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Orphan designation

On 17 July 2012, orphan designation (EU/3/12/1027) was granted by the European Commission to Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, the Netherlands, for human apotransferrin for the treatment of congenital hypotransferrinaemia.

The sponsorship was transferred to Sanquin Plasma Products B.V., The Netherlands, in April 2016.

What is congenital hypotransferrinaemia?

Congenital hypotransferrinaemia is a genetic disease characterised by abnormally low levels of the protein transferrin in blood. Transferrin attaches to iron in the blood and delivers it to where it is needed, such as the bone marrow, where it is used for the production of haemoglobin (the protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body). Severely reduced levels of transferrin cause anaemia (low red blood cell counts), which may lead to heart problems. It also leads to free iron accumulating in tissues and organs, where it can cause damage and increase the likelihood of infections.

Congenital hypotransferrinaemia is a life-threatening condition due to severe anaemia and accumulation of iron in tissues which can cause heart problems and infections.

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

At the time of designation, congenital hypotransferrinaemia affected approximately 0.00012 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU)*. This is equivalent to a total of around 6 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).


What treatments are available?

At the time of orphan designation, no satisfactory treatments were authorised in the EU for this condition. Treatments included blood transfusions to manage anaemia and iron chelation therapy to reduce the accumulation of free iron in tissues and organs.

How is this medicine expected to work?

This medicine is made of the transferrin protein extracted from human plasma (the liquid component of the blood) and depleted of the iron attached to it. This medicine is expected to work by replacing the missing protein, which can attach to the iron in the blood. This is expected to improve the symptoms of the disease.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The effects of human apotransferrin have been evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials with human apotransferrin in patients with congenital hypotransferrinaemia were ongoing.

At the time of submission, human apotransferrin was not authorised anywhere in the EU for congenital hypotransferrinaemia or designated as an orphan medicinal product elsewhere for this condition.


  • the seriousness of the condition;


Key facts

Product details for <p>Human apotransferrin</p>
Active substanceHuman apotransferrin
Medicine Name
Disease/conditionTreatment of congenital hypotransferrinaemia
Date of decision17/07/2012
Orphan decision numberEU/3/12/1027

Review of designation


Sponsor’s contact details:

Sanquin Plasma Products B.V.
Plesmanlaan 125
1066 CX Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 20 512 30 00

Patients' organisations:

