BioPharm International, October 2019 Issue (PDF)

Emily Heffernan of Arcadis explains how facility scale, equipment, containment, and quality testing differ across ex vivo cell therapy, viral vector, and mRNA-LNP manufacturing.

FDA expands Anktiva’s bladder cancer indication, Alvotech and Advanz submit a proposed Eylea 8 mg biosimilar in Europe, and Lilly reports new remission data for Omvoh in inflammatory bowel disease.

AVT29, a proposed aflibercept biosimilar to Eylea 8 mg, could extend retinal disease treatment intervals to 16 weeks, versus 8 weeks today.

The FDA expanded ImmunityBio’s Anktiva plus BCG to include patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with papillary-only tumors, extrapolating efficacy from the QUILT-3.032 carcinoma in situ cohort.

The FDA expanded Fast Track status for invikafusp alfa, Marengo Therapeutics’ TCR Vβ-targeting antibody-IL-2 fusion protein, from TMB-H colorectal cancer to TMB-H solid tumors regardless of tissue of origin.

Nathan Edwards of Arya Consulting moderates a discussion with Elisabeth Gardiner of Tevard Biosciences and Donny Xu of the RTW Institute about rare disease treatment development and navigating the FDA’s Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program.

Mirikizumab (Omvoh) achieved comprehensive disease control in 27.7% of UC patients and deep remission in 20.4% with Crohn disease at 1 year.

The FDA launches a new rare disease development initiative, BioNTech’s BNT113 misses a progression-free survival endpoint, and Viking Therapeutics begins Phase III trials of its oral obesity candidate.