As stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, we all have a responsibility to ensure life-saving treatments promptly and safely reach patients regardless of where they live. To this end, by integrating early access programs and other less conventional strategies into a company’s business model for drug distribution, patients who are suffering from life-threatening conditions can gain access to needed treatments in regions where there is a lack of drug accessibility, while at the same time offering benefits to pharmaceutical companies. 2 October 2024
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now approved TG Therapeutics’ Briumvi (ublituximab-xiiy), for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. 31 December 2022
Faith in the transparency of the US regulatory process has been shaken, following an accusatory report from influential congressional committees into the approval of Aduhelm (aducanumab). 30 December 2022
A growing number of key starting materials (KSMs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) coming into India have become 25% to 35% more expensive as reports of Covid infections spiral out of control in China, squeezing margins and increasing drug prices. The Indian government's production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical KSMs, drug intermediates (DIs) and APIs is soon set to come to the aid of many domestic players, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent. 29 December 2022
Russia plans to localize production of a number of vaccines for the treatment of certain serious diseases in the next several years, according to recent statements by some senior officials of the Russian Ministry of Health and local media. 28 December 2022
AstraZeneca’s Calquence (acalabrutinib) has secured a new approval in Japan, for the treatment of adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in the first-line setting. 28 December 2022
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Olpruva (sodium phenylbutyrate; ACER-001) for oral suspension for the treatment of certain patients living with urea cycle disorders (UCDs). 28 December 2022
South Korea’s Celltrion Healthcare has submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) under the 351 (a) pathway of the Public Health Service Act for its lead product candidate, CT-P13 SC (also known as Remsima), which is the subcutaneous formulation of infliximab, to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 28 December 2022
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved anti-cancer agent/humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Gazyva (obinutuzumab [genetical recombination]) intravenous infusion for an additional indication of CD20-positive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (including small lymphocytic lymphoma). 27 December 2022
Following marketing authorization by the European Commission in August for the same indication, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Sunlenca (lenacapavir), a new type of antiretroviral medication for adult patients living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), whose HIV infections cannot be successfully treated with other available treatments due to resistance, intolerance, or safety considerations. 23 December 2022
Ahead of the expected December 29 action date, and adding to European approval in June, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday granted marketing authorization for Swiss pharma giant Roche subsidiary Genentech’s Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab-axgb). 23 December 2022
A draft report on amyloid beta-targeting antibodies in Alzheimer’s disease, prepared by the Boston, Massachusetts-based pricing watchdog the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), recommends a price range below the current or anticipated cost. 23 December 2022
Following a previous rejection by the agency, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now accepted for review the Biologics License Application (BLA) resubmission for bimekizumab, filed by Belgium’s largest drugmaker UCB, for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. 23 December 2022
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which was developed by Kite pharma, now a subsidiary of US biotech Gilead Sciences. 23 December 2022
US health technology assessor the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) today released a Final Evidence Report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of two gene therapies intended for the treatment of hemophilia A and B. 22 December 2022
Indian generics major Zydus Lifesciences, formerly known as Cadila Healthcare, subsidiary Zydus Worldwide has received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Selexipag Tablets, 200mcg, 400mcg, 600mcg, 800mcg, 1,000mcg, 1,200mcg, 1,400mcg, and 1,600mcg. 22 December 2022
Roche company Genentech has won US approval for its intravenous Actemra (tocilizumab) product, for adults that have been hospitalized with COVID-19. 22 December 2022
US mRNA biotech Moderna, flush with cash due to the success of its COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax, today announced finalizing a strategic partnership with the UK government to establish a state-of-the-art mRNA research, development, and manufacturing facility in the UK. This milestone follows the agreement in principle between Moderna and the UK government, announced in June 2022. 22 December 2022
The European Commission has published a study examining the public procurement practices and their impact on medicines supply and availability. The study confirms that awarding multiple winners and using additional criteria other than price (most economically advantageous tender – MEAT criteria) would be more sustainable procurement. 22 December 2022
