The U.S. FDA’s May 23 advisory hearing for the Shield test for colorectal cancer by Guardant Health Inc., included the expected debate over whether patients would abandon colonoscopy thanks to the advent of a new blood-based test. While much of that debate was fed by what some saw as the test’s poor performance regarding adenoma, the advisory committee voted 6-3 that the benefits outweigh the risks in a decision the FDA is likely to affirm.
Abdera Therapeutics Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application for ABD-147, the first δ-like ligand 3 (DLL3)-targeting radiopharmaceutical for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.
Once-daily insulin treatment is getting a challenge from Novo Nordisk A/S’s once-weekly option. The U.S. FDA’s Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee meets Friday, May 23, to review the BLA for once-weekly Awiqli (insulin icodec), a human insulin analogue from Novo for adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
A woman who allegedly made nearly $300,000 last year on insider trading based on undisclosed information about a pending biopharma acquisition will have to disgorge her profits, along with interest, to the U.S. Treasury, but she will face no other penalties.
The U.K. Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency is considering a policy of mutual recognition of medical devices that have won marketing authorization in four other jurisdictions, including the U.S. and the EU. While there are significant exclusions – such as for some articles that qualify as software as a medical device – this policy would be in force at some point in 2025, easing the path forward for products in a market that is home to nearly 67 million potential patients.
In lieu of pending guidance, the U.S. FDA’s approval May 20 of Biocon Biologics Ltd.’s Yesafili and Samsung Bioepis Co. Ltd.’s Opuviz as interchangeable biosimilars to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Eylea (aflibercept) provides further insight into how the agency is approaching the market exclusivity the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act awards to the first approved interchangeable for any given biologic.
Abbott Laboratories announced a class I recall of the Heartmate 3 left ventricular assist system (LVAS) that affects nearly 890 units distributed over the past three years, a move triggered by reports of blood leakage or air entry into the device during implant procedures.
The European Council (EC) voted to approve the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), a sweeping horizontal legislative product that affects all sectors of the European Union’s (EU) economy. Regulatory attorney Erik Vollebregt told BioWorld that the horizontal nature of the AI Act is still likely to exacerbate some of the problems already seen with the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in a way that he said will make the EU market less attractive than is already the case.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has no rulemaking authority over the 340B prescription drug discount program, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said May 21 as it handed the government its second big loss in the ongoing debate over whether drug manufacturers have to give unlimited contract pharmacies the steep discounts the program provides to certain health care providers.
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) once again called out the usual cast of characters in this year’s Special 301 Report for not playing by the rules when it comes to protecting intellectual property. And once again, industry asked the USTR to go further by placing new players on the list.
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