The priority BLA from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Tokyo, and its U.S. subsidiary, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc., for sibeprenlimab to treat immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) has received accelerated approved by the U.S. FDA.
China’s National Medical Products Administration gave the nod to Innovent Biologics Inc.’s picankibart (IBI-112), branded as Pecondle, for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy.
Both the FDA and the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices are on the threshold of revising how vaccines are approved and used in the U.S., but whether that opens to a precipice or a new era of stronger evidence and safer use is in the telling of the beholder.
Proving its latest addition to the Farapulse pulsed field ablation (PFA) platform is no turkey, Boston Scientific Corp.'s Farapoint PFA catheter received CE mark as the U.S. celebrated Thanksgiving. Farapoint is indicated for ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus, specifically to treat right atrial flutter.
Ideaya Biosciences Inc. has received IND clearance from the FDA for the initiation of a phase I trial to evaluate IDE-034, a bispecific B7H3/PTK7 TOP1 antibody-drug conjugate.
Kedrion SpA’s investigational plasma-derived treatment for congenital aceruloplasminemia has been awarded European orphan drug designation by the EMA. The company is working to advance this treatment toward clinical development in Europe.
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has gained clinical trial clearance from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for JMT-206 for weight management in individuals with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related comorbidity.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out negotiated costs of the second batch of drugs subject to such bargaining under the Inflation Reduction Act. Wall Street was not surprised to learn that the numbers amount to much greater cuts than the Biden administration managed for 2026. CMS said the adjusted maximum fair prices would have achieved 44% lower net spending had they been implemented in 2024 – 36% if forgiven discounts from the part D redesign of the Medicare prescription drug benefit are figured in. Fifteen drugs are listed.
The Office of Inspector General issued a report stating that the Medicare program could save “tens of millions of dollars” in a single year on continuous glucose monitors and associated supplies if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services acted to apply price pressure on suppliers.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will cover certain cardiac electrophysiology procedures in ambulatory surgical centers in 2026. This change which drew the support of both the Heart Rhythm Society and the American College of Cardiology, which could increase device utilization.
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