Niemann-Pick disease type C

disease
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Also known as Niemann Pick Disease Type CNPC

Summary

Niemann-Pick disease type C (MONDO:0018982) is a disease (an umbrella term covering 7 Mondo subtypes) with 2 cohort genes and 10 clinical trials. Top therapeutic interventions include cisplatin, miglustat, and becotatug vedotin.

At a glance

  • Prevalence: 1-9 / 100 000 (Europe) [Orphanet-validated]
  • Umbrella term: 7 Mondo subtypes
  • Cohort genes: 2
  • ClinVar variants: 117
  • Phenotypes (HPO): 81
  • Clinical trials: 10

Clinical features

Epidemiology

Prevalence records

9 prevalence record(s), Orphanet:

TypeClassValueGeographyValidation
Point prevalence1-9 / 100 0001EuropeValidated
Prevalence at birth1-9 / 1 000 0000.77FranceValidated
Prevalence at birth1-9 / 1 000 0000.35NetherlandsValidated
Prevalence at birth1-9 / 100 0002.2PortugalValidated
Prevalence at birth1-9 / 1 000 0000.47AustraliaValidated
Prevalence at birth1-9 / 1 000 0000.91Czech RepublicValidated
Prevalence at birth1-9 / 1 000 0000.48SwedenValidated
Prevalence at birth1-9 / 1 000 0000.75United KingdomNot yet validated
Prevalence at birth1-9 / 1 000 0000.75GermanyNot yet validated

Signs & symptoms

Clinical features (HPO)

81 HPO clinical features (Orphanet curated; top 50 by frequency):

HPO IDTermFrequency
HP:0000511Vertical supranuclear gaze palsyVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0000708Atypical behaviorVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0000952JaundiceVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0001268Mental deteriorationVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0001288Gait disturbanceVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0001392Abnormality of the liverVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0002015DysphagiaVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0002240HepatomegalyVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0002344Progressive neurologic deteriorationVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0003349Low cholesterol esterification rateVery frequent (80-99%)
HP:0000365Hearing impairmentFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0001250SeizureFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0001251AtaxiaFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0001260DysarthriaFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0001332DystoniaFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0001618DysphoniaFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0001744SplenomegalyFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0002167Abnormality of speech or vocalizationFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0002451Limb dystoniaFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0002530Axial dystoniaFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0003651Foam cellsFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0004333Bone-marrow foam cellsFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0007240Progressive gait ataxiaFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0010318Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the abdominal wall musculatureFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0011446Abnormality of higher mental functionFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0011968Feeding difficultiesFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0100022Abnormality of movementFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0100543Cognitive impairmentFrequent (30-79%)
HP:0000709PsychosisOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0000716DepressionOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0000718Aggressive behaviorOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0000722Compulsive behaviorsOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0000726DementiaOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0000734DisinhibitionOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0000741ApathyOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0000744Low frustration toleranceOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0000750Delayed speech and language developmentOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0001249Intellectual disabilityOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0001252HypotoniaOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0001263Global developmental delayOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0001328Specific learning disabilityOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0001336MyoclonusOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0001337TremorOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0001433HepatosplenomegalyOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0002059Cerebral atrophyOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0002061Lower limb spasticityOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0002072ChoreaOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0002079Hypoplasia of the corpus callosumOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0002080Intention tremorOccasional (5-29%)
HP:0002197Generalized-onset seizureOccasional (5-29%)

Identifiers

Disease identifiers

FieldValue
Canonical nameNiemann-Pick disease type C
Mondo IDMONDO:0018982
MeSHD052556
Orphanet646
ICD-10-CME75.242
ICD-11812702125
SNOMED CT66751000
UMLSC0220756
MedGen67399
GARD0007207
NORD1509
Is cancer (heuristic)no

Also known as: Niemann Pick Disease Type C · NPC

Data availability: 117 ClinVar variants · 75 cell lines.

Disease family

An umbrella term covering 7 Mondo subtypes.

