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Aducanumab Accelerated Approval Reflects US FDA Flexibility But Raises Doubts About Confirmatory Trial

 
• By Sue Sutter

Biogen/Eisai Alzheimer’s drug wins agency nod on basis of amyloid plaque reduction, a surprising use of the accelerated approval pathway that was not considered by an FDA advisory committee; approval raises feasibility questions about confirmatory trial and daunting prospect of market withdrawal if studies fail to verify clinical benefit.

Rabbit in hat
US FDA pulled a rabbit out of a hat with its surprise use of the accelerated approval pathway for aducanumab. • Source: Alamy

The US Food and Drug Administration’s accelerated approval of Biogen, Inc. and Eisai Co., Ltd.’s Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm (aducanumab) on the basis of a surrogate endpoint is destined to further inflame the debate over the agency’s use of the expedited pathway and leaves a host of challenges in its wake.

On 7 June, the agency granted accelerated approval to aducanumab, an amyloid beta-directed antibody, for treatment of Alzheimer’s. The FDA...

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More from Approvals

Lerodalcibep And First Generic Palbociclib Among 10 New EMA Filings

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Lerodalcibep and palbociclib are among the latest new drugs that the European Medicines Agency has started to review for potential EU marketing authorization.

EU Decision Time For Madrigal’s MASH Drug Resmetirom And 11 Others

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals’ resmetirom could become the first approved treatment for non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in the EU, if the European Medicines Agency issues a positive opinion for the drug later this week.

Blenrep’s Comeback Continues As England Becomes First To Fund Drug

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Blenrep, GSK’s multiple myeloma therapy, faced a major setback when it was withdrawn from the market in 2022. The drug has since made a return as a second-line therapy, and is on track to being reimbursed in England.

Argentina Speeds Up Market Access Process

 
• By Francesca Bruce

Companies operating in Argentina may get their medicines to the market more quickly thanks to new updates to the medicines authorization system.

More from Product Reviews

EU Decision Time For Madrigal’s MASH Drug Resmetirom And 11 Others

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals’ resmetirom could become the first approved treatment for non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in the EU, if the European Medicines Agency issues a positive opinion for the drug later this week.

US FDA Teases Disclosure Program, But Industry Has Seen This Before

 
• By Derrick Gingery

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Vinay Prasad said Commissioner Martin Makary wants to release previously inaccessible FDA documents, but previous commissioners have made the same pronouncements only to make little progress.

US FDA’s July AdComms: Pediatric Vaccine Safety, Blenrep’s Return, (Maybe) Capricor’s Cell Therapy

 
• By Sue Sutter

The Pediatric Advisory Committee will review postmarketing safety for three vaccines and the oncologic drugs panel will consider the return of GSK’s belantamab mafodotin. An FDA notice about a 30 July meeting on Capricor’s deramiocel for Duchenne muscular dystrophy was withdrawn.