Lilly rival to weight loss drug Wegovy approved by FDA

The pharmaceutical company will sell the GLP-1 drug, branded as Zepbound, at a list price about 20% lower than Novo Nordisk's competing therapy.

By Jonathan Gardner , Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Nov. 8, 2023

Vertex, CRISPR therapy for sickle cell passes FDA panel test

The high-profile meeting focused on the theoretical risks of CRISPR gene editing, as both the FDA and its advisory committee appeared convinced by the efficacy of the companies’ exa-cel treatment.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Oct. 31, 2023

A play-by-play of the FDA’s meeting on Vertex, CRISPR’s sickle cell therapy

Expert advisers dug deep on the risks of off-target gene editing and debated how best to set guidelines for the fast-growing field. Catch up on their full discussion here. 

By Ned Pagliarulo , Jonathan Gardner , Gwendolyn Wu • Updated Oct. 31, 2023

FDA staff focus on ‘off-target’ risk in review of Vertex, CRISPR sickle cell therapy

Documents released ahead of a Tuesday advisory meeting show agency scientists to be generally convinced by the treatment’s benefit, a sign analysts read as positive.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Oct. 27, 2023

Supply shortage hits infant RSV antibody Beyfortus

The CDC is asking doctors to ration supply of Sanofi and AstraZeneca’s new RSV drug Beyfortus, as demand has outstripped supply.

By Delilah Alvarado • Oct. 25, 2023

Novartis delays FDA filing for in-demand radiopharma drug

Mixed survival data from a study of Pluvicto in earlier prostate cancer sparked the slower regulatory timeline.

By Jonathan Gardner • Oct. 24, 2023

Pfizer wins FDA approval of new meningococcal vaccine

The clearance of the pentavalent shot Penbraya adds to Pfizer’s infectious disease portfolio as it adjusts to slumping COVID-19 vaccine sales.

By Delilah Alvarado • Oct. 23, 2023

BrainStorm, after setbacks, withdraws approval application for ALS drug

A panel of FDA advisers last month found BrainStorm’s data unconvincing. The company now says a Phase 3b study will be needed for its NurOwn cell therapy to have a shot at an approval.

By Jacob Bell • Oct. 18, 2023

Keytruda gains first approval for pre- and post-surgery use in lung cancer

The Merck drug leads competitors Opdivo and Imfinzi into a new immunotherapy setting, which aims to improve outcomes following the surgical removal of tumors.

By Jonathan Gardner • Oct. 17, 2023

Research group says FDA found no misconduct in Pfizer Lyme vaccine trial it helped run

Earlier this year Pfizer removed thousands of participants from a study of its Lyme disease shot over concerns the group, Care Access, wasn't meeting clinical practice standards.

By Delilah Alvarado • Oct. 12, 2023

PepGen cleared by FDA to begin study of muscular dystrophy drug

The company expects to deliver first results next year from the early-stage study of people with myotonic dystrophy type 1.

By Kristin Jensen • Oct. 12, 2023

FDA denies expanded approval for Alnylam RNA drug

The agency rejected Alnylam’s application for approval of its medicine patisiran in people with a rare heart condition, setting back the company’s plans.

By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Oct. 9, 2023

FDA panel finds KRAS drug data unreliable, in blow to Amgen

The negative panel vote likely means Amgen will need more data to support a full approval for its conditionally cleared lung cancer drug Lumakras.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Oct. 6, 2023

5 FDA decisions to watch in the fourth quarter

The regulator’s decision on Alnylam’s bid to expand Onpattro’s approval didn’t go the company’s way, but other verdicts await on drugs from Vertex, Bristol Myers, Amgen and Pfizer.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Jonathan Gardner • Oct. 2, 2023

BrainStorm’s ALS therapy not effective, FDA panel finds

Expert advisers to the agency voted 17-1 that Brainstorm's clinical trial data did not show the company's stem cell treatment to be effective for treating ALS. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Updated Sept. 28, 2023

FDA staff hold ‘major concerns’ with Brainstorm ALS therapy, documents show

A panel of expert FDA advisers is meeting today to discuss the treatment, and whether Brainstorm’s data provide “substantial evidence” of its effectiveness.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Sept. 25, 2023

Intarcia’s diabetes drug-device combo voted down again by FDA panel

The 19-member advisory committee unanimously voted against Intarcia in the review, citing cardiovascular and kidney safety concerns.

By Gwendolyn Wu • Sept. 21, 2023

Alvotech gets new FDA review for Humira biosimilar

The regulator has twice rejected Alvotech’s copycat drug due to manufacturing issues with a plant in Europe.

By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 20, 2023

Orchard nears FDA decision on rare disease gene therapy

Three years after gaining European approval, Libmeldy is now under U.S. review with a deadline set for March.

By Jonathan Gardner • Sept. 18, 2023

FDA approves updated COVID boosters from Pfizer, Moderna

Pfizer and Moderna, which have seen slowing demand for their coronavirus vaccines, expect their reformulated shots will soon be available in the U.S.

By Delilah Alvarado • Sept. 11, 2023

FDA documents hint at ‘uphill battle’ for broad approval of Sage’s depression drug

The newly posted documents show the agency had concerns about the side effects experienced by people with clinical depression who took Sage’s drug, Zurzuvae.

By Jacob Bell • Sept. 1, 2023

Bristol Myers gets key FDA approval for bone marrow disease drug

A broadened clearance for Reblozyl in myelodysplastic syndromes should help Bristol Myers offset the looming loss of revenue from top-selling medicines set to soon lose market exclusivity.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 29, 2023

FDA approves Novartis’ copycat of blockbuster Biogen drug

According to one analyst, the approval was the last hurdle keeping Sandoz’s Tyruko from directly competing in the U.S. market against Biogen’s inflammation-regulating medicine Tysabri.

By Jacob Bell • Updated Aug. 25, 2023

FDA approves Pfizer’s RSV vaccine for use in pregnancy

The shot, called Abrysvo, is the first maternal immunization approved to protect newborns from the respiratory virus in their first months of life.

By Delilah Alvarado • Aug. 21, 2023

FDA partially halts leukemia studies of Gilead cancer drug

The hold is the latest setback for a drug that was the center of Gilead’s $5 billion acquisition of biotech Forty Seven in 2020.

By Jonathan Gardner • Aug. 21, 2023