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European Union · EMA · Rare diseases

EU orphan designations

Every medicine the European Commission has designated as an orphan medicine for a rare disease, on the EMA's recommendation, with its current status.

Source: European Medicines Agency, orphan designations data (reproduced with acknowledgement of the source). Synced 27 Sep 2026
3,310Orphan designations listed
2,205Currently active
125Designated in the last 12 months
1,069Withdrawn or expired
Maintained by Sreepriya Prasannan
MSc Digital Transformation of Life Sciences (Innopharma Education / Griffith College); MSc & BSc Botany HSE Spark Ignite 2026 โ€” Top 14 finalist
Compiled from EMA orphan designation records ยท Last verified ยท Editorial standards
01

All orphan designations, newest first

3,310 designations · page 16 of 34
SubstanceIntended useStatusDesignated
sodium benzoate
EU/3/16/1787 · now authorised as Prohippur
Treatment of argininosuccinic aciduria Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
recombinant adeno-associated viral vector serotype 2 carrying the gene for the human aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase protein;Eladocagene exuparvovec
EU/3/16/1786 · now authorised as Upstaza
Treatment of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
R-azasetron besilate
EU/3/16/1785
Treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
particles comprised of methacrylic acid based co-polymer, cross-linked with a bi-functional cross-linker, purified to bind L-phenylalanine and L-phenylalanine โ€ฆ
EU/3/16/1784
Treatment of hyperphenylalaninaemia Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
N-(5-(6-chloro-2,2-difluorobenzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)pyrazin-2-yl)-2-fluoro-6-methylbenzamide
EU/3/16/1783
Treatment of acute pancreatitis Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
L-selenomethionine
EU/3/16/1782
treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
live-attenuated non-replicative Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain expressing large T antigen of Merkel cell polyomavirus
EU/3/16/1781
Treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
Ibrutinib
EU/3/16/1780
44 clinical trials →
Treatment of graft-versus-host disease Withdrawn 18 Nov 2016
human monoclonal antibody against activin A
EU/3/16/1779
Treatment of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
Budesonide
EU/3/16/1778 · now authorised as Kinpeygo
11 clinical trials →
Treatment of primary IgA nephropathy Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
brincidofovir
EU/3/16/1777
Treatment of smallpox Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
ascorbic acid
EU/3/16/1776
2 clinical trials →
treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
alpha-tocopherol
EU/3/16/1775
treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells incubated ex-vivo with 16, 16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2;dexamethasone
EU/3/16/1774
325 clinical trials →
Treatment in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation Withdrawn 18 Nov 2016
allogenic cytomegalovirus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (adimlecleucel)
EU/3/16/1773
Treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with impaired cell-mediated immunity Withdrawn 18 Nov 2016
adeno-associated viral vector serotype 8 containing the human UGT1A1 gene (volrubigene ralaparvovec)
EU/3/16/1772
Treatment of Crigler-Najjar syndrome Withdrawn 18 Nov 2016
adeno-associated viral vector serotype 8 containing the human glucose-6-phosphatase gene (pariglasgene brecaparvovec)
EU/3/16/1771
treatment of glycogen storage disease type Ia Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
5-[4-[2-(5-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyridinyl)ethoxy]benzyl]-2,4-thiazolidinedione hydrochloride
EU/3/16/1770 · now authorised as Nezglyal; Nezglyal
Treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
2-hydroxy-6-((2-(1-isopropyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyridin-3-yl)methoxy)benzaldehyde (voxelotor)
EU/3/16/1769 · now authorised as Oxbryta
Treatment of sickle cell disease Active (positive) 18 Nov 2016
xenon
EU/3/16/1768
2 clinical trials →
Treatment of ischaemia/reperfusion injury associated with cardiac arrest Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
venetoclax
EU/3/16/1767
204 clinical trials →
Treatment of multiple myeloma Withdrawn 14 Oct 2016
venetoclax
EU/3/16/1766
204 clinical trials →
Treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma Withdrawn 14 Oct 2016
tadekinig alfa
EU/3/16/1763
Treatment of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
synthetic 15-amino-acid macrocyclic peptide acylated with a polyethyleneglycol palmitoylated linker (zilucoplan)
