1. Pink Sheet
  2. >>Vaccines

‘Don’t Make Promises Until You Have The Data’: FDA Gamble On Speeding Up COVID Vax In Kids Flops

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith and Sue Sutter

FDA praised for pulling back on plans to host 15 February advisory committee review of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in children but faulted, along with other parts of US government, for raising expectations this month that the vaccine might be available for this population imminently.

roulette wheel, gambling scene
FDA’s failed bet on Pfizer’s two-dose data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under five raises public confusion • Source: Alamy

The US Food and Drug Administration did a rapid about face on 11 February, canceling Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s 15 February advisory panel review of the sponsors' COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 months through 4 years of age saying the agency needed to review data on the impact of a third dose of the vaccine before making an authorization decision.

The sudden shift raised questions about why FDA so publicly hyped up the possibility of a faster-than-anticipated authorization in this age group earlier this month and whether the agency could have more closely reviewed Pfizer’s two-dose data without raising public expectations that a vaccine authorization for young children and babies was imminent

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
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Vaccines

Legal, Process Problems May Plague New US FDA COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The FDA may have violated laws and regulations along with many norms in how it released its planned changes for COVID-19 vaccine approvals.

Observational, Retrospective Trials Could Retest Vaccines, HHS’ Kennedy Says

 
• By Derrick Gingery

The Health and Human Services secretary told a Senate appropriations subcommittee that placebo-controlled trials may not be necessary to ensure vaccine safety as the FDA released a framework requiring them for COVID-19 vaccines.

Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine Label Narrowed After Political Officials Intervened

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The label that Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine was slated to receive before political officials held up the approval was broader than was granted 16 May.

US FDA COVID-19 Booster Strategy May Not Be As Controversial As It Seems

 
• By Michael McCaughan

US FDA Commissioner Martin Makary’s call for placebo-controlled trials to confirm the efficacy of COVID-19 boosters is drawing a lot of criticism, but former Commissioner Robert Califf also supported the idea.

More from Pink Sheet

ClinicalTrials.gov Or ISRCTN: Getting Transparency Right For UK Trials

 
• By Vibha Sharma

ISRCTN’s systems are being redesigned to facilitate compliance with upcoming requirements in the UK’s clinical trials legislation.

Darzalex Faspro Gains US FDA AdComm Support For Smoldering Myeloma Claim

 
• By Bridget Silverman

The use of J&J’s Darzalex Faspro in high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma could result in overtreatment, but the FDA committee voted in favor of the new claim for delay in development of multiple myeloma.

STARGLO Dulled: Genentech’s Columvi Data Not Generalizable To US Patients, FDA Panel Says

 
• By Sue Sutter

The glofitamab trial results are not generalizable due to the small number of enrolled US lymphoma patients and adverse results across multiple endpoints for patients from non-Asian regions, the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee said.