Classification path: disease › human disease › disease by body system or component › immune system disorder › lymphoid system disorder › lymphatic system disorderhistiocytosisnon-Langerhans cell histiocytosisNiemann-Pick diseaseNiemann-Pick disease type C

Related subtypes (3): Niemann-Pick disease type E, acid sphingomyelinase deficiency, chronic neurovisceral acid sphingomyelinase deficiency

Subtypes (7): Niemann-Pick disease, type C1, Niemann-Pick disease, type C2, Niemann-Pick disease type C, severe perinatal form, Niemann-Pick disease type C, severe early infantile neurologic onset, Niemann-Pick disease type C, late infantile neurologic onset, Niemann-Pick disease type C, juvenile neurologic onset, Niemann-Pick disease type C, adult neurologic onset

Genetics & variants

GWAS landscape

No GWAS associations recorded — common-variant (GWAS) studies don’t cover this disease (typical for Mendelian / rare diseases). See the curated gene cohort and Mendelian overlap below.

Variant details and genetic-evidence tiers

ClinVar germline variants

117 retrieved; paginated sample, class counts are floors:

56 pathogenic/likely pathogenic, 33 pathogenic, 16 likely pathogenic, 12 conflicting classifications of pathogenicity

ClinVarVariant (HGVS)GeneClassificationReview
1019102NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.1901A>T (p.Tyr634Phe)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1026548NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3001A>G (p.Met1001Val)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1066746NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.1114C>T (p.Arg372Trp)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
132890NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.1553G>A (p.Arg518Gln)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1331427NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3349dup (p.Leu1117fs)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, single submitter
1339660NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.464-2A>CNPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1358191NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3422T>G (p.Val1141Gly)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1405310NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.1042C>T (p.Arg348Ter)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1454777NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2129del (p.Gln710fs)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1519574NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.1672G>A (p.Ala558Thr)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1524141NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2071C>G (p.Pro691Ala)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1696116NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3322dup (p.Ala1108fs)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1809713NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3637T>G (p.Leu1213Val)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
181455NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.1628C>T (p.Pro543Leu)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
181457NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2861C>T (p.Ser954Leu)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
188716NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2819C>T (p.Ser940Leu)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
188747NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3614C>A (p.Thr1205Lys)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
188769NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3175C>T (p.Arg1059Ter)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
188794NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.1211G>A (p.Arg404Gln)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
188849NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2761C>T (p.Gln921Ter)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
189174NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3557G>A (p.Arg1186His)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1918189NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3100G>C (p.Gly1034Arg)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
1932106NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2526T>A (p.Phe842Leu)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
194810NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2621A>T (p.Asp874Val)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
21134NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2324A>C (p.Gln775Pro)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
21138NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.3160G>A (p.Ala1054Thr)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
2138133NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2975G>C (p.Gly992Ala)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
2581553NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2279_2281del (p.Phe760del)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
265495NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.1819C>T (p.Arg607Ter)NPC1Pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts
2736708NM_000271.5(NPC1):c.2171T>C (p.Leu724Pro)NPC1Pathogenic/Likely pathogeniccriteria provided, multiple submitters, no conflicts

Genes & proteins

Mendelian disease overlap and somatic drivers

GenCC: 0 · Orphanet: 10 · OMIM-shared: 0 · Dual-evidence (GWAS+Mendelian): 0

Orphanet rare-disease linkage (cohort genes)

GeneOrphanet IDRare disease
NPC2Orphanet:216972Niemann-Pick disease type C, severe perinatal form
NPC2Orphanet:216975Niemann-Pick disease type C, severe early infantile neurologic onset
NPC2Orphanet:216978Niemann-Pick disease type C, late infantile neurologic onset
NPC2Orphanet:216981Niemann-Pick disease type C, juvenile neurologic onset
NPC2Orphanet:216986Niemann-Pick disease type C, adult neurologic onset
NPC1Orphanet:216972Niemann-Pick disease type C, severe perinatal form
NPC1Orphanet:216975Niemann-Pick disease type C, severe early infantile neurologic onset
NPC1Orphanet:216978Niemann-Pick disease type C, late infantile neurologic onset
NPC1Orphanet:216981Niemann-Pick disease type C, juvenile neurologic onset
NPC1Orphanet:216986Niemann-Pick disease type C, adult neurologic onset

Cohort genes → proteins

2 cohort genes, 2 distinct canonical proteins.

