Dark Skies For Ocaliva: US FDA Sides With AdComm In Complete Response Letter

The US FDA rejected Intercept’s bid to convert Ocaliva’s accelerated approval in primary biliary cholangitis, meaning withdrawal prospects loom.

Storms may be on the horizon for Intercept after Ocaliva received a complete response letter from the FDA in primary biliary cholangitis. (Shutterstock)

One of the last lines of defense against withdrawal of Ocaliva’s accelerated approval failed when the US Food and Drug Administration issued a complete response letter for Intercept Pharmaceuticals’ bid for full approval in primary biliary cholangitis with confirmation of clinical benefit.

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Complete Response Letters

US FDA’s Review Performance Held Steady Despite Stormy First Quarter

 

Organizational turmoil has not yet affected reviews of novel agent applications, with Q1 2025 approvals coming in low, but the first quarter share of the entire year is variable.

Elevar/Hengrui’s Second US CRL A Bad Omen For Multiregional Trials In Asia-Dominant Cancers?

 

While CMC glitches linger over a US NDA for Elevar/Hengrui’s novel liver cancer combination following a second complete response letter, the separate issue of underrepresentation of US patients in multiregional trials is looming large after new FDA draft guidance last year.

US FDA Spikes Vanda’s Hetlioz For Insomnia, Lack Of Well-Controlled Trial ‘Fatal’

 
• By 

Acting Commissioner Sara Brenner rejected the company’s request for a hearing, saying the lack of an adequate and well-controlled trial showing tasimelteon's effectiveness in treating sleep-onset insomnia is “fatal to the application.”

Better Luck Next Year: US FDA CRLs May Be Rising, But Are Not The End Of The Story

 

Prospects are promising for many of the 16 novel candidates that received complete response letters in 2024 after half of the 2023 CRL class was approved the following year.

More from Geography

Pink Sheet Podcast: More US FDA Departures, Makary On Combined AE Database, ‘Conditional’ Approval

 

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.

Vertex’s Alyftrek For CF Among Six Orphans On Track For Pan-EU Approval

 

The European Medicines Agency has recommended 16 drugs for EU-wide approval, including Vertex’s cystic fibrosis drug Alyftrek and five other orphans.

Quotable: Top Experts On Policy Hot Topics

 

The Pink Sheet highlights recent comments and insights from pharma officials and executives on key issues we are covering.