CBER Director Touts Center's FY2016 Performance
The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Biologics Research and Evaluation (CBER) has once again met or exceeded its performance goals for reviewing and acting on product applications and supplements, according to a report released Thursday from CBER Director Peter Marks.
The report is Marks' first since he rose to head CBER last January, replacing former CBER Director Karen Midthun after her 22-year stint at the agency.
As in previous years, CBER met or exceeded the performance goals for product reviews established by the various User Fee Acts:
| CBER Performance Goals | |
|---|---|
| Standard and Priority BLA/NDA Reviews | 100% on time |
| Standard and Priority Efficacy Supplements | 100% on time |
| MDUFA Decisions | 100% within 90 day target |
Compared with 2015, CBER saw fewer Biologic License Applications (BLAs) with eight BLAs falling within the FY2016 review timeframe as opposed to 13 in FY2015.
| CBER Biological License Application (BLA) and Efficacy Supplement Approvals FY2016 (1 October 2015-30 September 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product | Application Type | Indication |
| BioThrax (anthrax vaccine) | Efficacy Supplement | Approval of efficacy supplement to include post-exposure prophylaxis of disease resulting from suspected or confirmed Bacillus anthracis exposure, when combined with the recommended course of antimicrobial therapy in persons 18 through 65 years of age. |
| Fluad (adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine). | BLA | First adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine licensed in the US for the active prevention of seasonal influenza in people 65 years of age and older. |
| FluLaval Quadrivalent (seasonal influenza vaccine) | Efficacy Supplement | Extended the age range to include children 6 through 35 months of age for the prevention of seasonal influenza. |
| Gardasil 9 (human papillomavirus 9-valent vaccine | Efficacy Supplement | Includes males 16 through 26 years of age for the prevention of anal cancer and genital warts. |
| Vaxchora (cholera vaccine live oral) | BLA | For the prevention of cholera caused by serogroup O1 in adults 18 through 64 years who travel to cholera-affected areas. |
| Idelvion (coagulation factor IX (recombinant), albumin fusion protein) | BLA | For the treatment and control of bleeding episodes in children and adults with Hemophilia B. |
| Vonvendi (von Willebrand factor (recombinant)) | BLA | For the on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes in adults 18 years of age and older with von Willebrand disease. |
| Coagadex (coagulation factor X (human)) | BLA | First coagulation factor replacement therapy licensed in the US for patients with hereditary Factor X deficiency. |
| Adynovate (antihemophilic factor (recombinant)) | BLA | For use in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older with Hemophilia A (congenital factor VIII deficiency) for on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes and routine prevention to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes. |
| Afstyla (antihemophilic factor (recombinant)) | BLA | Intended for use in adults and children with Hemophilia A (congenital factor VII deficiency) for on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes and routine prophylaxis to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes. |
| Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec) | BLA | First oncolytic virus therapy for the treatment of melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes. |
Aside from hitting its performance targets for reviews, CBER published a total of 12 guidance documents in FY2016, four of which were published in cooperation with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) or the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).
The guidances include four final guidances and six draft guidances, as well as two guidances for immediate implementation intended to reduce the risk of Zika virus transmission.