Possibly the most surprising aspect of the US FDA’s novel approvals in 2023 is a steep jump in what has been one of the most stable review metrics for more than a decade: how many times the FDA missed Prescription Drug User Fee Act user fee goal dates for novel approvals.
US FDA’s Missed User Fee Goals Spiked In 2023 – And Not Just Because Of COVID-19
CDER missed six goal dates among its 2023 novel approvals, reflecting safety concerns as well as pandemic-related inspection delays; Duchenne muscular dystrophy accelerated approval disagreements caused the biologics center’s lone missed goal.

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Top areas for potential 2025 approvals were shaped by R&D focused on increasingly tightly targeted therapies, including the eight new candidates to join the still-burgeoning kinase inhibitor class and RNA interference, as well as many varieties of antibodies.
CBER has at least 14 and CDER another 10 novel biologics among the more than 60 candidates with a user fee goal in 2025.
Restrictions on commonly used chemicals, increased reporting requirements and enhanced environmental risk assessments are just some of the new EU sustainability and environmental rules pharmaceutical companies are potentially facing. While some measures are multi-sectoral, others are pharma specific. The Pink Sheet takes a look at some of the developments in 2024 and expectations for 2025 and beyond.
Only one-third of novel agents with 2025 goal dates come from the traditional oncology, hematology and neuroscience strongholds. Immunodermatology also is cooling, while cardiovascular drugs return to the front burner.
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The Brazilian medicines regulator will also offer more clarity on the requirements for radiopharmaceuticals that are exempt from registration.
South Korea announces planned revisions to a government scheme to designate "innovative" biopharma companies amid allegations of "discrimination" against foreign firms.
Experts say PBMs should become familiar with transparency rules and prepare to release data, although more legal wrangling could occur.