On 11 January 2012, orphan designation (EU/3/11/938) was granted by the European Commission to Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics BV, the Netherlands, for adeno-associated viral vector containing the human factor-IX gene for the treatment of haemophilia B.
In July 2012, Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics BV changed name to uniQure biopharma B.V.
- What is haemophilia B?
Haemophilia B is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by the lack of a substance called factor IX, one of the proteins involved in blood coagulation (clotting). Patients with haemophilia B are more prone to bleeding than normal and after injury or surgery their wounds do not heal normally. Bleeding can also happen within muscles or the spaces in the joints such as the elbows, knees and ankles, which can lead to permanent injury if it happens repeatedly.
Haemophilia B is a debilitating lifelong disease which may be life-threatening because patients can suffer bleeding in the brain and spinal cord, the throat or the gut.
- What is the estimated number of patients affected by the condition?
At the time of designation, haemophilia B affected between 0.1 and 0.3 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of between 5,100 and 15,000 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. At the time of designation, this represented a population of 509,000,000 (Eurostat 2012).
- What treatments are available?
At the time of designation, medicines containing factor IX were authorised in the EU for the treatment of haemophilia B. These medicines replace the missing protein. In some patients, other treatments needed to be used, including medicines containing other substances involved in blood clotting such as factor VIIa.
The sponsor has provided sufficient information to show that adeno-associated viral vector containing the human factor-IX gene might be of significant benefit for patients with haemophilia B because it may reduce the need for regular administration of the missing protein, thereby improving the treatment of patients. This assumption 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?
The medicine is made of a virus that contains the gene for factor IX, which is lacking in patients with haemophilia B. After being given to the patient as a single injection into a vein, the virus is expected to carry the factor-IX gene into the liver cells, enabling them to produce the missing factor IX. This is expected to control the bleeding disorder.
The type of virus used in this medicine (‘adeno-associated virus’) does not cause disease in humans.
- What is the stage of development of this medicine?
At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, the evaluation of the effects of the medicine in experimental models was ongoing.
At the time of submission, no clinical trials with the medicine in patients with haemophilia B had been started.
At the time of submission, the medicine was not authorised anywhere in the EU for haemophilia B 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 9 November 2011 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.
|Name||Language||First published||Last updated|
|EU/3/11/938: Public summary of positive opinion for orphan designation: Adeno-associated viral vector containing the human factor IX gene for the treatment of haemophilia B||(English only)||01/02/2012||11/03/2013|
|Active substance||Adeno-associated viral vector containing the human factor-IX gene|
|Disease/condition||Treatment of haemophilia B|
|Date of decision||11/01/2012|
|Orphan decision number||EU/3/11/938|
Review of designation
The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products reviews the orphan designation of a product if it is approved for marketing authorisation.
Sponsor’s contact details
uniQure biopharma B.V.
Tel. +31 20 566 7394
Fax: +31 20 566 9272
For contact details of patients’ organisations whose activities are targeted at rare diseases, see:
- Orphanet, a database containing information on rare diseases, which includes a directory of patients’ organisations registered in Europe;
- European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS), a non-governmental alliance of patient organisations and individuals active in the field of rare diseases.