A US Food and Drug Administration statistician used placebo arm data from a Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. clinical trial of Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) to highlight the challenges of trying to use external controls to demonstrate efficacy.
Sarepta’s External Controls Analysis Weakened By Elevidys Placebo Data Comparison
When placebo data from the only randomized trial of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy were compared with Sarepta’s proffered external control data, the placebo subjects numerically outperformed the external controls, ‘calling into question the comparability of the external control group,’ an FDA statistical reviewer said.

More from Drug Review Profiles
The Pink Sheet drug review profile investigates the long and rigorous process behind the FDA’s recent relaxation of the cardiovascular safety warning for testosterone products.
The Pink Sheet Drug Review Profile breaks down the FDA's long reckoning with testosterone cardiovascular safety concerns
Vadadustat's review overlapped with two other oral HIF-PH class drugs. Safety issues with FibroGen/AstraZeneca’s roxadustat drew attention during vadadustat's first-cycle review, while GSK’s Jesduvroq labeling and postmarketing requirements informed the second-cycle approval.
The Pink Sheet Drug Review Profile explores the US FDA’s approval of vadadustat to treat anemia in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis. A complete response letter cited the risk of drug-induced liver injury, but postmarketing data from Japan reassured reviewers.
More from Product Reviews
Novartis is planning to file EU and US marketing applications for an intrathecal formulation of its spinal muscular atrophy gene therapy, Zolgensma, in H1 2025.
Sponsors of three drugs that are in the final stages of the EU regulatory review cycle are due to make the case for marketing approval before the European Medicines Agency.
The European Medicines Agency is this week set to issue an opinion on whether pan-EU marketing should be granted to Lilly’s Alzheimer’s disease drug donanemab.