Drugs

Complete Response Letters in 2016 Highest Since 2009

FDA issued 14 complete response (CR) letters in 2016, the highest number since 2009, which contributed to the disappointing 22 new molecular entity approvals (see earlier story) last year, according to a final update by retiring CDER Office of New Drugs director John Jenkins. “Each application for a new drug must meet the statutory and regulatory standards for approval by demonstrating that the new drug is safe and effective for its intended use, and that the quality of the manufacturing of the product is high, before it can be approved,” he said. “While we report on groupings of applications submitted and approved each year, given the expected variation in the quality of the data contained in any particular application it is not surprising that the ratio of approvals to CR letters tends to fluctuate from year-to-year. In examining the deficiencies cited in the CR letters issued to novel drugs in 2016 it is notable that the primary deficiency for several of the applications was failure to comply with FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMPs) regulations.”

Jenkins noted that the number of CR letters citing GMPS was unusually high for a single year. “By comparison, only four of the 47 novel drug applications for which a CR was issued from 2010 through 2015, included failure to comply with cGMPs as the primary deficiency,” he said. “2016 may serve as a reminder to sponsors that all of their manufacturing facilities must be in compliance with cGMP regulations if they wish to ensure approval of their application. Failure of manufacturing facilities to pass FDA inspection can unnecessarily delay patient access to novel new drugs.”

In his farewell message, Jenkins said: “There are many new challenges and exciting opportunities for CDER in 2017 and beyond; I am confident that the highly professional and dedicated staff in the new drugs program will meet those challenges and have the experience and vision to translate the exciting and rapid advances in science into new safe and effective treatments for patients in need.”

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