As many had predicted following news of a clinical hold on the gene therapy last month, Regenxbio Inc. disclosed receipt of a complete response letter (CRL) regarding its BLA for RGX-121 (clemidsogene lanparvovec) in mucopolysaccharidosis II, an ultrarare neurodegenerative disease in dire need of new therapies.
True to its word, Novo Nordisk A/S filed a patent infringement lawsuit in U.S. district court against Hims & Hers Health Inc. over compounded versions of Novo’s semaglutide products.
A jury in a U.S. District Court unanimously found that Medtronic plc violated federal and state antitrust laws relating to its blood sealing surgical devices and must pay $382 million in damages to Applied Medical Resources Corp.
Trumprx.gov launched with much fanfare late Feb. 5, and the online tool brings promise for the “world’s lowest prices” on prescription drugs. Alongside the website hoopla came word from Hims & Hers Health of its own steep discounts on what’s to be the compounded version of a Trumprx-featured therapy: oral Wegovy (semaglutide) for obesity. Novo Nordisk A/S, Wegovy’s originator, vowed to fight.
The U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended the use of Abbott Laboratories’ Cardiomems HF system, giving people living with heart failure an option to monitor their condition daily from home. The implantable wireless sensor could transform care for individuals with the chronic condition as it will enable them to catch early warning signs before they escalate to medical emergencies.
In keeping with the congressional practice of passing major NIH reform legislation every 10 years, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee took the first step in looking at what can be for the NIH while unburdening it from what has been over the past few years.
Looking to fill a treatment gap, the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is launching the first stage of a $100 million prize competition to support development of broad-spectrum, small-molecule antiviral therapies targeting viruses in the Togaviridae and Flaviviridae families.
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.