Drugs

FDA Approves Opko Kidney Disease Drug

FDA has approved an Opko Health NDA for Rayaldee (calcifediol) as a treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with Stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and vitamin D insufficiency. The submission was given a complete response letter (CRL) in March that cited manufacturing deficiencies at Opko’s third-party contract manufacturer found during a 3/14 agency inspection. “The CRL did not cite any safety, efficacy or labeling issues with regard to Rayaldee, nor did it request any additional studies to be conducted prior to FDA approval,” the company said at the time. In April, the company resubmitted the application, saying that it had worked closely with its third party manufacturer to ensure FDA’s concerns were promptly and fully addressed.

The NDA was supported by data from three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies and one open-label extension study conducted in the targeted patient population at a total of 105 U.S. sites. The studies met all primary efficacy and safety endpoints, according to the company. Results from two 26-week placebo controlled, double blind Phase 3 trials demonstrated that a larger proportion of stage 3 or 4 CKD patients with vitamin D insufficiency achieved 30% or greater reductions in plasma intact parathyroid hormone when treated with Rayaldee than with placebo. Vitamin D insufficiency was corrected in more than 80% of the patients receiving the Rayaldee compared with less than 7% of subjects receiving placebo, according to the company.

Rayaldee is an oral vitamin D prohormone treatment. “It has a proprietary modified-release formulation designed to gradually and reliably raise serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (prohormone) concentrations to targeted levels (at least 30 ng/mL) while avoiding upregulation of CYP24A1, a cytochrome P-450 enzyme which interferes with the desired parathyroid hormone (PTH)-lowering effect,” Opko says. “Gradual elevation of serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D is intended to prevent excessive elevation of serum calcium and related vascular and renal calcification.”

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