A complete response letter (CRL) from the U.S. FDA for GC-4419 (avasopasem) is causing Galera Therapeutics Inc. to dramatically change course to survive, with the company laying off about 70% of its workforce. That layoff, which will reach across several company departments, is designed to extend the cash runway into the second quarter of 2024. The adjustment comes after Galera expanded its commercial leadership in May to prep for a potential launch of avasopasem before the end of 2023.
Regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Ltd.’s stock sank nearly 57% on the news that it received a second U.S. FDA complete response letter (CRL) following the resubmission of its BLA for allogeneic stem cell treatment remestemcel-L in children with steroid-refractory acute graft-vs.-host disease. In the CRL, issued a few days after the Aug. 2 PDUFA date, the agency said it requires more data to support approval.
Despite the U.S. FDA’s approval of Sage Therapeutics Inc.’s priority NDA for postpartum depression, the accompanying complete response letter (CRL) for major depressive disorder has undercut the company’s plans. Withholding the approval for MDD slices away a huge amount of the potential market for Sage and its collaborator, Biogen Inc.
Regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Ltd.’s stock sank nearly 57% on the news that it received a second U.S. FDA complete response letter (CRL) following the resubmission of its BLA for allogeneic stem cell treatment remestemcel-L in children with steroid-refractory acute graft-vs.-host disease. In the CRL, issued a few days after the Aug. 2 PDUFA date, the agency said it requires more data to support approval.
Citius Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s retooled version of withdrawn cancer drug Ontak (denileukin diftitox) is not quite ready for prime time, according to the U.S. FDA, which issued a complete response letter (CRL) for the interleukin-2-diphtheria toxin fusion protein known as Lymphir. The agency is asking for Citius to incorporate enhanced product testing and additional controls but did not raise any concerns regarding safety and efficacy, the company said.
Fourth time’s a charm for Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. as the U.S. FDA has approved Ycanth (cantharidin) to treat molluscum contagiosum in those ages 2 and older. Three complete response letters (CRL) have stood in the treatment’s way for the past three years, blocking approval of the U.S.’s first approved treatment.
One of the companies wanting to be part of the upcoming U.S. launch of Humira biosimilars is instead exploring options to raise additional capital so it can continue advancing its biosimilar pipeline in the near term. Alvotech Holdings SA, a pure-play biosimilars company based in Iceland, initially had hoped for FDA approval June 28 for AVT-02, developed as both an interchangeable and biosimilar to the high-concentration formulation (HCF) of Abbvie Inc.’s blockbuster autoimmune drug, Humira (adalimumab).
In its newly issued complete response letter (CRL) to Aldeyra Therapeutics Inc., the U.S. FDA said there’s just not enough evidence of efficacy right now to approve ADX-2191, an injectable vitreous-compatible formulation of methotrexate to treat primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL).
What could be the first newly approved antifungal in nearly 20 years based on a novel mechanism hit a bump as F2G Ltd. has received a complete response letter from the U.S. FDA.
The U.S. FDA issued a complete response letter regarding the BLA for Immunitybio Inc.’s bladder cancer treatment, N-803 (Anktiva), halting the drug’s development and slicing the stock value in half. The problems stem from the FDA’s pre-license inspection of Immunitybio’s third-party contract manufacturing organizations, the company said. It said the FDA also had recommendations for specific chemistry, manufacturing and controls issues and assays that needed to be resolved before the BLA can be approved.