Evidence partition

SubsetGenes
multi_evidence2

Cohort genes (full)

SymbolHGNCEnsemblUniProtNameEvidence
NPC2HGNC:14537ENSG00000119655P61916NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 2clinvar
NPC1HGNC:7897ENSG00000141458O15118NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1clinvar

Cohort function summary

Lead sentence per gene, UniProt-curated.

SymbolProtein nameFunction (lead sentence)
NPC2NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 2Intracellular cholesterol transporter which acts in concert with NPC1 and plays an important role in the egress of cholesterol from the lysosomal compartment.
NPC1NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1Intracellular cholesterol transporter which acts in concert with NPC2 and plays an important role in the egress of cholesterol from the endosomal/lysosomal compartment.

Protein-family classification

Druggable: 0 · Difficult: 0 · Unknown: 2 · Druggable fraction: 0.0

Family distribution

Cohort families vs a genome-wide background (hypergeometric, BH-FDR; fold = observed/expected). Counts kept; sorted by enrichment, so the catch-all Other/Unknown bucket no longer leads.

FamilyGenesFoldFDR
Other/Unknown21.8×0.312

Per-gene assignment

SymbolFamilyDruggable?ECInterPro (top 3)
NPC2Other/UnknownnoML_dom, Ig_E-set, ML_Npc2-like
NPC1Other/UnknownnoSSD, NPC1-like, NPC1_N

Expression context

Cohort genes with no expression data: 0.

2 cohort genes are a single-cell marker in ≥1 SCXA experiment.

Breadth distribution (Bgee present_calls)

BucketGenes
narrow (1-5 tissues)0
moderate (6-20)0
broad (>20)2
unknown0

Top tissues across cohort

TissueCohort genes
cauda epididymis1
corpus epididymis1
epididymis1
adrenal tissue1
oocyte1
secondary oocyte1

Per-gene tissue summary (top 30)

SymbolBgee breadthFANTOM5 breadthSCXATop tissues
NPC2296ubiquitousmarkercorpus epididymis, cauda epididymis, epididymis
NPC1292ubiquitousmarkersecondary oocyte, oocyte, adrenal tissue

Protein interactions among cohort

Intra-cohort edges: 1.

Hub genes (top 10 by interactor count)

SymbolInteractor count
NPC12,648
NPC21,706

Intra-cohort edges

ABSources
NPC1NPC2intact, string_interaction

Structural data

PDB: 2 · AlphaFold-only: 0 · No structure: 0

Cohort genes with PDB structures (top 30)

SymbolUniProtPDB entries
NPC1O1511820
NPC2P619162

Function

Pathway analysis

Distinct Reactome pathways touched by cohort: 2. Enrichment computed across 2 evidence-associated genes (2 with Reactome annotation).

Pathways by enrichment

Over-representation of cohort genes vs the genome-wide background (hypergeometric test, Benjamini-Hochberg FDR; fold = observed/expected over 2 annotated cohort genes). Counts and members are kept as ground-truth; sorted by enrichment.

PathwayCohort genesFoldFDRSample cohort genes
LDL clearance2543.8×6e-06NPC2, NPC1
Neutrophil degranulation111.5×0.085NPC2

GO biological processes by enrichment

Over-representation of cohort genes vs the genome-wide background (hypergeometric test, Benjamini-Hochberg FDR; fold = observed/expected over 2 annotated cohort genes). Counts and members are kept as ground-truth; sorted by enrichment.

