Regulatory Oversight and Compliance

US District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered a consent decree of permanent injunction prohibiting Florida-based Premier Pharmacy Labs from producing or distributing drugs because of insanitary conditions.

The agency approved Byooviz (ranibizumab-nuna), a biosimilar to Lucentis (ranibizumab injection), for the treatment of several eye diseases.

Pfizer-BioNTech announced plans to seek FDA approval this month of a smaller dose of its Comirnaty vaccine for children ages 5–11.

FDA advisors agreed unanimously on a more limited booster plan after rejecting Pfizer’s original request to authorize its third shot for everyone over age 16.

Health Canada approved the new drug submission for Spikevax—more commonly known as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine—for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 12 years of age and older.

FDA revised the emergency use authorization for bamlanivimab and etesevimab (administered together) to include emergency use as post-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) for COVID-19.

Takeda’s Exkivity (mobocertinib) was approved by FDA for the treatment of patients with lung cancer.

Symbiosis Pharmaceutical Services has successfully completed an on-site inspection, performed by the MHRA, of its expanded facility in Stirling, UK.

FDA and EMA will provide scientific advice to applicants concerning complex generic and hybrid products.

Low- and middle-income countries are at the greatest risk of receiving substandard and falsified COVID-19 vaccines.

There are expectations that changes to pharma regulations in the EU, forming part of the regions broader strategy for the industry, will be positive and should offer flexibility for industry to advance through innovation.

HUTCHMED’s amdizalisib (HMPL-689) received breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of a subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Janssen’s Invega Hayfera is the first six-month injectable schizophrenia treatment approved by FDA.

NICE has reconsidered its decision on Janssen's Erleada (apalutamide), issuing two positive final appraisal determinations (FADs) on the therapy.

NICE has recommended tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Pfizer)as an option for treating active polyarticular juvenile arthritis and juvenile psoriatic arthritis.

The orphan drug designation for TCR² Therapeutics’ Gavo-cel will facilitate research into a treatment for cholangiocarcinoma.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations stated that developing the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines will only be possible if comparator vaccines are available for clinical trials.

FDA placed a clinical hold on the BMN 307 Phearless Phase I/II study, which was evaluating an investigational PAH gene therapy in adults with PKU.

Impel Neuropharma’s Trudhesa, a nasal spray, received FDA approval for treating migraines in adults with and without aura.

The Novel Excipient Review Pilot Program will allow excipient manufacturers to obtain FDA review of certain novel excipients prior to use in drug formulations.

Orphan drug designation for Polaryx’s PLX-200 will facilitate research into its use treating Krabbe Disease, a rare lysosomal genetic disorder.

FDA clearance of trans sodium crocetinate allows Diffusion to proceed with their latest Phase II oxygenation trial.

A report from the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office analyzes how drug pricing policies could reduce the number of new therapies coming to market.

Will FDA’s approval of Semglee create a surge in the development of interchangeable biosimilars?

FDA will now require new and updated warnings about the increased risk of serious heart-related events, cancer, blood clots, and death for JAK inhibitors that treat certain chronic inflammatory conditions.

SK and GSK announce the initiation of a Phase III clinical study of SK’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, GBP510, in combination with GSK’s pandemic adjuvant.

Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced the initiation of the Phase III clinical trial to evaluate an investigational oral antiviral therapeutic for the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

Two of FDA’s vaccine regulators will be leaving in the fall of 2021, which has the potential to impact COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for both children under the age of 12 and booster shots.

The European Commission has granted marketing authorization to Incyte and MorphoSys for Minjuvi (tafasitamab) in combination therapy with lenalidomide to treat relapsed or refractory DLBCL.

FDA formally unveiled its plan for revising and renewing its fee program for drugs and biologics.