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When Is A Single Pivotal Trial “Robust” Enough? FDA’s Katz Offers Examples That Could Spell Trouble For Pfizer’s Vyndaqel

 
• By Martin Berman-Gorvine

The single pivotal trial of Pfizer’s Vyndaqel couldn’t offer p-values of less than 0.01, nor substantial evidence from multiple sites, which could spell trouble for the new drug application.

When FDA receives a new drug application with a single pivotal trial plus confirmatory evidence offered in support of accelerated approval, for example Pfizer Inc.’s orphan drug Vyndaqel (tafamidis meglumine) for familial amyloid polyneuropathy, the agency sets a high standard for statistical significance, such as a p-value of less than 0.01, an FDA official said.

While stressing that there is not a hard-and-fast rule, Russell Katz, director of FDA’s Division of Neurology Products, told the...

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Double Duty At US FDA: Tidmarsh Will Temporarily Lead Both CDER And CBER

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

Just a week and a half into his tenure at the agency, the new CDER Director George Tidmarsh was also tapped to serve as acting head of CBER. Prasad’s swift ouster at CBER may point to a softening in cell and gene therapy regulation but could also portend even more scrutiny on vaccines.

Big PBM Dominance Enabled By Affiliated Third Party Administrators Limiting Choices, FTC Told

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Complaints about TPAs offer an explanation of why self-funded employers continue to use the big three PBMs despite concerns about those relationships. Proposed solutions include banning retaliatory fees and data withholding.

Repurposed Generics For Rare Diseases: Janet Woodcock Proposes Shortcut

 
• By Grace Moser

A Duke-Margolis working group is developing ideas to enable non-profit firms to seek US FDA approval for new indications for off-patent medicines. The former acting commissioner thinks citizen petitions might be the fastest route.

NDA User Fees Will Grow 8.6% Next Year As FDA Projects More Applications But Fewer Sponsor Meetings

 
• By Nielsen Hobbs and Derrick Gingery

The ups – and some downs – of the US FDA’s prescription, biosimilar, and generic user fees for FY 2026 are tabulated by the Pink Sheet.

More from North America

Vinay Prasad Out At US FDA

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The removal of CBER Director Prasad comes after a wave of right-wing backlash to his appointment over the past few days that was also critical of his decision to ask Sarepta to suspend all sales of the DMD gene therapy Elevidys. FDA reversed its decision the day before Parsad's departure.

Merck, AstraZeneca Downplay Impact of European Tariffs Despite Timing Uncertainties

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Meanwhile, companies continue discussions with the Trump Administration over ways of increasing what European nations pay for drugs as an alternative to imposing a Most Favored Nation drug pricing policy in the US.

EU 15% Tariff Deal Still Leaves Questions For Pharma On Possible Grace Period, Generic Exemption

 
• By Jessica Merrill

While the 15% rate is a substantial blow for pharmaceutical firms, the US-EU deal provides a framework for trade agreements with other countries that could see the industry avoiding higher tariffs elsewhere.