Recent marketing authorisationsTreatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
Actelion Registration Ltd
United-Kingdom
20 December 2013 What is Opsumit and what is it used for? Opsumit is a medicine that contains the active substance macitentan. It is used for the long-term treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition in which there is abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, causing symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue. Opsumit is used for adults whose PAH is classified as ‘WHO functional class II to class III’. The ‘class’ reflects the seriousness of the disease: patients with class II PAH have slight limitation of physical activity and those with class III disease have marked limitation of physical activity. Opsumit can be used alone or in combination with other PAH medicines; for further information, see the package leaflet. Because the number of patients with PAH is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Opsumit was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 27 September 2011.
Treatment of inborn errors in primary bile acid synthesis
Laboratoire CTRS
France
12 September 2013 What is Orphacol and what is it used for? Orphacol is a medicine containing cholic acid, a substance found in the bile which is used to digest fats. It is used to treat adults and children from one month of age who have a genetic abnormality that makes them unable to produce bile. Orphacol is used in patients who do not have enough of two specific liver enzymes (3β-Hydroxy-Δ5-C27-steroid oxidoreductase or Δ4-3-Oxosteroid-5β-reductase). This makes their liver unable to produce enough of the main components of bile, called primary bile acids, such as cholic acid. When these primary bile acids are lacking, the body produces abnormal bile acids instead which can damage the liver, potentially leading to life-threatening liver failure. Because the number of patients with inborn errors in primary bile acid synthesis is low, the condition is considered ‘rare’, and Orphacol was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 18 December 2002.
Treatment of severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD)
Gentium S.p.A
Italy
18 October 2013 What is Defitelio and what is it used for? Defitelio is a medicine containing the active substance defibrotide. It is used to treat severe veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in patients undergoing haematopoietic (blood) stem-cell transplantation. VOD is a condition in which the veins in the liver become blocked, leading to liver dysfunction. Defitelio is used in adults and in children from one month of age. Because the number of patients with VOD is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Defitelio was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 29 July 2004.
Treatment of multiple myeloma
Celgene Europe Ltd
United Kingdom
5 August 2013 What is Imnovid and what is it used for? Imnovid is an anticancer medicine that contains the active substance pomalidomide. It is used in combination with dexamethasone (an anti-inflammatory medicine) to treat multiple myeloma (a cancer of the bone marrow). It is used in adults who have received at least two prior therapies, including both lenalidomide and bortezomib, and whose disease progressed after the last treatment. Because the number of patients with multiple myeloma is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Imnovid was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 8 October 2009.
Procysbi (cysteamine (as mercaptamine bitartrate))
Treatment of nephropathic (kidney)cystinosis
Raptor Pharmaceuticals Europe
The Netherlands
06/09/2013 What is Procysbi and what is it used for? Procysbi is a medicine that contains the active substance mercaptamine (also known as cysteamine). It is used in patients with nephropathic (kidney) cystinosis. Cystinosis is an inherited disease in which excess amounts of cystine, an amino acid naturally found in the body, build up within cells, especially in the kidneys and the eyes, damaging them. Because the number of patients with cystinosis is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Procysbi was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 20 September 2010. Procysbi is a ‘hybrid medicine’. This means that it is similar to a ‘reference medicine’ containing the same active substance, but Procysbi is available in a formulation that allows for a delayed release of the active substance in the body. The reference medicine for Procysbi is Cystagon.
Treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) ; acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
Ariad Pharma Ltd
United-Kingdom
01/07/2013 What is Iclusig and what is it used for? Iclusig is an anticancer medicine that contains the active substance ponatinib. It is used to treat adults with the following types of leukaemia (cancer of the white blood cells): - chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in its different stages known as chronic, accelerated and blast phases;
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in patients who are ‘Philadelphia-chromosome-positive’ (Ph+). Ph+ means that some of the patient’s genes have rearranged themselves to form a special chromosome called the Philadelphia chromosome that leads to the development of leukaemia. The Philadelphia chromosome is found in some ALL patients but is present in most patients with CML.
Iclusig is used in patients who cannot tolerate or do not respond to dasatinib or nilotinib (other anticancer medicines) and for whom subsequent treatment with imatinib is not considered appropriate. It is also used in patients who have a genetic mutation called ‘T315I mutation’ which makes them resistant to treatment with imatinib, dasatinib or nilotinib. Because the numbers of patients with CML and ALL are low, the diseases are considered ‘rare’, and Iclusig was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 2 February 2010.
