include tripping and falling, loss of motor control in hands and arms, difficulty in speaking, swallowing and/or breathing, persistent fatigue, and twitching and cramping. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis strikes in mid-life. Men are about one-and-a-half times more likely to have the disease as women. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is chronically debilitating and life-threatening.

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

At the time of designation, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affected approximately 0.7 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of around 35,000 people*, and is below the ceiling for orphan designation, which is 5 people in 10,000. This isbased 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 502,800,000 (Eurostat 2008).

What are the treatments available?

A medicinal product called riluzole was authorised for the condition in the Community at the time of submission of the application for orphan drug designation. Filgrastim might be of potential significant benefit for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The benefit will have to be confirmed at the time of marketing authorisation. This will be necessary to maintain the orphan status.

How is this medicine expected to work?

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor acts as a growth factor in the body. Growth factors stimulate cells to proliferate or to gain specific functions. Filgrastim stimulates building and function of white blood cells called granulocytes. Granulocytes are important for the immune system as they are the cells responsible for destroying bacteria and external agents that enter the body.

The mechanism of action of filgrastim in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is not fully understood, but it is thought that it would protect nerve cells and prevent nerve cells from deteriorating as seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The evaluation of the effects of filgrastim in experimental models is ongoing.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, no clinical trials in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were initiated.

Filgrastim was not authorised anywhere worldwide for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or designated as orphan medicinal product elsewhere for this condition, at the time of submission.

In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the COMP adopted a positive opinion on 6 February 2008 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/3/08/532: Public summary of positive opinion for orphan designation of filgrastim for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

AdoptedReference Number: EMEA/COMP/84439/2008 Rev. 2

Key facts

• Active substance:
  filgrastim
• Intended use:
  Treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/08/532
• Date of designation:
  01/04/2008
• Sponsor:

  NeuroVision Pharma GmbH; Emil-Geis-Straße 4; 82031 Grünwald; Germany; Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]