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Three RSV Vaccines Now Available for Older Adults as FDA Approves Moderna's mRESVIA

  • The FDA has approved three RSV vaccines for adults 60 years and older, with Moderna's mRESVIA joining GSK's Arexvy and Pfizer's Abrysvo in the market as of May 2024.
  • Clinical trials demonstrate high efficacy rates across all three vaccines, with Arexvy showing 82.6% effectiveness, Abrysvo achieving 88.9% efficacy, and mRESVIA demonstrating 83.7% protection against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease.
  • The vaccines employ different approaches, with Abrysvo being bivalent targeting both RSV A and B strains, Arexvy containing an adjuvant for enhanced immune response, and mRESVIA utilizing mRNA technology.
  • Pharmacists are positioned to play a crucial role in RSV vaccination efforts, given their accessibility and expertise, as nine in ten Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy.

Regeneron's Lynozyfic Receives FDA Approval for Multiple Myeloma with 70% Response Rate

  • Regeneron's Lynozyfic (linvoseltamab-gcpt) received accelerated FDA approval for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients with at least four prior treatments.
  • The first-in-class BCMAxCD3 bispecific antibody demonstrated a 70% overall response rate with 45% achieving complete response or better in the pivotal LINKER-MM1 trial.
  • The therapy features a flexible maintenance schedule that can extend to every four weeks based on patient response, potentially reducing treatment burden.
  • The approval includes a Boxed Warning for cytokine release syndrome and neurological toxicities, with availability through a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program.

Roche's Columvi Demonstrates 41% Reduction in Death Risk in Phase III DLBCL Trial

  • Roche's Phase III STARGLO study showed Columvi plus chemotherapy reduced death risk by 41% versus rituximab plus chemotherapy in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients.
  • The combination achieved a median overall survival of 25.5 months compared to 12.9 months for the control arm, with complete response rates of 58.5% versus 25.3%.
  • Results position Columvi as the first CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody to demonstrate survival benefit in DLBCL in a randomized Phase III trial.
  • The data will be submitted to global health authorities including FDA and EMA to support conversion from accelerated to full approval.

Leqembi's Slow Adoption: Challenges and Progress in Alzheimer's Treatment

  • Leqembi, the first FDA-approved drug shown to slow Alzheimer's progression, has experienced slower-than-expected adoption despite its groundbreaking status in treating the disease.
  • Healthcare systems face significant implementation challenges, including establishing diagnostic protocols, monitoring systems for side effects, and navigating complex insurance coverage issues for the $26,000-per-year treatment.
  • Despite modest clinical benefits and potential side effects like brain swelling and bleeding, some patients report improvements in short-term memory, offering hope as researchers continue developing easier administration methods and complementary treatments.

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Krazati Plus Cetuximab for KRAS G12C-Mutated Colorectal Cancer

  • The FDA granted accelerated approval to Krazati (adagrasib) plus cetuximab for adults with KRAS G12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer who have received prior standard chemotherapy treatments.
  • The combination therapy targets a specific genetic mutation and is approved for patients whose tumors are determined to have the KRAS G12C mutation by an FDA-approved test.
  • The most common adverse reactions include rash, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain, occurring in at least 20% of patients.
  • This approval represents a significant advancement in precision medicine for colorectal cancer patients with this specific genetic alteration.

Fresenius Kabi Launches First Actemra® Biosimilar in U.S. Market as Biosimilar Landscape Expands

• Fresenius Kabi has launched Tyenne® (tocilizumab-aazg), the first biosimilar of Actemra® to enter the U.S. market, following FDA approval in March 2024 for both intravenous and subcutaneous formulations.
• Accord BioPharma received FDA approval for Hercessi™ (trastuzumab-strf), becoming the sixth Herceptin® biosimilar approved in the U.S., while Xbrane's Xlucane™ (ranibizumab) received a Complete Response Letter from the FDA.
• The expanding biosimilar market continues to challenge reference products with significant annual sales, with Actemra® generating approximately $3 billion, Herceptin® $1.77 billion, and Lucentis® $1.475 billion in 2023.

FDA Approves Pfizer's $3.5 Million Gene Therapy Beqvez for Hemophilia B Treatment

  • The FDA approved Pfizer's Beqvez, a one-time gene therapy for adults with moderate to severe hemophilia B, marking the company's first gene therapy approval in the U.S.
  • The treatment carries a $3.5 million price tag before insurance and rebates, making it one of the most expensive drugs in the United States.
  • Beqvez enables patients to produce factor IX protein themselves, potentially eliminating the need for regular intravenous infusions administered multiple times per week or month.
  • The therapy will compete with CSL Behring's Hemgenix, another gene therapy for hemophilia B approved in 2022 with a similar $3.5 million price point.

FDA Approves ImmunityBio's Anktiva for Bladder Cancer, Marking Major Milestone for Soon-Shiong's Immunotherapy Approach

  • The FDA has approved ImmunityBio's lead drug Anktiva for treating a common form of bladder cancer, representing a significant breakthrough after years of development and regulatory challenges.
  • Anktiva harnesses the body's natural killer cells and T-cells to fight cancer, with clinical trials showing the ability to eliminate bladder cancer cells for at least four years.
  • ImmunityBio plans to begin distributing Anktiva to healthcare providers by mid-May 2024, with the company having built a three-year stockpile of the drug during the FDA review process.

Study Reveals Most Cancer Drugs with Accelerated FDA Approval Fail to Demonstrate Clinical Benefit After Five Years

  • A new study found that only 43% of cancer drugs granted FDA accelerated approval between 2013-2017 demonstrated clinical benefit in confirmatory trials after more than five years of follow-up.
  • Despite limited evidence of clinical benefit, 63% of these accelerated approval drugs were converted to regular approval, raising concerns about regulatory standards and patient communication.
  • The research highlights the need for better validation of surrogate endpoints and more robust evidence requirements before converting accelerated approvals to regular approvals.
  • Researchers emphasize the importance of clearer communication between physicians and patients about the uncertainty surrounding drugs approved on preliminary measures.

Sandoz Receives FDA Approval for First Denosumab Biosimilars in US and Canada

  • Sandoz received FDA approval for Jubbonti and Wyost, the first and only denosumab biosimilars approved in the United States and Canada, marking a significant milestone in biosimilar development.
  • The biosimilars are approved as interchangeable with Amgen's reference medicines Prolia and Xgeva for all indications, including osteoporosis treatment and prevention of cancer-related bone complications.
  • More than 10 million US adults aged 50 and over live with osteoporosis, with half of all women over 50 experiencing an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime.
  • The approvals are based on robust phase I and phase III clinical studies demonstrating no clinically meaningful differences from the reference medicines.

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