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Orphan designation

On 17 July 2012, orphan designation (EU/3/12/1020) was granted by the European Commission to Appletree Europe S.a.r.l., Luxemburg, for recombinant human pentraxin-2 for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The sponsorship was transferred to FGK Representative Service GmbH, Germany, in April 2014.


What is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a long-term disease of the lungs characterised by the progressive deposition of collagen and fibrous tissue in the lungs. This causes the lung tissue to become inflamed and thick and form scars. As a result, the lungs become unable to work normally, reducing the transfer of oxygen from the air into the blood. Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have a persistent cough, frequent lung infections and shortness of breath that worsens over time.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a life-threatening and long-term debilitating disease because the lungs gradually lose their ability to work properly.

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

At the time of designation, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis affected not more than 1.5 in 10,000 people in the European Union (EU). This was equivalent to a total of not more than 76,000 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).


What treatments are available?

At the time of designation, Esbriet (pirfenidone) was the only medicine authorised in the EU to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.


How is this medicine expected to work?

This medicine contains pentraxin-2, a protein that activates certain cells of the immune system (the body’s natural defences) that are involved in breaking down and removing ‘debris’ material from the body. Pentraxin-2 is expected to help these immune cells recognise the debris that causes inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It is thought to do so by attaching to certain molecules (called DAMP) on the surface of dead cells so that they can be recognised by immune cells as debris. Pentraxin-2 is also expected to increase production of other immune cells that produce the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic protein IL-10.This is expected to stop the accumulation of deposits in the lungs, reduce the inflammation and help to relieve the symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Pentraxin-2 is made by a method known as ‘recombinant DNA technology’: it is made by a cell that has received a gene (DNA) that makes the cell able to produce it.

What is the stage of development of this medicine?

The effects of recombinant human pentraxin-2 have been evaluated in experimental models.

At the time of submission of the application for orphan designation, clinical trials with the medicine in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were ongoing.

At the time of submission, recombinant human pentraxin-2 was not authorised anywhere in the EU for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Orphan designation of the medicine had been granted in the United States of America for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.


  • the seriousness of the condition;


Key facts

Product details for <p>Recombinant human pentraxin-2</p>
Active substanceRecombinant human pentraxin-2
Medicine Name
Disease/conditionTreatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Date of decision17/07/2012
Orphan decision numberEU/3/12/1020

Review of designation


Sponsor’s contact details:

FGK Representative Service GmbH
Heimeranstrasse 35
80339 Munich
Tel. +49 89 893 119 22
Fax +49 89 893 118 20

Patients' organisations:

