Drugs

FDA Gives ‘Breakthrough’ Status for AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso

FDA has granted AstraZeneca a breakthrough therapy designation for Tagrisso (osimertinib) for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The designation was based on data from the Phase 3 FLAURA trial of Tagrisso versus standard-of-care EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy in previously-untreated patients with locally-advanced or metastatic EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC. In the trial, according to the company, “median progression-free survival was nearly double at 18.9 months for Tagrisso compared with 10.2 months for current first-line EGFR TKIs (erlotinib or gefitinib). Improvements were seen in all pre-specified subgroups, including patients with and without brain metastases.” This is the sixth breakthrough designation that AstraZeneca has received for an oncology medicine since 2014.

Tagrisso is a third-generation, irreversible EGFR TKI designed to inhibit both EGFR-sensitizing and EGFR T790M-resistance mutations, with clinical activity against central nervous system metastases, AstraZeneca says. It is currently approved for patients with EGFR T790M mutation-positive advanced NSCLC.

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