Astellas Pharma Inc.’s fezolinetant met all four co-primary endpoints in the pivotal phase III SKYLIGHT 1 study for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause. An oral, nonhormonal compound, fezolinetant targets the neurokinin 3 receptor to reduce the frequency and severity of moderate to severe VMS, or hot flashes, due to menopause.
Noting that the FDA had rejected its previous proposal last year to voluntarily withdraw Makena from the U.S. market, Covis Pharma BV is again offering to voluntarily withdraw the drug, which is the only drug approved to reduce the risk of preterm birth. Along with its offer, the company asked the agency “to allow for an orderly wind-down that would best serve the interests of the patients,” according to a March 6 letter from Covis’ attorney to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and Namandjé Bumpus, the agency’s chief scientist.
A multi-institutional team of researchers has reported the development of an anti-IL-8 antibody against endometriosis using recycling antibody engineering technology. The study confirmed the role of the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in the development of inflammation and fibrosis in endometriosis and showed that administration of IL-8 antibodies in primate models improved endometriosis pathology.
San Diego-based Travere Therapeutics Inc. gained U.S. FDA accelerated approval for its dual endothelin angiotensin receptor antagonist, Filspari (sparsentan), to reduce proteinuria in adults with primary IgA nephropathy, or Berger’s disease.
With the U.S. FDA go-ahead Feb. 2 for GSK plc’s oral daprodustat for anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the picture brightened for would-be competitors in the hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PHI) inhibitor space, including high-profile Akebia Therapeutics Inc., which has appealed last spring’s the complete response letter from gatekeepers with regard to vadadustat.
Adhering to the recommendation of a mixed advisory committee vote, the U.S. FDA cleared use of GSK plc’s daprodustat as the first oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PHI) inhibitor for treating anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are on dialysis. For CKD patients not on dialysis, the agency determined the drug’s safety has not been established.
Vera Therapeutics Inc.’s latest results from the phase IIb Origin trial with atacicept in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) provided cause for optimism with regard to the phase III experiment targeted for the first half of this year – which should yield 36-week data in the first half of 2025 – and the company is budgeting to make the later-stage effort happen.
Coming off a tough year for raising money, Cadrenal Therapeutics Inc. is leading the charge into a new year by completing 2023’s first U.S. IPO. The company closed its IPO of 1.4 million shares at $5 each for $7 million. The stock (NASDAQ:CVKD) began trading Jan. 20 and closed 9.37% downward on Jan. 25 at $2.90 per share.
After Vera Therapeutics Inc.’s disappointing 24-week data from the Origin phase IIb study with atacicept in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), Wall Street is looking forward to more results at 36 weeks, due later this year.
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