China’s National Medical Products Administration has approved Innovent Biologics Inc.’s proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, Sintbilo (tafolecimab), making it the first first locally developed PCSK9 monoclonal antibody to be approved in China. The approval is for treatment of adult patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (including heterozygous familial and non-familial hypercholesterolemia) and mixed dyslipidemia (abnormal lipid levels). Tafolecimab marks Innovent's first cardiovascular drug as well as the company’s 10th approval.
There are plenty of companies chasing the first U.S. FDA-approved treatment for the ultra-rare disease fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), but Ipsen SA stayed the course longer and won that approval Aug. 16 with Sohonos (palovarotene). Other companies have struggled to develop a treatment for FOP, which affects about 400 people in the U.S. and about 900 people worldwide. Some potential competitors are still in the clinic, trying to catch up.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Bluewind Medical, Nemaura Medical, Icad.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) might not be the talk of the town in the world of cardiology medical devices, but the condition has a devastating effect on a large number of lives, particularly in the case of early disease onset. San Francisco-based Viz.ai Inc. has won a de novo from the U.S. FDA for its algorithm for identification of patients at risk of HCM, the aptly named Viz HCM, a product the company believes will not only save lives but may save the U.S. health care system a large amount of money as well.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Artiva, Biophytis, Bluebird, Servier, Sonnet, US Worldmeds.
Oncusp Therapeutics Inc. has received IND clearance from the FDA to begin clinical trials with CUSP-06, a cadherin-6 (CDH6)-targeting antibody-drug conjugate designed for the treatment of multiple solid tumors. CDH6 is overexpressed in cancers including ovarian, renal, uterine, thyroid, lung, and cholangiocarcinoma. A phase I trial will pave the way for expansion in patients with platinum-refractory/resistant ovarian cancer and other advanced solid tumors.
Artiva Biotherapeutics Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application for Allonk (AB-101), to be used in combination with rituximab for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients with active lupus nephritis.
The U.S. FDA has given its first approval for treating fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), an ultra-rare disease that creates bone formation outside the skeleton that can lead to immobility, life-threatening respiratory problems and a total locking of the jaw.
Delcath Systems Inc. reported that the FDA approved its Hepzato Kit for the treatment of adults with unresectable hepatic-dominant metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM). The FDA nod also triggered a second tranche of financing of approximately $35 million from a private placement in March.