The first new U.S. FDA-approved therapeutic option for PTSD in more than 20 years will have to wait. A supplemental NDA seeking approval of Rexulti (brexpiprazole) combined with sertraline, filed by one of Japan’s biggest pharmas, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., received a complete response letter (CRL) from the agency.
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced Sept. 12 plans to significantly raise drug application fees for biosimilars but slash their review times starting next year.
Several South Korean biotech and biopharmaceutical companies completed IND submissions or won nods to start clinical trials in either the U.S. or South Korea, including SK Bioscience Co. Ltd., Genosco Inc., Pimedbio Inc., Sillajen Inc. and Ami Pharm Co. Ltd.
Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. received an FDA complete response letter (CRL) a day after the Aug. 27 PDUFA date for its BLA for radiopharmaceutical renal cancer imaging agent, Zircaix (TLX250-CDx, 89Zr-DFO-girentuximab).
The Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association said Aug. 26 that it signed a strategic agreement with Korea Trade Insurance Corp. to support South Korean companies exporting biopharmaceutical materials overseas.
Bio-Thera Solutions Inc. announced Aug. 26 that the European Commission cleared Usymro (BAT-2206) as a biosimilar to Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Stelara (ustekinumab). The EMA issued marketing authorization for Usymro on Aug. 14, following the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopting a positive opinion on June 19.
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved Moderna Inc.’s Spikevax LP.8.1 vaccine as an updated shot for COVID-19 targeting the LP.8.1 variant, according to Moderna Korea’s announcement Sept. 1. The regulatory clearance comes days after the U.S. FDA accepted, on Aug. 27, Moderna’s supplemental BLAs for two of its COVID-19 vaccines, Spikevax and Mnexspike.
The U.S. FDA approved 17 drugs in July, down from 23 in June, bringing the year-to-date total to 125. Through July, 2025 remains the third-highest count in BioWorld’s records, trailing 135 approvals in 2024 and 126 in 2020.
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) launched a new industry-academia-research consortium to support the nation’s organoid industry, expected to grow in light of the U.S. FDA’s shift away from animal testing in the development of novel drugs.
CSL Ltd.’s stock tumbled 16.88% on the news that it plans to cut 3,000 jobs and to hive off its Seqirus vaccine unit in a cost-cutting measure to save more than $500 million per year over the next three years.