Extension of indication:
Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes
Celgene Europe Ltd.
United Kingdom
25/04/2013 What is Revlimid? Revlimid is a medicine that contains the active substance lenalidomide. It is available as capsules (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 25 mg). What is Revlimid used for? Revlimid is an anticancer medicine originally indicated to treat adults with multiple myeloma.
On 25 April 2013, the CHMP adopted the following new therapeutic indication for Revlimid: myelodysplastic syndromes. Revlimid is indicated for the treatment of patients with transfusion-dependent anaemia due to low- or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes associated with an isolated deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality when other therapeutic options are insufficient or inadequate.
Treatment of adults with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
Pfizer Limited
United-Kingdom
27/03/2013 Bosulif is an anticancer medicine that contains the active substance bosutinib. It is used to treat adults with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), a cancer of the white blood cells in which granulocytes (a type of white blood cell) start growing out of control. Bosulif is used in patients who are ‘Philadelphia-chromosome-positive’ (Ph+). This means that some of the patient’s genes have re-arranged themselves to form a special chromosome called the Philadelphia chromosome. Bosulif is used to treat three stages of CML called ‘chronic phase’, ‘accelerated phase’ and ‘blast phase’. It is only used when the CML has already been treated with one or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors (medicines for CML which work in a similar way to Bosulif) and when the tyrosine kinase inhibitors called imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib are not considered appropriate treatment options. Because the number of patients with CML is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Bosulif was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 4 August 2010.
NexoBrid (concentrate of proteolytic enzymes enriched in bromelain)
Treatment of partial deep dermal and full thickness burns
Teva Pharma GmbH
Germany
27/03/2013 What is NexoBrid?
NexoBrid is a medicine that contains the active substance ‘concentrate of proteolytic enzymes enriched in bromelain’. It is available as a powder and gel, which are mixed together to make a gel (2 g/22 g or 5 g/55 g). What is NexoBrid used for?
NexoBrid is used in adults to remove eschar (dead tissue which is dried-out, thick, leathery and black) from deep partial thickness and full thickness burns of the skin caused by heat or fire. Deep partial thickness burns (sometimes called ‘second degree’ burns) extend into a deep region of an inner layer of the skin called the dermis, while full thickness burns (sometimes called ‘third degree’ burns) extend even deeper, through the whole dermis.
Because the number of patients with deep partial thickness and full thickness thermal burn wounds is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and NexoBrid was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 30 July 2002.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.
Glybera (alipogene tiparvovec)
Treatment of lipoprotein lipase deficiency
uniQure biopharma B.V.
The Netherlands
25/10/2012
What is Glybera?
Glybera is a medicine that contains the active substance alipogene tiparvovec. It is available as a solution for injection.
Glybera is a type of advanced therapy medicine called a ‘gene therapy product’. This is a type of medicine that works by delivering genes into the body. What is Glybera used for?
Glybera is used to treat adults with lipoprotein lipase deficiency who have severe or multiple attacks of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) despite maintaining a low-fat diet.
Lipoprotein lipase deficiency is a rare disease in which patients have a defect in the gene for lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme responsible for breaking down fats. Patients with this disease need to be on a strict low-fat diet and are prone to recurring attacks of pancreatitis, which is a severe and life-threatening complication.
Glybera is only for patients whose disease has been confirmed by appropriate genetic testing and who have detectable levels of the lipoprotein lipase enzyme in their blood.
Because the number of patients with lipoprotein lipase deficiency is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Glybera was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 8 March 2004.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.
Adcetris ( brentuximab vedotin)
Treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma
Takeda Global Research and Development Centre (Europe) Ltd
United Kingdom
25/10/2012 What is Adcetris?
Adcetris is a medicine that contains the active substance brentuximab vedotin. It is available as a powder that is made up into a solution for infusion (drip into a vein). What is Adcetris used for?
