Drugs

Verastem Oncology NDA for Rare Ovarian Cancer

Verastem Oncology has completed a rolling NDA for the potential first-in-class combination of avutometinib, an oral RAF/MEK clamp, and defactinib, an oral selective FAK inhibitor, for adults with recurrent KRAS mutant low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), who received at least one prior systemic therapy. The company says it is seeking accelerated approval for the combination therapy.

The submission is based on data from the Phase 2 RAMP 201 study that demonstrated a confirmed overall response rate of 44%, a median progression-free survival of 22 months, and a disease control rate at six months of 70% in the target population, according to the company. The NDA submission also includes supportive data from the FRAME Phase 1 trial.

The company says it is currently enrolling patients with recurrent LGSOC regardless of KRAS mutation status in RAMP 301, an international Phase 3 trial that will serve as a confirmatory study for the initial indication. The study may also support an expanded indication regardless of KRAS mutation status, 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