Sue primarily covers US drug, biologic, vaccine and biosimilar regulation and policy across therapeutic areas, with an emphasis on advisory committee reviews, FDA approvals and use of expedited review pathways. Sue has reported on the prescription and over-the-counter drug industries since 1999 for various publications now under the Citeline umbrella, including Pink Sheet and Scrip. Previously she worked as an editor for Mealey's Litigation Reports (now part of Lexis-Nexis), writing about asbestos, toxic tort and fen-phen litigation. She grew up in South Jersey and spends her free time watching youth sports, gardening, walking and hiking, although she'd rather be at the beach.
Latest from Sue Sutter
Failing to meet the 29 April user fee date for the Barth syndrome treatment, and CDER’s request for a delay in responding to Vanda’s appeal of a tradipitant complete response letter, suggest a slowdown in review work due to layoffs and other recent changes.
The company’s failure to show its potency assays measured attributes directly related to the mesenchymal stromal cell product’s therapeutic effect highlights the importance of a robust CMC program for complex cell therapies.
Alonza Cruse, director of the Office of Human and Animal Drugs Inspectorate, and two other senior inspection officials are departing, along with Mark Raza, chief counsel from 2021 until January.
Agency staff repeatedly said the BLA based on a single-arm study in 55 patients lacked substantial evidence of effectiveness in steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease and a randomized trial was needed, but changed course “based on additional consideration” after a second CRL.
The Pink Sheet’s Drug Review Profile looks at the timeline for the clinical development and US FDA review of Mesoblast’s remestemcel for graft-versus-host disease.
Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss the most recent senior staff departures at the FDA and their impact on the agency, as well as Commissioner Martin Makary’s plans for a new approval pathway and a combined adverse event database as outlined in an interview with a podcast host.