US FDA's Real-Time Oncology Review Times Coming Into Focus

The FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee will consider whether appropriate dosages of belantamab mafodotin have been identified for two second-line, multiple myeloma indications. Ocular toxicities and large number of dose modifications in trials raised FDA concerns about benefit-risk.

US FDA's 25 novel approvals in 2025 fell short of the agency's five-year average count, driven by a drop in drugs center approvals; 45 user fee goals remain in second half of year.

Nonvoting industry representative’s presence at Pediatric Advisory Committee meeting was required by statute, the agency said, a de facto acknowledgement that an April directive precluding industry reps from sitting on advisory committees has had little practical effect.

Seven weeks before its action date and a month after an advisory committee was hastily cancelled, Capricor gets a CRL for its cell therapy deramiocel in DMD-related cardiomyopathy citing efficacy and manufacturing concerns. It has a Phase III study nearing readout, though.