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Orphan designation

On 14 September 2007, orphan designation (EU/3/07/473) was granted by the European Commission to mondoBIOTECH Laboratories Anstalt, Liechtenstein, for aviptadil for the treatment of sarcoidosis.

What is sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease of unknown cause that affects many organs and tissues, most commonly the lungs. The disease is characterized by specific microscopic lesions called granulomas. Sarcoidosis is usually diagnosed in asymptomatic patients by routine chest radiography and is confirmed by examination of samples from affected organs using microscopic techniques. Sarcoidosis may sometimes be suspected by the patient's history of fever, fatigue, malaise, weight loss, cough and respiratory difficulties.
In general, two thirds of cases resolve spontaneously and one third of cases are long-term; in a minority of patients the disease can be life-threatening.

What are the methods of treatment available?

Oral prednisone was authorised in the European Union for the treatment of sarcoidosis at the time of submission of the application for orphan drug designation. Methotrexate, used when glucocorticoids are ineffective or not tolerated, requires up to 6 months to be effective. Lung transplantation (usually unilateral) was reserved for end-stage disease. Inhaled aviptadil may be of potential significant benefit over currently authorised drugs, due to its different mechanism of action and alternative route of administration.


According to the information provided by the sponsor, sarcoidosis was considered to affect about 100,000 persons in the European Union.


How is this medicinal product expected to act?

Aviptadil is a chemically produced substance that is identical to a natural hormone (a protein that circulates in the human blood), which is called Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide or VIP. Aviptadil is a vasodilator (i.e. it is able to enlarge small blood vessels) and lowers blood pressure if administered intravenously. However its mechanism of action in sarcoidosis is related to its ability to influence the immune system. This may decrease the inflammatory processes seen in sarcoidosis by acting on the white blood cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) involved in the formation of the granulomas. Since the lung is primarily affected in sarcoidosis, aviptadil will be administered by inhalation, directly to the lungs.

What is the stage of development of this medicinal product?

The effects of aviptadil were evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials in patients with sarcoidosis were ongoing.

Aviptadil was not authorised anywhere in the world for sarcoidosis, at the time of submission. Orphan designation has been granted in the European Union to aviptadil for the treatment of acute lung injury.

According to Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of 16 December 1999, the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) adopted on 30 July 2007 a positive opinion recommending the grant of the above-mentioned designation.

  • the seriousness of the condition,


Key facts

Product details for <p>Aviptadil</p>
Active substanceAviptadil
Medicine Name
Disease/conditionTreatment of sarcoidosis
Date of decision14/09/2007
Orphan decision numberEU/3/07/473

Review of designation

Sponsor’s contact details:

mondoBIOTECH Laboratories Anstalt
Herrengasse 21
FL-9490 Vaduz
Telephone: +41 840 200 030
Telefax: +41 840 200 011

Patients’ associations contact points:

S.I.L.A. : Sarcoidosis & Interstitial Lung Association
c/o The Chest Clinic Office, 2nd Floor, Admin. Block
King's College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London SE5 9RS
United Kingdom
Telephone: + 44 207 237 5912

Deutsche Sarkoidose-Vereinigung gemeinnütziger e.V.
Uerdinger Str. 43
40668 Meerbusch
Telephone: +49 2150 70 59 60
Telefax: +49 2150 70 59 699

SI : Sarcoïdose Infos
10 rue Charles Liozu
81000 Albi
Telephone: +33 5 63 46 04 76