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After Leqembi Approval, US FDA In No Rush To Declare Amyloid A Validated Surrogate Endpoint

 
• By Sue Sutter

Ability to use beta amyloid plaque reduction to support a traditional approval in Alzheimer’s, or for use with other drug classes, needs to be evaluated case-by-case based on the available data, agency says. In the HIV/AIDS space, it took FDA decades to declare a surrogate endpoint validated.

Clock in sand
US FDA likely to take its time in making a validation decision about amyloid reduction as a surrogate endpoint. • Source: Shutterstock

Despite the full approval of Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen, Inc.’s Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb), the US Food and Drug Administration is not rushing to declare amyloid plaque reduction as a validated surrogate for clinical benefit in Alzheimer’s disease.

The 6 July conversion from accelerated to traditional approval for lecanemab is a watershed moment in Alzheimer’s disease drug development,...

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More from Approval Standards

Podium Policy Returns To US FDA, Or Is It Podcast Policy?

 
• By Michael McCaughan

US FDA critics have long decried the practice of using informal communications to convey regulatory expectations as podium policy. In the Makary era, the phrase may need to be updated because the agency now seems to be specializing in policy by podcast.

EMA Explores Supporting Drug Development For High Unmet Need Disorder Scleroderma

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

While treatments for scleroderma are in development, none are approved for the condition that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The European Medicines Agency says guidance on how to design development programs for the disorder is needed.

Post-Approval, Real-Time Monitoring Will Help Approval Standards, US FDA’s Makary Says

 
• By Sue Sutter

The FDA will use electronic health records to “get eyes” on drugs immediately after approval, Commissioner Martin Makary told the DIA 2025 Global Annual Meeting. He also wants to reduce development time with better communication and new approval pathways.

Generic Drug Office’s Policy Staff Returning To US FDA

 
• By Derrick Gingery

The group had been laid off as part of the 1 April reduction-in-force, which led to missed guidance publication deadlines.

More from Pathways & Standards

US FDA’s CoGenT Pilot At Risk? Project Orbis Success May Not Save Cell/Gene Therapy Initiative

 
• By Bridget Silverman

Despite following the path of the popular Project Orbis, the cell and gene therapy international collaborative review pilot is being reconsidered by the FDA's new management.

Kisunla Back In The Spotlight As EMA Reconsiders Alzheimer’s Drug Rejection

 
• By Eliza Slawther

It appears that the European Medicines Agency is making progress on its re-examination of Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s disease drug Kisunla, following an initial rejection in March based on safety concerns.

Alzheimer’s Drug Leqembi May Be On Course To India, Kisunla In The Wings

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

Key expert panel go-ahead with a trial waiver put’s Eisai's Alzheimer's therapy on track for a debut in India where tailored pricing will be pivotal. Lilly’s Kisunla is also under regulatory review.