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorized Sanofi’s SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (B.1.351 strain) vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in adults in Great Britain. 21 December 2022
Important regulatory news last week included French pharma major Sanofi gaining approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Chinese medicines authority for its blockbuster drug Dupixent as the first biologic for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Spanish epigenetics firm Oryzon Genomics announced that, with FDA feedback, it is preparing for a Phase III trial of its CNS drug candidate vafidemstat. Also, the FDA authorized Bristol Myers Squibb’s blockbuster drug Opdivo in a new lung cancer indication for patients with specific mutations such as EGFR or ALK. On the deal-making front, US biotech Arcus Biosciences has entered a collaboration with AstraZeneca to evaluate its casdatifan with the UK pharma major’s volrustomig in renal cell cancer. 6 October 2024
The European Medicines Agency’s pharmacovigilance committee, PRAC, has started a review of medicines containing finasteride and dutasteride following concerns regarding suicidal ideation (suicidal thoughts) and behaviors. 4 October 2024
Proposals from the National Health Service (NHS) England have been set out for a phased launch of Eli Lilly’s obesity injection Mounjaro/Zepbound (tirzepatide) at the start of a consultation. 4 October 2024
Bristol Myers Squibb has received a new approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for its blockbuster checkpoint blocker, Opdivo (nivolumab). 4 October 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the partial clinical hold on delpacibart etedesiran (del-desiran/AOC 1001), an investigational treatment designed to address the root cause of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), under development by US biotech Avidity Biosciences . 4 October 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the Gilead Sciences subsidiary Kite a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designation (RMAT) for Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) for adults with newly-diagnosed, high-risk large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). 3 October 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the shortage of tirzepatide injection, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) medication, has been resolved. 3 October 2024
AstraZeneca’s supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Calquence (acalabrutinib) has been accepted and granted Priority Review in the USA for the treatment of adults with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). 3 October 2024
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released final guidance for the second cycle of Medicare drug price negotiations. 3 October 2024
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European medicines regulatory network are working to speed up the approval of new medicines. 3 October 2024
Spanish epigenetics firm Oryzon Genomics has announced the receipt of the official meeting minutes from a recent End-of-Phase II meeting for vafidemstat in borderline personality disorder (BPD) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2 October 2024
As stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, we all have a responsibility to ensure life-saving treatments promptly and safely reach patients regardless of where they live. To this end, by integrating early access programs and other less conventional strategies into a company’s business model for drug distribution, patients who are suffering from life-threatening conditions can gain access to needed treatments in regions where there is a lack of drug accessibility, while at the same time offering benefits to pharmaceutical companies. 2 October 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday released its fiscal year 2023 (FY23) Generic Drug User Fee Amendments (GDUFA) Science and Research Outcomes Report. 2 October 2024
CSL Behring has been granted a positive recommendation by the Spanish Interministerial Commission on the Pricing of Medicines (CIPM), resulting in national reimbursement for Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec) for eligible haemophilia B patients in Spain. 1 October 2024
Following a positive a positive European Medicines Agency recommendation in July, the European Commission (EC) has now approved Yuvanci (macitentan 10mg and tadalafil 40mg single tablet combination therapy [M/T STCT]). 1 October 2024
Johnson & Johnson has halted its plan to implement a 340B rebate model after pressure from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). 1 October 2024
The Russian government has finalized the rules for granting preference to domestic drugs in public procurements, which will come into force in 2025. 1 October 2024
The Danish government is to remove the rules that currently prohibit the purchase of medicines from countries outside the European Union (EU) in a move that has not been welcomed by pharma. 30 September 2024
India is set to complete 50 new greenfield pharma manufacturing plants in the next two years under its Production-linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for pharma and medical devices. 30 September 2024
A pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical group developing new medicines and treatments to treat blood and autoimmune disease and to bring the curative power of bone marrow transplantation to a greater number of patients suffering from otherwise incurable life-threatening diseases.
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