Drugs

Juno Scraps CAR-T Cell Product Development

Juno Therapeutics says it is ceasing development of its CAR-T cell product candidate JCAR015, indicated for relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r ALL) due to a greater than expected incidence of severe neurotoxicity and five deaths from cerebral edema were observed last year. The product was placed on clinical hold late last year as a result of the adverse events (see story).

“Through the investigation Juno identified multiple factors that may have contributed to this increased risk, including patient-specific factors, the conditioning chemotherapy patients received, and factors related to the product,” the company says. “Although Juno believes there are protocol modifications and process improvements that could enable Juno to proceed with JCAR015 in clinical testing in adult r/r ALL, Juno would first need to establish preliminary safety and dose in a Phase 1 trial. As a result of the timing delay that would entail and Juno’s belief that it has other product candidates in its pipeline that are likely to provide improved efficacy and tolerability, Juno, in collaboration with partner Celgene, has made a strategic decision to cease development of JCAR015 at this time and to redirect associated resources to the development of a defined cell product candidate in the adult r/r ALL setting.”

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

Read more

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