Genentech’s Cancer Product Line Expands, As Do Its Post-Market Manufacturing Obligations

Genentech appears to be having significant manufacturing problems for some of its new cancer therapies. FDA hasn’t taken enforcement action yet, but the agency has delayed two approvals and tied them to post-market requirements to address QC issues.

It is a sign of how rapidly and efficiently FDA is moving on cancer drug approvals that some investors were starting to get nervous about Roche/Genentech Inc.’s T-DM1 application as the user fee review deadline approached.

The drug—which combines a targeted cytotoxic agent with an antibody based on Genentech’s blockbuster Herceptin (trastuzumab) molecule—was proven to extend survival in metastatic breast cancer: the gold standard of all...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Approval Standards

US FDA Cell-Gene Therapy Head Says Agency Has Revived Stalled Programs

 

CBER's Nicole Verdun wants rare disease sponsors with stalled treatments to circle back because the FDA's evolved thinking on clinical trial designs may offer another opportunity for cast away products.

EMA Official Clarifies Benefits And Limitations Of Innovation Pathways

 

A European Medicines Agency official provided an overview and update of the support the EMA offers developers of innovative products and discussed, among other things, its Innovation Task Force, Quality Innovation Group and a scientific advice pilot for clinical trials.

New EU Approvals

 

The Pink Sheet's list of EU centralized approvals of new active substances has been updated to include two new products, one of which is Vyjuvek, Krystal Biotech's advanced therapy for treating dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

EMA: ‘Sad To See’ Member States Against Patient Engagement Under EU Pharma Reform

 

The European Medicines Agency’s chief medical officer Steffen Thistrup argued that patients are able to understand the “complex regulatory and scientific issues” that the EMA committees discuss when they assess drugs.

More from Pathways & Standards

Drug, Biologic Policy Staff Return To US FDA, As RIF Process Hangs In Legal Limbo

 

The FDA employees with reduction-in-force notice rescissions include some who work on user fee negotiations, but staff still subject to RIFs will not officially separate from the agency this week due to ongoing legal challenges.

US FDA’s Prasad: ‘We Will Always Embrace Surrogate Endpoints’

 

The new CBER director, once best known in the pharma world for criticizing accelerated approval, committed to expediting cancer drugs with surrogate endpoints.

What Information Does US FDA Need For Stealth’s Elamipretide After CRL?

 
• By 

The agency said it will consider knee extensor muscle strength as a potential intermediate clinical endpoint to support accelerated approval, but Stealth CEO Reenie McCarthy said announcing it via complete response letter is confusing and inefficient.