BioPharm International, December 2019 Issue (PDF)

The FDA grants accelerated approval to dostarlimab for rectal cancer, Lilly reports one-year remission data for pediatric ulcerative colitis, and Johnson & Johnson shares longer-term fistula remission results for Tremfya.

Accelerated approval for dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli) pairs a single-arm phase 2 dataset with an FDA-authorized biomarker test and confirmatory requirements.

BMS's Dr Nathan Pennell outlines how biomarker testing barriers and trial diversity affect patient access to targeted oncology drugs.

In the phase 3 SHINE-2 trial, half of pediatric patients who responded to mirikizumab induction were in clinical remission at week 52. Lilly plans to file for a pediatric UC label expansion.

Guselkumab (Tremfya) sustained perianal fistula healing through 1 year in Crohn disease, with remission climbing to 35% in one FUZION dosing arm.

Roche will take ex-China development of Hansoh’s two preclinical ADCs and multiple programs against Roche-proposed targets once Hansoh completes global phase 1a trials. The deal includes $400 million upfront and more than $15 billion in potential milestones.

Cemiplimab's proposed EU regimen could cut Libtayo infusion visits from every 3 weeks to every 6 weeks, trimming infusion time by up to half.

Opus Genetics reports sustained vision gains with gene therapy, the FDA approves Roche’s Enspryng for at-home treatment of thyroid eye disease, and Estuary Biotherapeutics launches with $103 million to develop gene therapies for polycystic kidney disease.