1. Pink Sheet
  2. >>Rare Diseases

Acer’s ‘Misunderstood Drugs’ Strategy Faces Regulatory Hurdles

A Regulatory Case-Study

 
• By Bridget Silverman

Acer repurposes drugs with available data (like a 40-year-old European antihypertensive) into rare disease treatments (like Edsivo for vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), but approval remains elusive, with a CRL for ACER-001 just as Edsivo is poised to enter a new clinical trial, armed with a new breakthrough designation. The Pink Sheet delves into regulatory history and strategy with CEO Chris Schelling.

Artery
Ehlers-Danlos is a group of connective tissue disorders that can affect many parts of the body, including blood vessels. • Source: Shutterstock

With a US complete response letter for urea cycle disorder therapy ACER-001, rare disease specialty company Acer Therapeutics Inc. holds CRLs for both of the 505(b)(2) new drug applications it has filed – a reminder of the regulatory challenges that can remain for “de-risked” drug candidates with clinical experience in other fields and formulations.

Acer Therapeutics is focused on finding “drugs that were misunderstood” in their original development programs but could have a new life treating serious orphan diseases, CEO Chris Schelling explained in an interview with the Pink Sheet

Insights And Ideas From Acer’s Experience
  • Manufacturing issues often trip up applications using the 505(b)(2) route.
  • Acer’s first NDA for Edsivo used data from a trial already conducted by a Paris-based university hospital, which was hampered by ability of potential enrollees to obtain the treatment off-label.
  • Breakthrough designation is suitable only for applications based on prospective studies, the FDA indicated

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 Rare Diseases

US FDA Rare Disease Case Studies Provide Development Models For Sponsors

 
• By Laura Helbling

Sanofi’s Xenpozyme and Sentynyl’s Nulibry are the first two case studies the FDA is using to continue educating rare disease sponsors on best practices.

House Budget Bill Includes Delayed Orphan Fix, Also Risks Downstream Cell and Gene Coverage

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The first two classes of negotiated drugs under the Inflation Reduction Act would not benefit from a rare disease adjustment House Republicans included in their reconciliation package.

Tougher Approval Standards May Follow Vinay Prasad’s Appointment To Lead US FDA’s CBER

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

Industry is concerned that Prasad may make regulatory flexibility tougher to obtain for cell and gene therapy, while vaccine and public health advocates are angry about Prasad’s criticisms of US COVID-19 policies.

Sponsors Like START Rare Disease Pilot, Will Prasad Maintain Its Momentum?

 
• By Kate Rawson

Sponsors reported faster development times for products that joined the pilot program intended to speed rare disease treatments in CBER.

More from Pink Sheet

Mayne’s Nextstellis Promo Wrong To Suggest Better Safety Than Other Contraceptives, FDA Says

 
• By Sue Sutter

A professional slide deck for the drospirenone/estetrol oral contraceptive inappropriately suggests it is safer than other estrogen-containing products and understates risks, Office of Prescription Drug Promotion said in the first “untitled” letter issued since reductions-in-force.

US HHS Deputy Nominee Talks AI, Not FDA, In Confirmation Hearing

 
• By Ramsey Baghdadi

Silicon Valley investor Jim O’Neill’s Senate confirmation hearings showcased the unique background of someone with government and tech experience and avoided discussions of his past statements about lowering the bar for regulatory approval.

US FDA Waiting On Guidance Agenda Future As HHS Seeks Regulation Cuts

 
• By Derrick Gingery

The FDA continues to wait for a decision on whether its priority guidances will be published as HHS asks the public for potential regulation cuts to fulfill President Trump’s executive order.