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Multiple Sclerosis Subtype 'Relatedness' Drove Debate On Ocrevus Approval

 
• By Bridget Silverman

Genentech's Ocrevus BLA set off internal US FDA dispute about relationship between different subgroups of disease: Can strong evidence in one form (relapsing MS) confirm a weak study in another (primary progressive MS)? Our Drug Review Profile looks at how FDA rationalized approval of Ocrevus for PPMS.

Drug Review Profile regular column

Before the US FDA cleared Genentech Inc.'s Ocrevus as first agent ever approved for primary progressive multiple sclerosis, the review division was riven by debate about the nature of the relationship between primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) – and thus whether trials in RMS could provide crucial support for the lone, problem-plagued PPMS trial.

"A critical question" for FDA's decision on the Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) BLA "is whether the two very persuasive studies in RMS, which showed strong effects on disability in each study, provide...

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More from Drug Review Profiles

Potency Assay Issues Delayed US FDA Approval Of Mesoblast’s Ryoncil For Years

 
• By Sue Sutter

The company’s failure to show its potency assays measured attributes directly related to the mesenchymal stromal cell product’s therapeutic effect highlights the importance of a robust CMC program for complex cell therapies.

Mesoblast’s Ryoncil: US FDA Changed Its Mind On Need For A Randomized Trial

 
• By Sue Sutter

Agency staff repeatedly said the BLA based on a single-arm study in 55 patients lacked substantial evidence of effectiveness in steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease and a randomized trial was needed, but changed course “based on additional consideration” after a second CRL.

Ryoncil Chronology: Three Review Cycles, Two CRLs, One Dispute Resolution Request

 
• By Sue Sutter

The Pink Sheet’s Drug Review Profile looks at the timeline for the clinical development and US FDA review of Mesoblast’s remestemcel for graft-versus-host disease.

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

 
• By Bridget Silverman

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.

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EU Authorization Before US? Biologics Manufacturing Is Likely To Blame

 
• By Bridget Silverman

In the infrequent cases when EU authorization precedes US FDA approvals of new products, biologics manufacturing issues are usually to blame, a Pink Sheet analysis found.

US FDA Punts On New COVID-19 Framework’s Impact On Fall Shots

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The FDA’s advisors split on whether to update COVID-19 vaccines for the fall. The agency refused to discuss the impact of the new vaccine framework on availability.

Pfizer’s All-Comers CRPC Dream For Talzenna Quashed For Lack Of Biomarker-Negative Rigor

 
• By Bridget Silverman

The lack of a formal analysis of efficacy in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients without HRR mutations doomed Pfizer’s Talzenna at the US FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, as FDA oncology chief Richard Pazdur says chance cannot be ruled out.