Regulation & Policy

FDA turns down AZ, BMS diabetes drug

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has turned down a new treatment for type 2 diabetes, dapagliflozin, the drug’s co-developers, AstraZeneca Plc and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced. The drug inhibits sodium-glucose transport proteins known as SGLT2.

Sanofi reports regulatory approval of plant

Country
France

Sanofi SA has received European regulatory assurance of the fitness of a manufacturing plant in Framingham, Massachusetts, signaling progress towards the restoration of global supplies of its treatment for Fabry disease, Fabrazyme.

Wilex reports on MEK inhibitor

Country
Germany

Wilex AG has reported the successful completion of a Phase 1 study in volunteers of a small molecule inhibitor of the MEK signalling pathway. MEK inhibition is being studied by a number of companies and institutions as a potential anti-cancer agent.

Clavis Pharma reports delay in AML trial

Country
Norway

Clavis Pharma ASA has announced a delay in the start of a Phase 3 study of its new treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Separately, the Norwegian oncology company said it has raised NOK 163 in a private share placement with investors.

FDA tightens label on antibody-drug conjugate, Adcetris

Country
United States

Just six months after approving Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin), the US Food and Drug Administration has announced that the developer, Seattle Genetics Inc, will be tightening the drug’s label to warn against the rare PML brain infection.

Basilea to seek European approval for antibiotic

Country
Switzerland

After regaining rights to the broad-spectrum antibiotic, ceftobiprole, Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd has announced plans to file a European marketing authorisation application in the second half. Talks with the FDA are ongoing about a US filing.

FDA bans cephalosporin use in animals

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued an order prohibiting the off-label use of cephalosporin antibiotics in food-producing animals in response to concerns about the continuing effectiveness of these drugs in humans.

FDA approves expanded indication for Prevnar

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Prevnar 13, a pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine, for people 50 years and older to prevent pneumonia and invasive disease caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus pneumoniae.

EMA to review safety of aliskiren medicines

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency has announced the start of a safety review of aliskiren-containing medicines following a decision by Novartis, the developer, to stop a Phase 3 study of the drug in a new indication.

EMA gives positive opinion for Zelboraf

Country
United Kingdom

The Roche group’s new kinase inhibitor for metastatic melanoma, Zelboraf (vemurafenib), has been given a positive opinion by the European Medicines Agency, following its approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in August.