Regulatory Authority Actions

FDA has approved an additional indication for LEQEMBI (lecanemab-irmb) as a once-every-four-weeks maintenance therapy for early Alzheimer’s disease.

Imfinzi received an expanded indication for lung cancer from FDA in August 2024, and Tagrisso had been approved to treat lung cancer in China in June 2024.

The agency’s newly issued letter to Sanofi amends one sent in December 2024, and stems from inspections at its Massachusetts drug manufacturing facility in June and July 2024.

This latest fast track designation marks the second such designation by FDA for J&J’s tau-directed investigational therapies for treating Alzheimer’s disease.

The final guidance is a revision of a policy that has existed in some form since at least 2009, while a separate, draft guidance will accept public comment for consideration for its final version through April 8.

The approval makes HYQVIA [Immune Globulin Infusion 10% (human) with Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase] the first and only facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin to be approved in Japan to treat these disorders.

FDA is reopening the comment period for the Federal Register Notice, “Evaluating the Immunogenicity Risk of Host Cell Proteins in Follow-on Recombinant Peptide Products: Establishment of a Public Docket: Request for Information and Comments”, until March 3, 2025.

The approval of Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ liraglutide injection marks the first generic version of Victoza, a GLP-1 receptor agonist.

The agency will review the company’s supplemental new drug application for vutrisiran, a treatment for ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy.

With FDA's clearance, Kedrion can manufacture Ryplazim (plasminogen, human-tvmh), the first and only FDA-approved therapy for treating PLGD-1, at its Bolognana, Italy, site.

The approval of eladocagene exuparvovec-tneq (Kebilidi) marks the first FDA approval for a gene therapy to treat AADC deficiency.

Eisai Europe and Biogen have received a positive opinion for the monoclonal antibody therapy to be used as a treatment of adult patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.

As many as 30% of people living with severe hemophilia A develop inhibitors such as TFPI, which can be produced by the body’s immune response to clotting factors in replacement therapy, often limiting the effectiveness of that therapy.

The agency’s CHMP recommended drugs to treatments for hemophilia, two biosimilars for psoriasis, and two flu vaccines at their October meeting.

The draft joint network strategy for the EU until 2028 will be open for public consultation until Nov. 30, 2024.

FDA’s latest approval of Imfinzi (durvalumab) in combination with chemotherapy for treating resectable non-small cell lung cancer before and after surgery is based on Phase III trial results showing that the regimen reduced the risk of recurrence, progression, or death by 32%.

PiaSky (crovalimab) has previously been approved in countries such as the United States and Japan for monthly, subcutaneous use that may be self-administered with adequate training.

Opaganib was given orphan drug designation for the treatment of neuroblastoma in children, which is rare, but the most common infancy malignancy.

In a 24-week study of patients with PAH, six-minute walking distance improved by an average of 40.8 meters, and risk of death or clinical worsening was reduced by 82%.

The combination of Opdivo plus Yervoy is already established as a second-line treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

The International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities’ new Collaborative Hybrid Inspection Pilot program allows a CDMO to gain approval from multiple countries simultaneously, as opposed to separately phased inspections from different corners of the globe.

Fasenra, which has been approved since 2019 in the United States in a pre-filled, single-use auto-injector form that can be administered either in a doctor’s office or at home, is now approved in China for age 12 and up.

Approximately 15% of all lung cancers diagnosed in the US are of the small-cell variety, and of those, 70% are considered extensive-stage.

Breyanzi demonstrated an overall high response rate in adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma in a Phase II study.

NexoBrid, a topically administered biological product, is now authorized for use in all age groups in the United States, European Union, and Japan.