Duchenne muscular dystrophy
FDA extends its review of Capricor Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy cell therapy as an unhappy shareholder advocates for change; Merck and Moderna tout positive data for their mRNA-based cancer vaccine; Trump nominates White House aide Heidi Overton as FDA commissioner; and the oral obesity market heats up with rivals Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk going head-to-head.
The FDA has granted a three-month extension for Capricor Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy hopeful deramiocel in order to review additional data and consider a refined indication. The new target action date for the therapy is November 22.
Kaos Capital in a letter to other Capricor Therapeutics shareholders called for “an immediate meeting, board change, and capital-preservation plan.” The biotech recently put all other pipeline work on pause as it awaits an Aug. 22 PDUFA date for embattled cell therapy deramiocel.
Capricor Therapeutics’ CEO Linda Marbán believes the FDA is willing to work with the biotech as the Aug. 22 deadline approaches for its Duchenne muscular dystrophy cell therapy deramiocel, with the biotech’s stock climbing 68% on the update.
The FDA has been trying to mend fences with rare disease drug developers and patient groups since the departure of former Commissioner Marty Makary three months ago. But advisory committee meetings last week for Replimune and Capricor Therapeutics only created more confusion and frustration.
The industry has been abuzz since the weekend when talks of a potential mega-merger between Bristol Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca were reported. Meanwhile, Pfizer, Merck and others release second quarter earnings, with some disclosing pipeline discontinuations and cost-cutting measures. Finally, all eyes turn to the FDA in the wake of heated advisory committee meetings for Capricor Therapeutics and Replimune.
After an FDA advisory committee voted 9-3 on Wednesday against recommending Capricor Therapeutics’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy cardiomyopathy drug for approval, stakeholders allege an “ulterior motive” and “biased intentions.”
Biotechs that announced series B financing this year and are looking for employees as they grow include one that received over $100 million and another that has a partnership with a Big Pharma company.
During a perplexing advisory committee meeting in which FDA reviewers focused largely on the Phase 3 HOPE-3 trial’s secondary endpoint of cardiac function, experts pointed to “very fragile” data. The committee voted 9-3 against approval of deramiocel.
The FDA published briefing documents ahead of advisory committee meetings for therapies from Capricor Therapeutics and Replimune indicate an uphill battle for the biotechs; GSK and AstraZeneca outline ambitious plans in second quarter presentations; Sarepta taps Michael Severino as its new CEO; and Amgen launches its official defense of Tavneos.
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