The European Commission has launched a call for expressions of interest to represent patients’ organisations in EMA’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP).

The call aims to fill three positions for COMP members nominated by the European Commission to represent patient organisations. The three members will be appointed for a term of three years from 1 July 2024, which can be renewed. The deadline for the submission of applications to the European Commission is at 12:00 CET on 7 December 2023. The current members may re-apply. 

Further information on the application procedure and the assessment criteria is available on the Commission’s website.

The COMP has a strong tradition of involving patient representatives in its work. Its main task is to examine applications sent by companies and decide whether their medicines can be designated as ‘orphan’. An orphan medicine is used in the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening or chronically…