Approval Standards


Real-Time Release Of CRLs Is US FDA’s Goal, Agency Leaders Affirm

 

The US FDA says its release of complete response letters for products subsequently approved by the agency is just a first step toward releasing rejection letters when they are issued, assuming legal issues can be resolved.

Base Benefit-Risk Decisions On Data, Not Opinion And Passion, CDER’s Tidmarsh Says

 
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New US FDA drugs center director George Tidmarsh’s data-centric comments at a Reagan-Udall Foundation meeting on unapproved fluoride products could suggest patients’ and caregivers’ experiences will carry less weight in benefit-risk decisions under his leadership.

EMA Backs Gilead’s Yeytuo And 13 Other Drugs For EU Approval But Rejects Three

 

The European Medicines Agency’s human medicines committee, the CHMP, has recommended 14 new medicines for pan-EU approval this month, including five orphan medicines.

EMA Says ‘No’ To Roche/Sarepta’s Elevidys, US FDA Investigates Fourth Death

 

The European Medicines Agency recommended against pan-EU marketing authorization of Roche/Sarpeta’s gene therapy Elevidys for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy as the US reported another death in an Elevidys patient.

Review Pathways


US FDA Commissioner Makary Is Learning To Appreciate His Staff

 

After three months on the job, FDA Commissioner Martin Makary is sounding much more effusive about the quality of the agency staff. Better late than never?

‘Unprecedented Story’: Revoked EU Marketing Authorization Fails To Thwart Translarna Sales

 

PTC Therapeutics is continuing to supply its Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatment, Translarna, in some European markets, despite EU revocation of the drug’s conditional marketing authorization earlier this year.

EMA’s PRIME Scheme Explored: Growing Designations - But Are Accelerated Assessments Slipping?

 

While the first six months of the year saw eight new drugs targeting a range of diseases enter the European Medicines Agency’s priority medicines scheme, and three PRIME-designated treatments go on to win EU marketing approval, use of the accelerated assessment mechanism appears to be limited.

US FDA Asking Questions About Commissioner’s Voucher Program With Details Scarce

 

FDA staff are trying to plan for program implementation in the absence of critical eligibility and other details, although guidance may be coming soon.

User Fees


No Surprise Here: Foreign Drug Facilities Should Expect Surprise Inspections, US FDA Says

 
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The FDA's recent announcement of plans to expand unannounced inspections at ex-US facilities should put firms on advance notice that their next foreign facility inspection may not be preannounced, Ivy Sweeney, acting head of the agency's drug inspections office said.

US FDA’s Second Half 2025 User Fee Goals Swing Toward Respiratory Disease

 

The 43 novel agents with user fee goal dates in the remainder of 2025 have fewer oncologics and infectious disease drugs than the first half of the year.

Consumer Groups Have A ‘Radical Transparency’ List For US FDA’s PDUFA VIII

 

Development of the user fee commitment letter largely takes place behind closed doors between industry and FDA. Outside groups see the upcoming negotiation cycle as a chance to change this and other agency information blocks by reminding Commissioner Makary of his commitment to transparency.

Senate Bill Would Boost Oversight Of US FDA User Fee Program Following Trump Reorganization

 

Senate appropriators also put FDA on notice regarding recent meetings and compliance with the Federal Advisory Committees Act, signal positive news on rare pediatric diseases, and offer hints of other agency areas they have close eyes on.