Drugs

BioMarin Refiles BLA for Hemophilia Gene Therapy

BioMarin has resubmitted its BLA for gene therapy valoctocogene roxaparvovec for adults with severe hemophilia A. The resubmission includes the company’s response to a 2020 complete response letter and subsequent agency feedback, including two-year outcomes data from the global GENEr8-1 Phase 3 study and supportive data from five years of follow-up from the ongoing Phase 1/2 dose escalation study, BioMarin says.

Although the submission would typically be reviewed in six months, the company says it expects an additional three months may be added to the review “based on the number of data read-outs that will emerge during the procedure.”

FDA's 8/2020 complete response letter requested two years of data from the Phase 3 study to provide evidence of a durable effect using annualized bleeding rate as the primary endpoint. “Based on recent feedback received from the FDA related to BioMarin’s plans for the upcoming BLA, the agency has requested additional information and analyses of data to be included in the BLA prior to submission,” the company said in May. While the agency has not requested additional pre-clinical or clinical studies, according to the company, data on three years after dosing will become available during the expected BLA review.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome