Regulatory Authority Actions

Delays in sponsors providing postapproval evidence of effectiveness for therapies benefitting from streamlined FDA regulatory pathways are generating pressure for further review and reform of the agency’s accelerated approval process.

The agency discusses its response to COVID-19 and other milestones in its year-end review.

The agency’s COVID-19 task force says latest data shows use of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines during pregnancy is safe.

The UK’s National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has recommended the use of Janssen’s Darzalex (daratumumab) in combination with Velcade (bortezomib), thalidomide and dexamethasone (DVTd) to treat adults with multiple myeloma.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services took action to limit prescribing and use of Biogen’s new and controversial Alzheimer’s treatment Aduhelm (aducanumab).

FDA granted Oncoloze’s OM-301 an orphan drug designation for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

FDA amended it’s Emergency Use Authorization to shorten Moderna’s vaccine booster dose interval from six to five months.

FDA has cleared an IND from Poseida Therapeutics, allowing continued development of the company’s allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy candidate for treating multiple solid tumors.

FDA maintained a steady pace in 2021 in approving important new therapies for market, including new vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.

The agency is expanding the use of a single booster of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to children ages 12–15 and is shortening the time between primary vaccination and booster to at least five months.

FDA authorized emergency use of Pfizer’s oral antiviral drug to make the drug available as quickly as possible.

Warp speed is amazoning pharma practices and protocols.

As regulators balance pandemic tasks and rethink procedures, quality at manufacturing facilities is still a priority.

To maintain smooth operations, FDA is relying on swift reauthorization of industry-paid user fee programs.

Tezpire (tezepelumab-ckko) has been approved as an add-on maintenance treatment for severe asthma.

The agency recommended granting conditional marketing authorization for use of Nuvaxovid in people 18 years of age and older.

FDA approved American Regent’s Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose injection) for the treatment of pediatric patients with iron deficiency anemia.

General agreement that FDA needs a confirmed commissioner may speed Califf’s appointment.

The European Medicines Agency has accepted Sanofi’s marketing authorization application for olipudase alfa, a potential new therapy for acid sphingomyelinase deficiency, a rare disease.

GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology have received a conditional marketing authorization from MHRA for Xevudy (sotrovimab) in the treatment of COVID-19.

Roche’s Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab) is now approved in the EU for the treatment of adults with severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Longeveron’s Lomacel-B received an Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

President Joe Biden highlighted how current proposals for curbing outlays on pharmaceuticals will help protect patients’ health and save the government billions.

Following mixed results from clinical trials, a panel of outside experts voted 13-10 to recommend Merck’s pill for Emergency Use Authorization.

Subtitle FDA approved rituximab in combination with chemotherapy for pediatric patients with previously untreated, advanced stage, CD20-positive DLBCL/BL/BLL/B-AL.

EMA has fully validated the marketing authorization application for Atara Biotherapeutics’ off-the-shelf allogeneic T-cell therapy, tab-cel (tabelecleucel), with an approval decision expected in 2022.

The need for medicines to combat COVID-19 has impacted the way regulatory agencies carry out their operations.

Biogen received MHRA marketing authorization for VUMERITY (diroximel fumarate) for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

FDA has amended its EUA for Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 booster to include all individuals aged 18 or older.

Leading legislators have launched the campaign to enact a second version of the 21st Century Cures Act.