Using A Natural History Study As An External Control In Rare Diseases: Ipsen Offers An Example

Although the advisory committee was uncomfortable with the external control, US FDA was reassuring over the approach – which eventually secured a ‘yes’ vote from the panel on palovarotene for FOP.

Dinosaur and child hand
How close a match do natural history studies need to be? • Source: Shutterstock

Ipsen SA was facing an uphill battle last month at the Endocrinologic & Metabolism Drugs Advisory Committee's review of palovarotene for a rare bone tissue condition.

Key Takeways
  • Ipsen didn’t follow FDA’s advice and conduct a placebo-controlled trial, and the study ended up failing.

The company is seeking approval of the drug for treatment of heterotopic ossification (HO) in adults and children with fibrodysplasia...

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