Although the U.S. FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted unanimously, 12-0, March 1 that the data GSK plc presented was adequate to support the safety of its respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, several panelists cautioned the FDA against viewing the vote as a recommendation to license the vaccine before more data are available.
First the stick and now the carrots. The pharma industry in the U.K. on March 1 published its proposal for a new pricing scheme, under which it is offering to pay a fixed rebate of 6.88% across all eligible drug sales, an offer it said will deliver more than £1 billion (US$1.2 billion) per annum back to the National Health Service.
The U.S. FDA issued Cytokinetics Inc. a complete response letter (CRL) for omecamtiv mecarbil, branding the clinical evidence behind it as not “persuasive” enough to establish its effectiveness for reducing the risk of heart failure events and cardiovascular death. The company is developing the drug as an add-on therapy for patients with worsening heart failure who remain at high risk for heart failure events and hospitalization.
After a long and bumpy road to approval, Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc. is to roll out the first treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia in the U.S. for patients ages 16 and older after the FDA gave its anti-inflammatory drug, Skyclarys (omaveloxolone), the green light.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Spectrawave, Theranica.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: BMS, Cstone, Dynavax, Eisai, Incyclix, Jaguar, Laevoroc, Ocugen, Transcode, Verrica, Ymmunobio.
In light of the growing interest in the use of psilocybin, MDMA and other psychedelics in psychotherapy, Health Canada issued a notice spelling out how licensed providers can obtain the drugs through the agency’s special access program on a case-by-case basis.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Elekta, Hyperfine, Milestone Scientific.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Abbvie, Amo, Asklepios, Biophytis, Glaukos, Orchard, PDS, Priothera, Replimune, Springworks.