Drug Safety Forecast: Greater Understanding Could Signal Fewer Withdrawals

Efforts to foster innovation may have been the major theme for FDA in 2013, with new and expanded programs to expedite review of drugs for unmet medical needs dominating headlines, but senior agency officials also describe continued advances on the safety side of the regulatory equation.

Improvements in safety assessment and greater mechanistic understanding of common adverse events could produce fewer safety-related market withdrawals in the future, recent comments by two leading FDA authorities suggest.

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Mysimba Passes EU Safety Probe, But Currax Must Explore Long-Term Heart Risks

 

The weight management drug, Mysimba, continues to demonstrate a positive benefit-risk balance but the data available are not sufficient to fully determine the cardiovascular safety beyond 12 months. Meanwhile, Currax this month announced the publication of a peer-reviewed study of Mysimba that followed patients for over 4.7 years and found no evidence of excess cardiovascular risk.

Mifepristone Filing Supports 2023 US FDA Actions, But Experts Caution Against Overanalyzing

 

Filing in the Whole Women’s Health mifepristone case defends the FDA’s 2023 decision on the abortion pill safety program, but experts warn it does not necessarily signal the Trump Administration position in other mifepristone cases attempting to restrict medication abortion access.

Testosterone, TRAVERSE, And A Label Change 15 Years In The Making

 

The Pink Sheet drug review profile investigates the long and rigorous process behind the FDA’s recent relaxation of the cardiovascular safety warning for testosterone products.

Testosterone CV Safety, From Signal To Label

 

The Pink Sheet Drug Review Profile breaks down the FDA's long reckoning with testosterone cardiovascular safety concerns

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England’s NICE Wants Industry Involvement In HTA Sandbox Projects

 

Pharmaceutical companies are being encouraged to reach out to NICE in relation to its HTA Innovation Lab, which provides a sandbox environment in which the health technology assessment body can test new methods of evaluating “innovative and disruptive” therapies.

Brazil Catches Up With International Standards on Viral Safety Evaluations For Biotech Products

 

The Brazilian medicines regulator will also offer more clarity on the requirements for radiopharmaceuticals that are exempt from registration.

Korea To Revise ‘Innovative Company’ Criteria Amid Calls From Foreign Industry

 
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South Korea announces planned revisions to a government scheme to designate "innovative" biopharma companies amid allegations of "discrimination" against foreign firms.