Adcetris is used to treat adults with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL, a type of cancer that originates from blood cells in the lymphatic system, a part of the immune system) when the tumour cells are CD30-positive (when they have a protein called CD30 on their surface). It is used:
when the cancer has come back or has not responded to an autologous stem cell transplant (a transplant of the patient's own blood-producing cells); when the cancer has come back or has not responded to at least two previous therapies and when autologous stem cell transplant or multi-agent chemotherapy (a combination of anticancer medicines) are not treatment options. Adcetris is also used to treat systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL, a CD30-positive cancer of white blood cells called T lymphocytes), when the cancer has come back or has not responded to other treatments.
Because the number of patients with HL and sALCL is low, the diseases are considered ‘rare’, and Adcetris was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 15 January 2009.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.
Treatment of Cushing’s disease
Novartis Europharm Limited
United-Kingdom
24/04/2012 What is Signifor?
Signifor is a medicine that contains the active substance pasireotide. It is available as a solution for injection. What is Signifor used for?
Signifor is used to treat adults with Cushing’s disease when surgery has failed or is not an option.
Cushing’s disease is caused by a tumour of the pituitary gland (a gland located at the base of the brain) releasing too much of a hormone called ACTH that stimulates the production of too much cortisol (a hormone also known as the ‘stress hormone’ because it is released in response to stress).
Because the number of patients with Cushing’s disease is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Signifor was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 8 October 2009.
acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
Janssen-Cilag International NV, Belgium
20/09/2012 What is Dacogen?
Dacogen is a powder that is made up into a solution for infusion (drip into a vein). It contains the active substance decitabine. What is Dacogen used for?
Dacogen is used to treat adults aged 65 or older with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a type of cancer affecting the white blood cells. It is used in patients with newly diagnosed AML who are not eligible for initial treatment with standard chemotherapy (anticancer medicines).
Because the number of patients with AML is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Dacogen was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 8 June 2006.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.
Short bowel syndrome
Nycomed Danmark APS
Denmark
30/08/2012
What is Revestive?
Revestive is a medicine that contains the active substance teduglutide. It is available as a powder and a solvent to be made up into a solution for injection.
What is Revestive used for?
Revestive is used to treat adults with short bowel syndrome. Short bowel syndrome is a condition in which nutrients and fluids are not properly absorbed by the gut, usually following the surgical removal of a large portion of the small intestine. Revestive is used after ‘intestinal adaptation’ has occurred (changes in the function of the bowel to compensate for its reduced size following surgery).
Because the number of patients with short bowel disease is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Revestive was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 11 December 2001.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.
myelofibrosis
Novartis Europharm Limited, UK
United-Kingdom
23/08/2012
What is Jakavi?
Jakavi is a medicine that contains the active substance ruxolitinib. It is available as tablets (5, 15 and 20 mg). What is Jakavi used for?
Jakavi is used to treat adults with myelofibrosis who have splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) or symptoms related to the disease such as fever, night sweats, bone pain and weight loss.
Myelofibrosis is a disease in which the bone marrow becomes very dense and rigid and produces abnormal, immature blood cells. Jakavi can be used in three types of the disease: primary myelofibrosis (also known as chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, where the cause is unknown), post polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis (where the disease is linked to an overproduction of red blood cells) and post essential thrombocythaemia myelofibrosis (where the disease is linked to an overproduction of platelets, components that help the blood to clot).
Because the number of patients with these diseases is low, they are considered ‘rare’, and Jakavi was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) for chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis on 7 November 2008 and for myelofibrosis secondary to polycythaemia vera or essential thrombocythaemia on 3 April 2009.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.
cystic fibrosis
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (U.K.) Ltd.
United-Kingdom
23/07/2012
What is Kalydeco?
Kalydeco is a medicine that contains the active substance ivacaftor. It is available as tablets (150 mg).
What is Kalydeco used for?
Kalydeco is used to treat cystic fibrosis in patients aged six years and above who have the G551D mutation in their gene for the protein called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects the cells that secrete mucus in the lungs, and the cells that secrete digestive juices from the glands in the gut and pancreas. In cystic fibrosis these secretions become thick, blocking the airways and the flow of digestive juices. This leads to problems with the digestion and absorption of food, resulting in poor growth, and long-term infection and inflammation of the lungs because of excess mucus not being cleared away. Because the number of patients with cystic fibrosis is low, the disease is considered ‘rare’, and Kalydeco was designated an ‘orphan medicine’ (a medicine used in rare diseases) on 8 July 2008.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription. | 
Learn more about the Orphan designation process in Europe
