Quality/GMPs

The committee has voted unanimously to approve Spark Therapeutics’ gene therapy candidate, Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec), for treating a genetically inherited blindness.

Amgen is seeking approval for an additional indication in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis for its blockbuster osteoporosis therapeutic, Prolia.

AstraZeneca is seeking approval for its anti-cancer monoclonal antibody, Imfinzi, for treating non-small cell lung cancer in the European Union.

Europe updates the guideline on excipients information in labeling and packaging.

The agency published guidance on developing antiviral drugs to treat respiratory syncytial virus infection.

The guidance gives recommendations for resolving scientific or regulatory issues with FDA regarding ANDA applications.

FDA published guidance on the format and content of REMS documents.

FDA and manufacturers strive to prevent drug shortages from Hurricane Maria.

Both regulatory bodies are working on enhancements to their respective adverse event reporting systems in efforts to increase transparency and safety monitoring of drugs.

Detecting viral contaminants in biologic-based medicines-and identifying their source-requires a holistic testing approach.

Industry and FDA face new fee structures and new challenges in implementing fee initiatives.

Focusing on whether the product meets its defined quality attributes should help one make reasonable, documentable, and defendable risk-based decisions, according to Susan Schniepp, distinguished fellow at Regulatory Compliance Associates.

FDA sent a warning letter to Shandong Vianor Biotech Co., Ltd. that claimed the company failed to follow proper data integrity and quality control procedures.

The draft guidance gives recommendations for reproductive toxicity testing and labeling.

The agency will require training for healthcare providers who prescribe immediate-release opioids.

FDA rejected the company’s biologics license application for its anti-rheumatoid arthritis biologic and has requested additional clinical safety data.

Biopharmaceutical companies developing new competitive biotech therapies have pressed hard for clarity on the testing and data required by FDA to gain market approval of biosimilars that can be filled by a pharmacist without prescriber preapproval.

FDA participated in a global operation to combat the sale and distribution of unapproved and illegal drugs.

The agency sent out 13 warning letters on Sept. 19, 2017 to companies selling drug products online.

Validation and batch testing failures were among the violations found by the FDA at the company’s Jiangsu facility.

Continued industry investment in advanced biologics will raise further regulatory challenges and require innovative manufacturing systems.

The approval marks the first biosimilar approved in the United States for treating cancers.

European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use grants a positive opinion for the approval of the biosimilar for treating breast cancer.

Along with particulate control and determination, speakers at the June conference in Rockville, Maryland, examined the role of protein aggregation and immunogenicity

The agency is looking for industry input on best practices for continuous manufacturing.