US FDA’s Fast Track Designation Policy Faces Unusual Legal Challenge

Vanda Pharmaceuticals contends the agency unfairly denied its request for fast track designation for tradipitant. This appears to be the first time the FDA has been sued over a denial. In FY 2021, CDER denied 78 requests for the designation and granted 173.

Fast track
US FDA sued for refusing to designate a drug for fast track process • Source: Shutterstock

Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. contends that the US Food and Drug Administration wrongly denied its request for fast track designation for tradipitant because it could not obtain safety data for chronic use of the drug in treating gastroparesis symptoms.

The company filed suit against the agency asking the US District Court for the District of Columbia to vacate the FDA’s denial of its request and declare that the agency...

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