EU/3/16/1762
Treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria Withdrawn 14 Oct 2016
radio-iodinated (131I) anti-CD45 murine monoclonal antibody
EU/3/16/1760
Treatment in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
recombinant adeno-associated viral vector encoding a human micro-dystrophin gene under the control of a muscle specific promoter
EU/3/16/1759
Treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
P-ethoxy growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 antisense oligonucleotide
EU/3/16/1758
Treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
N-[(2S)-5-{[(1R, 2S)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)cyclopropyl]amino}-1-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-1-oxopentan-2-yl]-4-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)benzamide, bis-tosilate salt (Bโ€ฆ
EU/3/16/1757
Treatment of myelofibrosis Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
mogamulizumab
EU/3/16/1756 · now authorised as Poteligeo
3 clinical trials →
Treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
melatonin
EU/3/16/1755
23 clinical trials →
Treatment of Smith-Magenis syndrome Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
human monoclonal IgG1 antibody against tissue factor pathway inhibitor
EU/3/16/1752
Treatment of haemophilia A Withdrawn 14 Oct 2016
Fenretinide
EU/3/16/1751
2 clinical trials →
Treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma Withdrawn 14 Oct 2016
Exendin (9-39)
EU/3/16/1750
Treatment of noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycaemia syndrome Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
crenolanib besilate
EU/3/16/1748
Treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
chemically modified human recombinant sulfamidase
EU/3/16/1747
Treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis, type IIIA (Sanfilippo A syndrome) Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
carbamazepine
EU/3/16/1746
6 clinical trials →
Treatment of metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, Schmid type Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
autologous T cells transduced with lentiviral vector containing a chimeric antigen receptor directed against CD19 (tisagenlecleucel)
EU/3/16/1745
Treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
autologous mononuclear cells derived from human cord blood
EU/3/16/1744
Treatment of periventricular leukomalacia Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
autologous mononuclear cells derived from human cord blood
EU/3/16/1743
Treatment of neonatal encephalopathy Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
acebutolol hydrochloride
EU/3/16/1742
Treatment of Smith-Magenis syndrome Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
adeno-associated viral vector serotype 5 containing the human RLBP1 gene
EU/3/16/1741
Treatment of retinitis pigmentosa Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
adeno-associated viral vector serotype 2/2 containing a gene encoding the channelrhodopsin-2 protein
EU/3/16/1740
Treatment of retinitis pigmentosa Withdrawn 14 Oct 2016
2-(1,5-dimethyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-N-{4-[4-(5-fluoro-pyrimidin-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl]-phenyl}-2-oxo-acetamide (also known as F901318)(olorofim)
EU/3/16/1738
Treatment of invasive aspergillosis Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
(E)-(6-((N-methyl-((3-methylbenzofuran-2-yl)methyl)amino)-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl)-2-oxo-3,4-dihydro-1,8-naphthyridin-1(2H)-yl)methyl phosphate, bis ethanolamine sโ€ฆ
EU/3/16/1737
Treatment of osteomyelitis Active (positive) 14 Oct 2016
(6aR,10aR)-3-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)-delta8-tetrahydro-cannabinol-9-carboxylic acid
EU/3/16/1736
Treatment of cystic fibrosis Withdrawn 14 Oct 2016
naltrexone
-
10 clinical trials →
Treatment of fibromyalgia Negative 6 Oct 2016
6'-(R)-methyl-5-O-(5-amino-5,6-dideoxy-ฮฑ-L-talofuranosyl)-paromamine sulfate
EU/3/16/1714
Treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis type I Active (positive) 22 Sep 2016
ubiquinol
EU/3/16/1765
Treatment of primary coenzyme Q10 deficiency syndrome Active (positive) 20 Sep 2016
tetrofosmin
EU/3/16/1764
Diagnosis of glioma Active (positive) 20 Sep 2016
self-complementary adeno-associated viral vector serotype 9 containing the SGSH gene
EU/3/16/1761
Treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis, type IIIA (Sanfilippo A syndrome) Active (positive) 20 Sep 2016
Lutetium-177(3+), S2,S7-cyclo[N-{4,7,10-tricarboxymethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraaza-cyclododecan-1-yl-acetyl}-4-chloro-L-phenylalanyl-D-cysteinyl-4-[(4S)-2,6-dioxo-1,3-โ€ฆ
