EU/3/02/102 - orphan designation for treatment of adrenal cortical carcinoma

Mitotane

Overview

Please note that this product was withdrawn from the Community Register of designated orphan medicinal products in April 2014 at the end of the period of market exclusivity.

On 12 June 2002, orphan designation (EU/3/02/102) was granted by the European Commission to Laboratoire HRA Pharma, France, for mitotane for the treatment of adrenal cortical carcinoma.

Mitotane has been authorised in the EU as Lysodren since 28 April 2004.

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

What is adrenal cortical carcinoma?

_Cancer of the adrenal cortex is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the adrenal cortex, which is the outside layer of the adrenal gland. Cancer of the adrenal cortex is also called adrenal cortical carcinoma. There are two adrenal glands, one above each kidney in the back of the upper abdomen. The adrenal cortex produces steroid hormones. Steroid hormones include sex hormones and hormones used to control minerals and sugar in the body. Cancer cells in the adrenal cortex may make too much of one or more hormones, which can cause symptoms such as high blood pressure, weakening of the bones, or diabetes. If male or female hormones are affected, the body may go through changes such as a deepening of the voice, growing hair on the face, swelling of the sex organs, or swelling of the breasts. Cancers that make hormones are called functioning tumours. Many cancers of the adrenal cortex do not make extra hormones and are called non-functioning tumours. Adrenal cortical carcinoma is a life-threatening condition, mainly due to frequent spreading of the cancer cells (metastasis).

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

At the time of designation, adrenal cortical carcinoma affected approximately 0.1 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of around 3,800 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. At the time of designation, this represented a population of 380,600,000 (Eurostat 2002).

What treatments are available?

The methods of treatment used include surgery, chemotherapy (using drugs to kill the cancer cells) and radiotherapy (using x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells). An anticancer medicinal product had been authorised for the treatment of the symptoms of the condition in the Community at the time of the submission of the application for orphan designation. However, there is no authorised treatment available to target adrenocortical carcinoma.

How is this medicine expected to work?

The potential of mitotane to be toxic to the adrenal cells, and therefore to limit tumour growth has been known since several decades but the exact mechanism of action is not known. Mitotane may be of potential significant benefit for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma, particularly based on the effect, which have been demonstrated in experimental models of the condition and in several small clinical studies.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials in patients with adrenal cortical carcinoma had been completed.

Mitotane had been marketed in the United States and Canada for the treatment of the condition at the time of the orphan application.

Mitotane had not been 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 30 April 2002 recommending the granting of this designation.

Update: Mitotane (Lysodren) has been authorised in the EU since 28 April 2004 for for symptomatic treatment of advanced (unresectable, metastatic or relapsed) adrenal cortical carcinoma. The effect of Lysodren on non-functional adrenal cortical carcinoma is not established.

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/3/02/102: Public summary of positive opinion for orphan designation of mitotane for the treatment of adrenal cortical carcinoma

AdoptedReference Number: EMEA/COMP/966/02 Rev.4

Key facts

• Active substance:
  Mitotane
• Medicine name:
  Lysodren
• Intended use:
  Treatment of adrenal cortical carcinoma
• Orphan designation status:
  Expired
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/02/102
• Date of designation:
  12/06/2002
• Sponsor:

  Laboratoire HRA Pharma; 19, rue Frédérick Lemaitre; F-75020 Paris; France; Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]; http://www.hra-pharma.com/about_contact.php

Review of designation

Please note that this product was withdrawn from the Community Register of designated orphan medicinal products in April 2014 at the end of the period of market exclusivity.