Drugs

Shire Resubmits NDA for Dry Eye Drug

Shire has resubmitted an NDA for lifitegrast for treating signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. The submission includes data from a recent study called OPUS-3, a Phase 3 efficacy and safety study of lifitegrast versus placebo. The data, according to the company, showed OPUS-3 met the primary endpoint of significantly improving patient-reported symptoms of dry eye disease from baseline to day 84 (p=0.0007). Additionally, OPUS-3 met the secondary endpoints of symptom improvement from baseline to days 14 and 42.

In October, FDA issued Shire a complete response letter requesting an additional clinical study before granting approval. The agency also requested more information related to product quality, which Shire says was included in the resubmission.

Shire says lifitegrast is a novel small-molecule integrin inhibitor that binds to the integrin LFA-1 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1), a cell surface protein found on leukocytes, and blocks the interaction of LFA-1 with its cognate ligand ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), which is over-expressed in corneal and conjunctival tissues in dry eye disease. The company says the LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction helps form immunological synapses resulting in T-cell activation and migration to target tissues.

The NDA was originally based on four clinical trials of more than 1,800 patients, according to the company.

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