EU/3/16/1754
Treatment of gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours Active (positive) 20 Sep 2016
Haematopoietic stem cells modified with a lentiviral vector containing the CD18 gene
EU/3/16/1753
Treatment of leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I Active (positive) 20 Sep 2016
crenolanib besilate
EU/3/16/1749
Treatment of soft tissue sarcoma Active (positive) 20 Sep 2016
A non-covalent trimer of tumour necrosis factor fused to an antibody specific to the extra-domain B of fibronectin in single-chain variable fragment format
EU/3/16/1739
Treatment of soft tissue sarcoma Active (positive) 20 Sep 2016
zoledronic acid
EU/3/16/1735
11 clinical trials →
Treatment of glioma Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
valproic acid
EU/3/16/1734
4 clinical trials →
Treatment of McArdle's disease Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
temozolomide
EU/3/16/1733
97 clinical trials →
Treatment of glioma Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
synthetic ribonucleic acid oligonucleotide directed against superoxide dismutase 1 messenger ribonucleic acid (tofersen)
EU/3/16/1732 · now authorised as Qalsody
Treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
synthetic double-stranded siRNA oligonucleotide directed against delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 mRNA, covalently linked to a ligand containing three N-acโ€ฆ
EU/3/16/1731 · now authorised as Givlaari
Treatment of acute hepatic porphyria Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
sodium benzoate
EU/3/16/1730 · now authorised as Prohippur
Treatment of ornithine translocase deficiency Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
sodium benzoate
EU/3/16/1729 · now authorised as Prohippur
Treatment of lysinuric protein intolerance Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody against human complement component C5a
EU/3/16/1728
Treatment of graft-versus-host disease Withdrawn 29 Aug 2016
recombinant human interleukin-12
EU/3/16/1727
Treatment of acute radiation syndrome Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase conjugated with mannose-6-phosphate analogues
EU/3/16/1726
Treatment of glycogen storage disease type II (Pompe's disease) Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
recombinant protein derived from the saliva of the Ornithodoros moubata tick (nomacopan)
EU/3/16/1725
Treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
nintedanib
EU/3/16/1724
7 clinical trials →
Treatment of systemic sclerosis Withdrawn 29 Aug 2016
methotrexate
EU/3/16/1723
97 clinical trials →
Treatment of alkaptonuria Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
Masitinib mesilate
EU/3/16/1722 · now authorised as Alsitek; Masitinib AB Science
2 clinical trials →
Treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
L-Pyr-L-Glu-L-Gln-L-Leu-L-Glu-L-Arg-L-Ala-L-Leu-L-Asn-L-Ser-L-Ser (cibinetide)
EU/3/16/1721
Prevention of graft loss in pancreatic islet transplantation Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
Fimaporfin
EU/3/16/1720
Treatment of cholangiocarcinoma Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
cisplatin
EU/3/16/1719
473 clinical trials →
Treatment of malignant mesothelioma Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
cannabidiol
EU/3/16/1718
16 clinical trials →
Treatment of graft-versus-host disease Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
autologous mesenchymal stromal cells on a decellularised tracheal scaffold from a cadaveric donor
EU/3/16/1717
Treatment of tracheal stenosis Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
adeno-associated viral vector serotype 9 containing the human mini-dystrophin gene
EU/3/16/1716
Treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy Withdrawn 29 Aug 2016
2-(1,5-dimethyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-N-{4-[4-(5-fluoro-pyrimidin-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl]-phenyl}-2-oxo-acetamide (also known as F901318) (olorofim)
EU/3/16/1713
Treatment of scedosporiosis Active (positive) 29 Aug 2016
2-((2-ethyl-6-(4-(2-(3-hydroxyazetidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-piperazin-1-yl)-8-methylimidazo[1,2-alpha]pyridin-3-yl)-(methyl)amino)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-thiazole-5-cโ€ฆ
EU/3/16/1712
Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Withdrawn 29 Aug 2016
melatonin
EU/3/16/1682
23 clinical trials →
Treatment of necrotising enterocolitis Active (positive) 1 Aug 2016
volanesorsen sodium
EU/3/16/1711
Treatment of familial partial lipodystrophy Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
triheptanoin
EU/3/16/1710
Treatment of McArdle's disease Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