GO termCohort genesFoldFDRSample cohort genes
cholesterol storage22407.4×5e-06NPC2, NPC1
intracellular cholesterol transport21296.3×1e-05NPC2, NPC1
cholesterol transport2732.7×2e-05NPC2, NPC1
cholesterol efflux2526.6×3e-05NPC2, NPC1
cholesterol metabolic process2195.9×2e-04NPC2, NPC1
cholesterol homeostasis2156.0×2e-04NPC2, NPC1
regulation of isoprenoid metabolic process18426.0×5e-04NPC2
cyclodextrin metabolic process18426.0×5e-04NPC1
gene expression279.9×6e-04NPC2, NPC1
intracellular lipid transport12808.7×0.001NPC1
glycolipid transport12808.7×0.001NPC2
membrane raft organization11685.2×0.002NPC1
intracellular sterol transport11685.2×0.002NPC2
sterol transport11404.3×0.002NPC1
establishment of protein localization to membrane1936.2×0.003NPC1
intestinal cholesterol absorption1702.2×0.003NPC1
programmed cell death1648.1×0.003NPC1
negative regulation of epithelial cell apoptotic process1601.9×0.003NPC1
negative regulation of macroautophagy1561.7×0.003NPC1
cellular response to steroid hormone stimulus1526.6×0.003NPC1
bile acid metabolic process1495.6×0.003NPC1
cellular response to low-density lipoprotein particle stimulus1443.5×0.004NPC1
response to cadmium ion1366.4×0.004NPC1
lysosomal transport1351.1×0.004NPC1
phospholipid transport1351.1×0.004NPC2
adult walking behavior1247.8×0.006NPC1
symbiont entry into host cell1200.6×0.007NPC1
glycoprotein biosynthetic process1168.5×0.008NPC1
negative regulation of TORC1 signaling1162.0×0.008NPC1
macroautophagy1120.4×0.010NPC1

Therapeutics

Drugs indicated for this disease

0 approved, 3 in late-stage (phase 3) trials. Disease-direct ChEMBL indications, not inferred from the associated-gene cohort below.

DrugDevelopment status
2-HYDROXYPROPYL-BETA-CYCLODEXTRINPhase 3 (in late-stage trials)
AdrabetadexPhase 3 (in late-stage trials)
MiglustatPhase 3 (in late-stage trials)

Earlier-phase candidates (phase 2, investigational — efficacy not yet established): Arimoclomol, Trenonacog Alfa.

Drug target analysis

Approved (phase 4): 1 · Phase ≥3: 1 · Phased (≥1): 1 · Undrugged: 1

Druggability breadth: 1 of 2 evidence-associated genes (50%) have a ChEMBL target (buckets above are over the deeply-mined display cohort).

Genes with an approved drug

The molecule shown is one approved compound that hits the gene — not necessarily a drug of choice or one indicated for this disease.

SymbolExample approved molecule
NPC1NABUMETONE

Top cohort targets by molecule count

SymbolMoleculesMax phase
NPC1904
NPC200

Drugs targeting cohort genes (top 30)

MoleculeMax phaseTargets in cohort
NABUMETONE4NPC1
PHENELZINE4NPC1
AMLEXANOX4NPC1
IDARUBICIN4NPC1
RABEPRAZOLE SODIUM4NPC1
NITAZOXANIDE4NPC1
NICLOSAMIDE4NPC1
NITROXOLINE4NPC1
NICARDIPINE4NPC1
DAUNORUBICIN HYDROCHLORIDE4NPC1
INDOPROFEN4NPC1
CYCLOSPORINE4NPC1
TERFENADINE4NPC1
DIGOXIN4NPC1
PRAZOSIN4NPC1
MAPROTILINE4NPC1
DIGITOXIN4NPC1
HYDRALAZINE4NPC1
EBASTINE4NPC1
DEQUALINIUM4NPC1
DOXORUBICIN HYDROCHLORIDE4NPC1
VINBLASTINE SULFATE4NPC1
FLUOXETINE4NPC1
DITHIAZANINE IODIDE4NPC1
TRIFLUOPERAZINE4NPC1
PACLITAXEL4NPC1
NORTRIPTYLINE4NPC1
MIBEFRADIL4NPC1
FLUSPIRILENE4NPC1
KETOROLAC4NPC1

Bioactivity and enzyme data

Enzyme cohort genes (≥1 EC): 0.

Cohort genes with ChEMBL bioactivity (full, sorted by assay count)

SymbolAssaysType breakdown
NPC118Binding:13, Functional:5

Pharmacogenomics

Cohort genes with a PharmGKB record: 2; with CPIC/DPWG dosing guidelines: 0.

