As largely expected, Mirati Therapeutics Inc.’s adagrasib gained U.S. FDA accelerated approval ahead of its Dec. 14 PDUFA date, cleared for second-line use in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring the KRAS G12C mutation, in which it will go up ahead Amgen Inc.’s Lumakras (sotorasib), which has the advantage of a year and a half head start.
Even though Cytokinetics Inc. received applause for testing its heart failure drug, omecamtiv mecarbil, in the second largest global heart disease clinical trial ever, the drug didn’t get a standing ovation from the U.S. FDA’s Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee (CRDAC) Dec. 13.
Natus Medical Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire EU-based neurophysiology solution provider Micromed Group SpA. The transaction is expected to close in early 2023, subject to regulatory approvals from the Italian Council of Ministers’ Presidency and the French Ministry of Economy and Finance. Full terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. “The idea behind this acquisition is to provide a single portfolio of neurodiagnostic and neuromonitoring products in the EU and the whole world,” Thomas Sullivan, CEO of Natus Medical, told BioWorld.
What could be Cytokinetics Inc.’s first approved drug will take center stage Dec. 13 at a meeting of the U.S. FDA’s Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee. But judging from the FDA’s briefing document for the meeting, the spotlight on the heart failure drug, omecamtiv mecarbil, could be harsh.
Biocorp Production SA has been awarded 510(k) clearance from the U.S. FDA to market Mallya as a medical device that connects insulin pens. The news, out on Dec. 8, led Biocorp’s stock price to jump 32.69% to $21.52.
Avenda Health Inc. secured FDA 510(k) clearance for its Iquest platform, which uses artificial intelligence to map the location of a tumor within the prostate. The visualization created provides better assessment of the extent of the malignancy and improves selection of treatments. Avenda raised $10 million in August to support development of Iquest, which guides the company’s Focalpoint laser ablation system.
Dexcom Inc. ends 2022 on a high note with broad clearance from the U.S. FDA for its G7 continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM). The long-awaited 510(k) clearance encompasses use in people with all types of diabetes age two and older, positioning Dexcom to take advantage of expanded coverage of CGMs to include individuals on basal insulin-only for Medicare beneficiaries as proposed by CMS in October.
Apoqlar GmbH received a green light from the FDA for its VSI Holomedicine, a mixed reality software enabling surgeons to plan procedures in an immersive 3D experience. The company expects to release the technology for clinical use in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2023.
Shares of Oncopeptides AB dropped 35% Dec. 7 on the U.S. FDA’s request to withdraw marketing authorization of Pepaxto (melflufen), a drug that had gained accelerated approval in early 2021 for use in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The move followed a negative advisory committee vote in September 2022 and is based on the outcome of the confirmatory phase III Ocean study.
Getinge AB reported that intraortic balloon pumps (IABPs) manufactured by its Datascope subsidiary are in short supply following a recall of some of these devices in 2019. Getinge said manufacturing of units and parts is proceeding at the maximum pace allowed by supply chain volatility and recommended that hospitals facing shortages contact other nearby hospitals in the event of a lack of device availability.