The European landscape for gene therapies in orphan diseases: 6-year experience with the EMA committee for orphan medicinal products

In 2000, the European Union (EU) introduced orphan pharmaceutical legislation to incentivize the development of medicinal products for rare diseases. The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP), the European Medicines Agency committee responsible for evaluation of applications for orphan designation (OD), received an increasing flow of applications in the field of gene therapies over the last years. Here, the COMP has conducted a descriptive analysis of applications regarding gene therapies in non-oncological rare diseases, with respect to (a) targeted conditions and their rarity, (b) characteristics of the gene therapy products proposed for OD, with a focus on the type of vector used, and (c) regulatory aspects pertaining to the type of sponsor and development, by examining the use of available frameworks offered in the EU such as PA and PRIME. It was noted that gene therapies are being developed by sponsors from different backgrounds. Most conditions being targeted are monogenic, the most common being lysosomal disorders, and with a very low prevalence. Generally, adeno-associated viral vectors were being used to deliver the transgene. Finally, sponsors are not frequently using the incentives that may support the development and the reasons for this are unclear. [Display omitted] Palomo, Mariz and colleagues describe the particularities of viral vector-based gene therapy products seeking for the OD in rare non-oncological conditions. Moreover, the authors dig into the usage of regulatory incentives and how the sponsors can benefit from these schemes.