No cohort gene has a CPIC/DPWG genotype-guided dosing guideline (PharmGKB).

Chemical tractability of cohort targets

30 approved/phased compounds have measured bioactivity against a cohort gene (and aren’t yet in disease-level trials). This is a research / tractability signal, NOT a therapeutic recommendation — a bioactivity row often reflects off-target or screening binding (e.g. promiscuous kinase inhibitors against a cohort kinase), implying no disease mechanism.

CompoundMax phaseCohort target (bioactivity)
NABUMETONE4NPC1
PHENELZINE4NPC1
AMLEXANOX4NPC1
IDARUBICIN4NPC1
RABEPRAZOLE SODIUM4NPC1
NITAZOXANIDE4NPC1
NICLOSAMIDE4NPC1
NITROXOLINE4NPC1
NICARDIPINE4NPC1
DAUNORUBICIN HYDROCHLORIDE4NPC1
INDOPROFEN4NPC1
CYCLOSPORINE4NPC1
TERFENADINE4NPC1
DIGOXIN4NPC1
PRAZOSIN4NPC1
MAPROTILINE4NPC1
DIGITOXIN4NPC1
HYDRALAZINE4NPC1
EBASTINE4NPC1
DEQUALINIUM4NPC1
DOXORUBICIN HYDROCHLORIDE4NPC1
VINBLASTINE SULFATE4NPC1
FLUOXETINE4NPC1
DITHIAZANINE IODIDE4NPC1
TRIFLUOPERAZINE4NPC1
PACLITAXEL4NPC1
NORTRIPTYLINE4NPC1
MIBEFRADIL4NPC1
FLUSPIRILENE4NPC1
KETOROLAC4NPC1

Druggability pyramid

Cohort genes binned by druggability tier (high → low):

TierDefinitionGenesSymbols
AApproved (phase 4 drug)1NPC1
BPhased (≥1) drug, not yet approved0
CDruggable family + PDB, no drug0
DDruggable family + AlphaFold only, no drug0
EDifficult family or no structure, no drug1NPC2

Undrugged target profiles

1 cohort genes are undrugged. Ranked by ‘starting-point quality’ (assay depth + drugged-partner adjacency).

SymbolChEMBL assaysDrugged partners (top 3)
NPC20NPC1

Clinical trials & evidence

Clinical trials

Clinical trials: 10.

Phase distribution (across all retrieved trials)

PhaseTrials
PHASE23
Not specified3
PHASE32
PHASE2/PHASE31
PHASE11

Top trials by phase / activity

NCTPhaseStatusTitle
NCT03919552PHASE3RECRUITINGCisplatin-based and Carboplatin-based Chemoradiation in Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
NCT06719479PHASE2/PHASE3NOT_YET_RECRUITINGA Clinical Trial to Evaluate Effect of IAE0972 Combined with Chemotherapy for R/M HNSCC or NPC(Note: It is Currently Phase II.).
NCT01760564PHASE3COMPLETEDApplication of Miglustat in Patients With Niemann-Pick Type C
NCT03734809PHASE2ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGNEO-SPACE Trial: Pembrolizumab and Chemoradiation in Nasopharyngeal Cancer
NCT07267338PHASE2NOT_YET_RECRUITINGPembrolizumab + MRGOO3 as Neoadjuvant in NPC
NCT03158324PHASE2UNKNOWNPhase IIa Dose-Expansion and Biomarker Study of OPB-111077
NCT04945421PHASE1COMPLETEDIBI310 in Combination With Siltilimab in Subjects With Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Resistance R/M NPC
NCT01744587Not specifiedCOMPLETEDEpstein-Barr Virus Reactivation and the Effect of EGCG on Virus Reactivation in Remission Patients
NCT03352778Not specifiedCOMPLETEDIMRT vs 2DRT for NPC Patients
NCT03973723Not specifiedCOMPLETEDPlasma EBV DNA Monitoring in Post-treatment NPC Patients

Drugs tested across these trials (top 30)

MoleculeMax phaseTrials referencing
CISPLATIN41
MIGLUSTAT41
BECOTATUG VEDOTIN31