FDA
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FDA panel backs broader use of J&J, Bristol Myers cell therapies for myeloma
A majority of experts believed the factors that may have led to an increased risk of early death in testing of Carvykti and Abecma aren’t as likely to occur outside of a clinical trial.
By Jonathan Gardner • March 15, 2024 -
Madrigal wins FDA approval of first drug for MASH
Rezdiffra’s clearance is a turning point in the fight against the liver disease. But its sales potential is unclear, and competition could emerge from popular weight loss drugs.
By Ben Fidler • March 14, 2024 -
FDA clears use of Novo’s obesity drug to protect heart health
The approval makes Novo’s Wegovy the first weight-loss drug with such a claim on its prescribing information, which could have important implications for use and insurance coverage.
By Ben Fidler • March 8, 2024 -
FDA delays decision on Lilly’s closely watched Alzheimer’s drug
The agency expects to convene a group of outside experts to more closely scrutinize the safety and efficacy of the medicine, donanemab, pushing back the timing of its potential approval.
By Jonathan Gardner • March 8, 2024 -
Minerva schizophrenia drug rejected by FDA
The agency’s complete response letter knocks back Minerva’s attempt to secure approval of the drug over agency reviewers’ objections.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 27, 2024 -
Humira biosimilar from Alvotech, Teva wins FDA approval on third attempt
The companies didn’t reveal their planned price for Simlandi, which will be the 10th Humira copycat to reach the U.S. market.
By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 26, 2024 -
United Therapeutics, in unusual step, sues FDA over rival’s drug application
The biotech alleges the agency is letting rival Liquidia sidestep the rules by accepting an amendment to an application that’s involved in a patent dispute.
By Kristin Jensen • Feb. 21, 2024 -
FDA puts hold on Rapt trials of drug for eczema, asthma
Rapt reported one case of liver failure in a study participant who received the biotech’s drug, which is seen by analysts as a possible competitor to Dupixent.
By Delilah Alvarado • Feb. 20, 2024 -
Iovance, with approval of ‘TIL’ cell therapy, readies for complex launch
The biotech set a price of roughly $515,000 per patient for its therapy Amtagvi, the first to be approved based on a decades-old technique of using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.
By Ben Fidler • Feb. 20, 2024 -
FDA to review expanded use of Sarepta Duchenne gene therapy
The agency will decide by June 21 whether to broaden eligibility for Elevidys, and won’t convene a group of outside experts beforehand.
By Jonathan Gardner • Feb. 16, 2024 -
Gilead reviewing drug acquired in $5B buyout after latest setback
The FDA paused enrollment in the only remaining tests of the drug, as Gilead reviews the program it acquired through a buyout of biotech Forty Seven.
By Ben Fidler • Feb. 16, 2024 -
AstraZeneca, Daiichi aim for first pan-tumor ADC approval
The FDA is reviewing the companies’ application for a “tumor agnostic” indication for their drug Enhertu, which would break new ground for antibody-drug conjugates.
By Ben Fidler • Jan. 29, 2024 -
EMA recommends earlier use of Bristol Myers cell therapy for multiple myeloma
The opinion would allow Abecma to be prescribed after two standard therapies and is the latest sign of CAR-T’s growing use in earlier cancer treatment.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 26, 2024 -
PTC Duchenne drug approval set to be revoked in Europe
The EMA’s drugs committee again recommended rescinding an OK for Translarna, which was cleared in 2014 despite questions about its benefit.
By Ben Fidler • Jan. 26, 2024 -
At FDA meeting, experts wrestle with hurdles to developing preterm birth drugs
A workshop highlighted the lack of investment and inadequate understanding of what causes early births, making drug research more challenging.
By Delilah Alvarado • Jan. 25, 2024 -
FDA orders new cancer warnings for CAR-T therapies
The agency later modified its warning for Gilead's Tecartus, tweaking the label's language to reflect the fact that none of T cell malignancies in question had occurred in Tecartus-treated patients.
By Jonathan Gardner • Updated Jan. 24, 2024 -
FDA says no ‘clear relationship’ between GLP-1 drugs and suicide risk
Regulators will continue to evaluate suicide ideation as the data don't "definitively rule out" an association.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 12, 2024 -
FDA authorizes Florida to import drugs from Canada
The clearance is a major shift for the agency, which described its decision as a “first step” in allowing Florida to bulk purchase lower-cost Canadian medicines.
By Jonathan Gardner , Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 5, 2024 -
5 FDA decisions to watch in the first quarter
The agency could soon issue verdicts on new drugs from Eli Lilly and Merck, as well as on what could be the first TIL therapy.
By Ben Fidler , Ned Pagliarulo • Jan. 4, 2024 -
FDA ends busy year with three drug rejections
Amgen had its bid for full approval of the cancer drug Lumakras turned back by the agency, which also issued complete response letters to Zealand Pharma and Merck & Co. in December.
By Jonathan Gardner • Jan. 2, 2024 -
Sarepta tests FDA flexibility with bid to expand Duchenne gene therapy’s approval
The biotech is asking the agency to clear its treatment Elevidys in more patients with the disease, despite a confirmatory trial that missed its main goal.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 22, 2023 -
Ionis, Astrazeneca win FDA approval of competitor to Alnylam drug
The clearance of Wainua for transthyretin amyloidosis opens up a new front in a long-running commercial battle between Ionis and Alnylam.
By Ben Fidler • Dec. 22, 2023 -
Merck gets FDA decision date for new pneumococcal vaccine
The company’s shot targets 21 strains of pneumococcal bacteria and, if approved, would compete with Pfizer’s Prevnar 20.
By Delilah Alvarado • Dec. 19, 2023 -
FDA widens use of cancer drug Merck acquired for $1B
Welireg, which Merck got through its purchase of Peloton Therapeutics, can now be used to treat an advanced form of kidney cancer, adding to an earlier clearance in a rare genetic disease.
By Jonathan Gardner • Dec. 15, 2023 -
European regulators push Biogen, CRISPR drugs toward approval
While a positive recommendation for the gene editing treatment Casgevy was expected, a clearance for Biogen’s Skyclarys has been no sure bet.
By Ben Fidler • Dec. 15, 2023