Government
The FDA’s decision last year to make complete response letters public provides new insight into why therapies sometimes fail to get the regulatory greenlight. Analysts say the information could help sponsors refine their regulatory strategies.
The Department of Health and Human Services is spinning its wheels, unable to establish steady leadership at three major divisions—the CDC and the FDA’s two primary review units.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s health department has consistently touted radical transparency as being key to its mission. Recent instances—the FDA’s decision not to disclose the recipients of three Commissioner’s National Priority Vouchers and FDA and CDC choices not to publish vaccine-related papers—call this intent into question.
Facing increasing pressure from both industry and the White House, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the strong bad press against him is “corporate spin” and that the agency has “followed the science.”
First quarter earnings continue to arrive, with analysts demanding more from cautious Pfizer and Eli Lilly expecting more revenue; the FDA taps Katherine Szarama as Vinay Prasad’s controversial FDA tenure ends; oncology veterans miss Richard Pazdur at the agency’s first adcomm in nine months; and QurAlis and Corcept Therapeutics spark renewed hope in ALS.
The FDA is reportedly down to a handful of final candidates to lead CBER, with a potential selection expected in the coming month or two. For now, the appointment of acting director Katherine Szarama has not allayed the industry’s concerns.
Sanofi and Novartis kick off the heart of earnings season; Lilly strikes its fourth pact in as many weeks; Regeneron earns landmark approval for a gene therapy for a type of genetic deafness, and also strikes a White House deal; FDA asks Amgen to withdraw Tavneos and, separately, issues Commissioner’s National Priority Vouches to three unnamed psychedelics companies.
After striking a Most Favored Nation deal with the White House in January, Johnson & Johnson will now offer Xarelto at 68% off on TrumpRx, dropping its price from $611.82 to $197 per 30-pill pack.
Neal and Azbee awards have validated our approach to reporting on the industry at a time of unprecedented shifts at the FDA and other federal agencies.
Of the 17 companies that were implored by the White House last July to apply Most Favored Nation pricing to their drugs, Regeneron is the last to agree—the same day the FDA greenlit its gene therapy for hearing loss in kids.
PRESS RELEASES