EU/3/12/1075 - orphan designation for treatment of acromegaly

Cyclo(-gamma-aminobutyryl-L-phenylalanyl-L-tryptophanyl-D-tryptophanyl-L-lysyl-L-threonyl-L phenylalanyl-N-3-carboxypropyl)-glycine amide, acetate salt

Overview

On 6 December 2012, orphan designation (EU/3/12/1075) was granted by the European Commission to Dr Ulrich Granzer, Germany, for cyclo(-gamma-aminobutyryl-L-phenylalanyl-L-tryptophanyl-D-tryptophanyl-L-lysyl-L-threonyl-L phenylalanyl-N-3-carboxypropyl)-glycine amide, acetate salt for the treatment of acromegaly.

The sponsorship was transferred to Cortendo AB, Sweden, in August 2015.

What is acromegaly?

Acromegaly is a disease in which the pituitary gland, a small gland located at the base of the brain, produces too much growth hormone. Acromegaly usually affects adults in middle age. In over 90% of patients, it is caused by a non-cancerous tumour of the pituitary gland called a pituitary adenoma. One of the most common symptoms of the disease is the abnormal growth of the hands and feet. The disease can result in serious complications, such as severe damage to the joints and problems affecting the cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) and respiratory systems.

Acromegaly is a long-term debilitating disease because it can lead to respiratory problems and joint damage, and is life threatening because of the increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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

At the time of designation, acromegaly affected less than 1.2 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU)*. This is equivalent to a total of less than 61,000 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. This represents a population of 506,300,000 (Eurostat 2011).

What treatments are available?

At the time of designation, several medicines were authorised in the EU to treat acromegaly, including bromocriptine and somatostatin analogues (medicines that block the release of growth hormone) such as octreotide and lanreotide, as well as pegvisomant (a medicine that blocks the effects of growth hormone). Other treatments include surgery and radiotherapy (treatment with radiation).

The sponsor has provided sufficient information to show that the medicine might be of significant benefit for patients with acromegaly based on early studies showing better responses in adenoma cells than octreotide and a potentially better safety profile. These assumptions will need to be confirmed at the time of marketing authorisation, in order to maintain the orphan status.

How is this medicine expected to work?

This medicine is a somatostatin analogue, a copy of the natural hormone somatostatin. Somatostatin regulates growth hormone production in the body by blocking the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland. The medicine is expected to attach to the receptors for somatostatin on the surface of cells, thus blocking the release of growth hormone and helping to reduce the symptoms and complications of acromegaly.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The effects of the medicine have been evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, no clinical trials with the medicine in patients with acromegaly had been started.

At the time of submission, the medicine was not authorised anywhere in the EU for acromegaly 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/3/12/1075 : Public summary of opinion on orphan designation: Cyclo(-gamma-aminobutyryl-L-phenylalanyl-L-tryptophanyl-D-tryptophanyl-L-lysyl-L-threonyl-L phenylalanyl-N-3-carboxypropyl)-glycine amide, acetate salt for ...

AdoptedReference Number: EMA/COMP/744439/2012

Key facts

• Active substance:
  Cyclo(-gamma-aminobutyryl-L-phenylalanyl-L-tryptophanyl-D-tryptophanyl-L-lysyl-L-threonyl-L phenylalanyl-N-3-carboxypropyl)-glycine amide, acetate salt
• Intended use:
  Treatment of acromegaly
• Orphan designation status:
  Positive
• EU designation number:
  EU/3/12/1075
• Date of designation:
  06/12/2012
• Sponsor:

  Cortendo AB; Kullegärdet 38; 433 62 Sävedalen; Sweden; Tel. [phone]

Review of designation

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