Discussions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare and clinical research have been ongoing for decades. However, the COVID-19 global pandemic brought about a new focus on this issue. As the pharmaceutical industry began strategizing on how to improve diversity in its clinical trials, the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA in collaboration with the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Oncology Center of Excellence convened a series of interviews and ...

The assessment aid (AAid), an initiative of the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE), was introduced in 2018 as a pilot program to help streamline the agency’s review of oncology drug applications. In this article, Genentech shares its experience with the AAid to date and provides recommendations for preparing the AAid and improving the process to fully realize its benefits. Keywords – assessment aid, FDA OCE pilots, oncology dr...

Cancer drugs under development that show substantial promise over existing therapies and have simple study designs, as well as easy to interpret endpoints, may qualify for a head-start review from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the drug will ultimately be reviewed under the same user fee time frame as other products, it may help speed up the review process for sponsors.   On 22 July, FDA published a draft guidance titled, Real-Time Oncology Review (...

Racial, ethnic and sociodemographic disparities that are present in clinical trials and compassionate use agreements for cancer immunotherapy during the pre-approval period are reduced, but not eliminated after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves these cancer treatments, according to recent research published in JAMA Network Open .   “The time frame leading up to FDA approval is an important period in which to observe disparities,” Theresa Ermer, MD, of...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now published four draft guidances spelling out how it will consider real-world data (RWD) in regulatory decision-making, from the use of electronic health records and registries to RWD in non-interventional studies. More guidance documents are planned, including details on study designs that incorporate RWD for external control arms.   External control arms, which use data collected outside of the current trial to provide ...

The unprecedented number of new investigational agents in clinical development in the competitive oncology space presents a significant challenge for regulatory intelligence professionals. Strategic decisions are complicated by the overwhelming amount of regulatory information scattered across numerous repositories. The development of an in-house database may facilitate success for businesses in the prevailing information-centric world. Effective implementation of an in-ho...

A weekly update on new drug approvals and indications from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). New approvals Tarpeyo approved for reducing proteinuria in IgA nephropathy Calliditas Therapeutics’ Tarpeyo (budesonide) delayed release capsules were granted accelerated approval to reduce proteinuria in adults with primary immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, also known as Berger’s disease, who are at risk of rapid disease progression. Approval of Tarpeyo wa...

Welcome to Regulatory Reconnaissance, your daily regulatory news and intelligence briefing.   In Focus: US Biden says omicron variant is cause for concern but not panic ( NPR ) CDC Statement on B.1.1.529 (Omicron variant) ( CDC ) Pfizer boosts Paxlovid manufacturing capacity as Merck’s rival COVID pill hits surprise efficacy setback ( Fierce ) Opinion: Becerra needs to open up to the press ( AHCJ ) Opinion: Will Moderna Ever Learn to Share? ( MedPage Today ) Who ...

Friends of Cancer Research is calling on all stakeholders in the cancer community to move away from the idea of “more is better” in drug dosing and begin to incorporate dose-finding studies into the cancer trial process.   Dose optimization is the focus of a new white paper that the group released at its 25 th annual meeting. The paper offers recommendations for performing adequate dose optimization studies in oncology, with a focus on the pre-market setting. “These...

A weekly update on new drug approvals and indications from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).   New approvals Tavneos okayed for ANCA-associated vasculitis ChemoCentryx’s Tavneos (avacopan) has been approved as an adjunctive treatment for adults with severe active anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis, also known as ANCA-associated vasculitis, in combination with standard therapy.   ANCA-associated vasculitis is a group of thr...

Welcome to Regulatory Reconnaissance, your daily regulatory news and intelligence briefing.   In Focus: US FDA Permits Marketing of E-Cigarette Products, Marking First Authorization of Its Kind by the Agency ( FDA ) FDA still without a permanent leader as clock ticks down on acting head ( CNN ) IPO floodgates open up after summer lull as five more biotechs file for Nasdaq ( Endpoints ) FDA staff doesn’t take stance on Moderna Covid booster shots, says two doses are...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched its accelerated approval program in 1992, offering a pathway to bring life-saving drugs and biologics to the market faster. After nearly 30 years, could substantial reforms be on the way?   At RAPS Convergence 2021, David Dorsey of Janssen R&D, said Congress could choose to make changes to the accelerated approval program through the upcoming reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). Congress has...