FDA Policy/General

FDA Clinical Hold on BioNTech Malaria Vaccine

FDA has placed a clinical hold on BioNTech’s Phase 1/2a dose escalation clinical trial (NCT06069544) evaluating the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity and efficacy of an investigational RNA-based vaccine (BNT165e) for preventing P. falciparum malaria in healthy malaria-naive adults. The company says the trial is being paused while it takes actions to address the agency’s requests and concerns.

The company describes the multi-antigen malaria vaccine as a “combination of three distinct RNAs, BNT165c and BNT165d (composed of BNT165d1 and BNT165d2), encoding P. falciparum antigens encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles. The BNT165c RNA encodes the full Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein. The BNT165d1 and BNT165d2 RNAs both encode conserved, immunogenic segments of liver stage-expressed proteins.”

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