sodium hypochlorite
EU/3/16/1709
6 clinical trials →
Treatment of partial deep dermal and full-thickness burns Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
sodium benzoate
EU/3/16/1708 · now authorised as Prohippur
Treatment of hyperargininaemia Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
sodium benzoate
EU/3/16/1707 · now authorised as Prohippur
Treatment of citrullinaemia type 1 Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
sodium benzoate
EU/3/16/1706 · now authorised as Prohippur
Treatment of carbamoyl-phosphate synthase-1 deficiency Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
sodium benzoate
EU/3/16/1705 · now authorised as Prohippur
Treatment of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
sirolimus
EU/3/16/1704
32 clinical trials →
Treatment of sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
setmelanotide
EU/3/16/1703 · now authorised as Imcivree
4 clinical trials →
Treatment of pro-opiomelanocortin deficiency Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
recombinant human monoclonal antibody to insulin receptor
EU/3/16/1702
Treatment of congenital hyperinsulinism Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(carboxymethyl)-omega-methoxy-, amide with arginase 1 [cobalt cofactor] (synthetic human) (1:10), trimer (pegzilarginase)
EU/3/16/1701 · now authorised as Loargys
Treatment of hyperargininaemia Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
mifamurtide
EU/3/16/1700
2 clinical trials →
Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
mifamurtide
EU/3/16/1699
2 clinical trials →
Treatment of echinococcosis Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
dimethyl fumarate
EU/3/16/1698
7 clinical trials →
Treatment of bullous pemphigoid Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
brincidofovir
EU/3/16/1697
Treatment of adenovirus infection in immunocompromised patients Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
autologous Epstein-Barr virus specific T cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, expanded ex vivo
EU/3/16/1696
Treatment of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders Withdrawn 14 Jul 2016
autologous Epstein-Barr virus specific T cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, expanded ex vivo
EU/3/16/1695
Treatment of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type Withdrawn 14 Jul 2016
autologous CD4+ and CD8+ T cells transduced with lentiviral vector containing an affinity-enhanced T-cell receptor targeting the New York esophageal antigen-1
EU/3/16/1694
Treatment of soft tissue sarcoma Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
adeno-associated viral vector serotype 2.7m8 containing the ChrimsonR-tdTomato gene
EU/3/16/1693
Treatment of retinitis pigmentosa Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
3-[4-(1H-imidazol-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]-5-(2-methylpropyl)thiophene-2-[(N-butyloxylcarbamate)-sulphonamide] sodium salt
EU/3/16/1692
Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
2-[4-(1-methyl-4-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-phenoxymethyl]-quinoline succinic acid
EU/3/16/1691
Treatment of Huntingtonโ€™s disease Withdrawn 14 Jul 2016
16-base single-stranded peptide nucleic acid oligonucleotide linked to 7-amino acid peptide
EU/3/16/1690
Treatment of soft tissue sarcoma Active (positive) 14 Jul 2016
3-(3-Methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-1-propyl-piperidine hydrochloride
-
Treatment of narcolepsy Negative 13 Jul 2016

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How this page is built

Every row is copied from the EMA's orphan designations data, reproduced with acknowledgement of the source. Each substance links to its official EMA page.

A daily job downloads the EMA's orphan designations JSON report and lists every designation, newest first. No AI drafting and no editorial pass. See our editorial standards. The the EMA data on this page was last retrieved on 27 Sep 2026.

Please verify before you rely on this. This page is general information for life-science and pharmaceutical professionals. It is not medical advice, and it has not been reviewed by a clinician โ€” our editorial team holds life-science qualifications, not clinical ones. It is not exhaustive and may not reflect the most recent label change. Always check the official prescribing information (US Prescribing Information or EU SmPC) and speak to your doctor or pharmacist before acting on anything here. Drugs in the same class are not automatically interchangeable, and approvals, brand names and indications differ between the US, the EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions. Spotted an error? Tell us โ€” we correct promptly and log it.