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Orphan designation


On 10 June 2010, orphan designation (EU/3/10/731) was granted by the European Commission to Eudax Srl, Italy, for bafetinib for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia.


What is chronic myeloid leukaemia?

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a cancer of the white blood cells (cells that fight against infections). In patients with CML, the bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside the large bones) produces large numbers of abnormal, immature white blood cells called ‘blasts’, so there are too many of them circulating in the blood. These blast cells are not fully developed and do not work properly. Over a period of time, they replace the normal white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in the bone marrow.

CML is most common in adults and older people, but children may also be affected. The disease usually develops very slowly, which is why it is called ‘chronic’. However, when it progresses, CML is a severe and life-threatening disease that is associated with poor overall survival.

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

At the time of designation, CML affected approximately 0.8 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of around 41,000 people*, and is below the threshold for orphan designation, which is 5 people in 10,000. This is based on the information provided by the sponsor and knowledge of the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP).


What treatments are available?

Treatment for CML is complex and depends on a number of factors including the extent of the disease, whether it has been treated before, and the patient’s age, symptoms and general state of health. At the time of designation, the main treatments for CML were chemotherapy (medicines to treat cancer) and bone-marrow transplantation (a complex procedure where the bone marrow of the patient is destroyed and replaced with healthy bone marrow from a matched donor).

The sponsor has provided sufficient information to show that bafetinib might be of significant benefit for patients with CML because early studies indicate that it might improve the treatment of patients who do not respond to existing treatments. 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?

Bafetinib is expected to work mainly by blocking a type of enzyme called BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, as well as modified forms of this enzyme, which are found in most CML patients. The BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase is produced by leukaemia cells, and causes them to multiply uncontrollably. By blocking this enzyme, as well as other kinases, bafetinib is expected to control the spread of leukaemia cells.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The effects of bafetinib have been evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials with bafetinib which included patients with CML were ongoing.

At the time of submission, bafetinib was not authorised anywhere in the EU for CML. Orphan designation of bafetinib had been granted in the United States for Philadelphia-chromosome-positive (Ph+) CML.


  • the seriousness of the condition;


Name Language First published Last updated
EU/3/10/731: Public summary of opinion on orphan designation: Bafetinib for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (English only) 24/06/2010 31/07/2013

Key facts

Product details for <p>Bafetinib</p>
Active substanceBafetinib
Medicine Name
Disease/conditionTreatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia
Date of decision10/06/2010
Orphan decision numberEU/3/10/731

Review of designation

Sponsor’s contact details

Eudax Srl
Polo Tecnologico
Via Fratelli Cuzio, 42
27100 Pavia
Tel. +39 03 821 750 652
Fax +39 03 821 750 669

Patients' organisations

