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While the FDA did not announce the recipient names of the Commissioner’s National Priority Vouchers, the agency’s descriptions of the awarded products match those in development at Compass Pathways, Transcend Therapeutics and Usona Institute.
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The FDA is signaling change, but actual success depends on more than simply bringing in a new leader at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; it requires accountability, transparency and consistent action.
Approved Thursday via the FDA’s Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program, Otarmeni is the first gene therapy for hearing loss—and the first treatment to target an underlying cause of the condition.
With a greenlight for ibogaine to enter clinical testing and three unnamed products set to receive Commissioner’s National Priority Vouchers this week, it’s full speed ahead for psychedelics. But will sidestepping normal regulatory protocols actually be a net negative for the field?
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FROM OUR EDITORS
Read our takes on the biggest stories happening in the industry.
Doubling survival in pancreatic cancer, a long-fought rare disease approval, a massive IPO and ambitious biotech entrepreneurs have BioSpace Senior Editor Annalee Armstrong feeling upbeat about the biotech scene.
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The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that Teva violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. The payment is in addition to the criminal penalty paid by Teva USA under its deferred prosecution agreement.
Oditrasertib, which blocks the inflammatory RIPK1 protein, earlier this year also failed a Phase II trial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, forcing the company to discontinue its development a few months later.
Vaccine biotech Gritstone bio is filing for bankruptcy while securing a stalking horse bid from an unnamed party, which the company hopes will save its clinical research in cancer and infectious disease.
Astellas is opening a second location of Universal Cells, its wholly owned subsidiary, at a research campus in Japan and transferring 12 roles from Universal’s Seattle location.
In the third episode of our mini series on artificial intelligence, Lori and guests continue their exploratory discussion on AI and the opportunity in patient lives.
The overall survival data from the late-stage trial will help Pfizer in its bid to expand the label for Talzenna and Xtandi, potentially covering all patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer regardless of biomarker status.
The pediatric patients, with a rare neurodegenerative disease, were treated with bluebird bio’s Skysona to slow the progression of neurologic dysfunction. Six patients developed myelodysplastic syndrome and one patient developed acute myeloid leukemia.
The settlement, which is at the low end of Jefferies analysts’ $2 billion to $3.5 billion estimate, will resolve 93% of the product liability cases regarding allegations that GSK’s heartburn drug could cause cancer. Analysts say separate concerns remain about its vaccines business.
Carlos Doti has moved countries and changed jobs, but one thing hasn’t changed. Making an impact on patient care has always been a priority for the AstraZeneca executive.
M&A
After four patient deaths, Kezar’s lupus trial is officially on hold, sparking investor Kevin Tang’s interest for acquisition.