Regulatory Authority Actions

More than 6000 rare diseases—those which affect fewer than one in 2000 people each—are acknowledged in the medical community, with 72% of them being genetic.

Avtozma references Roche’s tocilizumab offering and has also shown promise as a treatment for CAR-T cell-induced cytokine release syndrome as well as COVID-19.

The European Commission has approved Biocon Biologics’ YESINTEK, a biosimilar referencing Janssen Biotech’s Stelara (ustekinumab).

Vimkunya was granted approval under priority review based on positive results from two Phase III trials.

Ospomyv, or Obodence in the EU, and Xbryk were approved for all indications referencing Prolia and Xgeva, respectively.

This expanded label allows IZERVAY (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) to be used without a limitation on duration of dosing for treating geographic atrophy.

The vaccine combines the antigenic components of two previously well-established meningococcal vaccines made by GSK.

The approval of an ADCETRIS combination regimen is based on positive data from a Phase III trial where the combination regimen demonstrated a clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of death.

The approval makes Susvimo the first and only continuous delivery treatment for diabetic macular edema.

The committee’s recommendation was based on results from a Phase III trial that demonstrated a 27% reduction in the risk of death versus placebo.

Intravenous administration of amivantamab is the currently approved route, but a Phase III trial showed that subcutaneous treatment was non-inferior.

The UK MHRA has granted approval for garadacimab for use in preventing angioedema attacks in patients 12 years old and older who have hereditary angioedema.

Drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk said the approval establishes Ozempic as the most broadly indicated GLP-1 RA in its class.

The approval makes Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) the first HER2-directed therapy in the United States for treating HER2-low or HER2-ultralow metastatic breast cancer.

FDA has approved an additional indication for LEQEMBI (lecanemab-irmb) as a once-every-four-weeks maintenance therapy for early Alzheimer’s disease.

Imfinzi received an expanded indication for lung cancer from FDA in August 2024, and Tagrisso had been approved to treat lung cancer in China in June 2024.

The agency’s newly issued letter to Sanofi amends one sent in December 2024, and stems from inspections at its Massachusetts drug manufacturing facility in June and July 2024.

This latest fast track designation marks the second such designation by FDA for J&J’s tau-directed investigational therapies for treating Alzheimer’s disease.

The final guidance is a revision of a policy that has existed in some form since at least 2009, while a separate, draft guidance will accept public comment for consideration for its final version through April 8.

The approval makes HYQVIA [Immune Globulin Infusion 10% (human) with Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase] the first and only facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin to be approved in Japan to treat these disorders.

FDA is reopening the comment period for the Federal Register Notice, “Evaluating the Immunogenicity Risk of Host Cell Proteins in Follow-on Recombinant Peptide Products: Establishment of a Public Docket: Request for Information and Comments”, until March 3, 2025.

The approval of Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ liraglutide injection marks the first generic version of Victoza, a GLP-1 receptor agonist.

The agency will review the company’s supplemental new drug application for vutrisiran, a treatment for ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy.

With FDA's clearance, Kedrion can manufacture Ryplazim (plasminogen, human-tvmh), the first and only FDA-approved therapy for treating PLGD-1, at its Bolognana, Italy, site.

The approval of eladocagene exuparvovec-tneq (Kebilidi) marks the first FDA approval for a gene therapy to treat AADC deficiency.

Eisai Europe and Biogen have received a positive opinion for the monoclonal antibody therapy to be used as a treatment of adult patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.

As many as 30% of people living with severe hemophilia A develop inhibitors such as TFPI, which can be produced by the body’s immune response to clotting factors in replacement therapy, often limiting the effectiveness of that therapy.

The agency’s CHMP recommended drugs to treatments for hemophilia, two biosimilars for psoriasis, and two flu vaccines at their October meeting.

The draft joint network strategy for the EU until 2028 will be open for public consultation until Nov. 30, 2024.

FDA’s latest approval of Imfinzi (durvalumab) in combination with chemotherapy for treating resectable non-small cell lung cancer before and after surgery is based on Phase III trial results showing that the regimen reduced the risk of recurrence, progression, or death by 32%.