With Tofidence (tocilizumab-bavi), a monoclonal antibody from Biogen Inc., the U.S. FDA has approved the first biosimilar to the Roche Group AG’s Actemra (tocilizumab), a blockbuster with declining numbers. Tofidence was greenlighted Sept. 29 for treating rheumatoid arthritis in adults, and for treating polyarticular and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in those ages 2 and older. It’s also the first biosimilar approved to treat systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
After a long and bumpy path to approval, the U.S. FDA has finally given the green light to Cyclopharm Ltd’s Technegas combination product a day after the Sept. 29 PDUFA date.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Amicus, Biontech, Capricor, Erydel, Geron, Hutchmed, Outlook, Pfizer, Quince, Regeneron, Takeda.
After a nearly year-long delay pegged to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the U.S. FDA has approved Amicus Therapeutics Inc.’s Pompe disease drug, introducing competition for Sanofi SA’s standard-of-care treatment and anticipating blockbuster sales. The combination of Pombiliti (cipaglucosidase alfa-atga) and Opfolda (miglustat) 65-mg capsules was approved for adults with late-onset Pompe disease, who weigh at least 40 kg and who are not improving on their current enzyme replacement therapy.
National support for the biosimilar sector and the domestic industry’s efforts to increase production and sales may not be enough for South Korean biosimilar firms to box out competition in the ever-changing regulatory court of the U.S. “Competition in U.S. negotiations and rebates are fierce,” Choi Sung-ho, chairman of the Korean Society for Bioeconomy, said. “Even if you get listed, it is crucial to be placed in an advantageous class to lower out-of-pocket costs.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) reported the opening of a series of regional offices that focus on both administrative and research assignments, a development that may bolster cures and treatments for tough-to-treat conditions. However, the U.S. House and Senate have different ideas about how much money the agency will receive in 2024, casting a cloud of uncertainty over how many projects the agency will be able to finance in the twelve months that will start on Oct. 1, 2023.
It has been a long time coming, but Fabre-Kramer Pharmaceuticals Inc. finally received U.S. FDA approval for its major depressive disorder candidate, Exxua (gepirone hydrochloride extended-release tablets). The approval comes three months after the June 23 PDUFA date (as a result of amendments filed by the company in April and May), but 24 years after the original NDA was filed in 1999.
Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. said it’s exploring all its options in the wake of a Sept. 27 U.S. FDA advisory committee vote, in which the committee overwhelmingly disagreed with the company that the data it presented supported the effectiveness of Nurown (debamestrocel) for the treatment of mild to moderate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: 4SC, ABM, Ideaya, Ocuphire, Remegen, Shionogi, Ultragenyx, Viatris.