Reauthorization of the rare pediatric disease priority review voucher (PRV) was included in the spending package signed into law Feb. 3 by U.S. President Donald Trump, removing at least one aspect of uncertainty facing rare disease companies, many of which have relied on the PRV’s transferrable option as a lucrative source of funding.
Amgen Inc.’s head of R&D James Bradner said his firm was “surprised” by the request from the U.S. FDA Jan. 16 to take Tavneos (avacopan) off the market – and the company said no. “We're in discussions with FDA, and we'll answer questions as we talk with them,” he added.
In a one-two-punch to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the U.S. FTC announced Feb. 4 what it’s calling a “landmark settlement” with the Cigna Group’s Express Scripts Inc. and its affiliates that will require fundamental changes to the company’s business practices.
The U.S. FDA released the latest version of its premarket cybersecurity guidance regarding medical devices, replacing the 2025 edition and offering recommendations on implementing measures for preventing digital attacks or authorized access.
At a recent Cabinet meeting, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy reportedly said he expected Trumprx to probably go live within 10 days. That was Jan. 29, two days before HHS was once again forced to shut down many of its activities due to a congressional gridlock over a fiscal 2026 appropriations package to keep the department and several others open beyond Jan. 30.
The U.S. FDA is now accepting requests from biopharma companies to participate in its new Precheck pilot program, which is intended to make it faster and easier for companies to relocate their prescription drug manufacturing to the U.S.
Sciwind Biosciences Co. Ltd. said Jan. 30 it won Chinese approval for self-developed glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, ecnoglutide (Xianyida), to treat adults with type 2 diabetes.
It’s not often that disclosure of a complete response letter (CRL) causes a company’s share price to rise, but that was case for Aquestive Therapeutics Inc., which saw its stock (NASDAQ:AQST) rise 39% to close Feb. 2 at $4.10 on news the U.S. FDA has declined – for now – to approve the NDA for Anaphylm (dibutepinephrine), delaying the commercial entry of what could be the first oral alternative to Epipen.
Elevar Therapeutics Inc. appointed Kim Dong-gun (DG) as CEO Jan. 29, as the company focuses on post-NDA strategies for lirafugratinib in bile duct cancer, and the twice-rejected rivoceranib-camrelizumab combination for liver cancer.