Drugs

Sarepta NDA for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Drug

FDA has accepted a Sarepta Therapeutics NDA seeking accelerated approval for golodirsen (SRP-4053), indicated for treating those individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who have genetic mutations subject to skipping exon 53 of the dystrophin gene. The agency has set an 8/19 user fee review action target date.

The submission includes data from Sarepta’s 4053-101 study assessing the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and dystrophin expression of golodirsen in 25 boys with confirmed deletions of the dystrophin gene amenable to exon 53 skipping, according to the company. Data “demonstrated statistically significant results in favor of golodirsen on all biological endpoints, including properly exon-skipped RNA transcript using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, increase in quantity of dystrophin expression from baseline using Western blot and increase in dystrophin intensity as measured by immunohistochemistry,” it says.

The company notes that golodirsen is also being studied in the ongoing ESSENCE study (4045-301), a global, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessing the safety and efficacy of golodirsen and casimersen, an exon 45 skipping agent. FDA reviewers have previously confirmed that ESSENCE could possibly serve as a post-marketing confirmatory study, it adds.

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