Regulation & Policy

Safinamide queried for abuse potential

Country
Italy

The US Food and Drug Administration has asked Newron Pharmaceuticals SpA to provide more information on the potential for abuse of its candidate drug for Parkinson’s disease safinamide. The FDA is withholding approval pending further information.

CRL for new Brintellix indication

Country
Denmark

The US Food and Drug Administration has turned down a proposed new indication for the anti-depressant Brintellix (vortioxetine) saying that more clinical data is required. Discovered by H. Lundbeck A/S, the drug was being assessed for cognitive dysfunction.

Regulatory consultancies combine

Country
Sweden

In keeping with the trend toward global drug development, regulatory consultancies from Sweden and the US have merged, creating a network of more than 1,000 experts with knowledge of medical technology, science and US and European regulatory procedures.

FDA in Zika virus warning

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration is recommending that people who have been diagnosed with Zika virus infection be ineligible as donors of cell and tissue-based products for any medical or surgically based procedures.

New incentive at the EMA

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency is to extend its scientific advisory services to more companies in a more targeted fashion, under a new policy directed at experimental medicines that promise to meet a major public health need.

FDA approves Briviact for epilepsy

Country
Belgium

Briviact (brivaracetam), a new medicine for patients with epilepsy, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The drug was developed by UCB SA of Belgium.

Zika virus task force

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency has set up a committee of experts with specialised knowledge of vaccines and infectious disease to contribute to the global response to Zika virus infection. Although not new, the virus has spread to Brazil where cases of neurological disorders have been reported.

EMA nod for myeloma drug

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency has given a positive opinion to a new immune-stimulating therapy for multiple myeloma using an accelerated procedure that is reserved for medicines addressing a major public health need.

Survival benefit in sarcoma

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug to show a survival benefit in liposarcoma, a type of soft tissue sarcoma that is difficult to diagnose and treat. The drug, Halaven (eribulin mesylate), is a chemotherapy developed by Eisai Inc.

Volunteer in Phase 1 drug study dies

Country
France

A volunteer in a Phase 1 trial of a novel neurological therapy, who had been declared brain dead three days ago, died on Sunday, according to the drug’s developer Bial-Portela & Ca. SA of Portugal. Five other patients who took part in the trial remained hospitalised.