Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products

Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products

Dr. Kerstin Westermark, COMP Chair

The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP), headquartered in London, was created in 2000 within the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is responsible for reviewing applications from people or companies seeking 'orphan medicinal product designation'.

Activities and role

The COMP is also responsible for advising the European Commission on the establishment and development of a policy on orphan medicinal products in the EU, and assists the Commission in drawing up detailed guidelines and liaising internationally on matters relating to orphan medicinal products.

The COMP is composed of:

• a chairperson, elected by serving COMP members;
• one member nominated by each of the 27 EU Member States;
• three members nominated by the European Commission to represent patients'
  organisations;
• three members nominated by the European Commission on the EMA's recommendation;
• one member nominated by each of the EEA-EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein
  and Norway);
• one European Commission representative;
• general observers.

See COMP members for the list of current members.

EURORDIS representation at COMP:

In addition to voting members, a number of Observers attend COMP meetings,
including two EURORDIS representatives.

Mrs. Birthe Byskov Holm, Vice-chair of COMP EURORDIS nominated Patient Representative Current mandate: July 2009 – 2012 Danish Osteogenesis Imperfecta Association	Mrs. Lesley Greene EURORDIS nominated Patient Representative Current mandate: July 2009 – 2012 Vice-president of CLIMB
Dr. Maria Mavris, EURORDIS Observer