Politics and Policy

The FDA cited issues related to the proposed manufacturing of the drug, mirikizumab. Lilly expressed confidence that they could be corrected.

Through Express Scripts’ new Copay Assurance plan, consumers will have lower out-of-pocket costs because of caps on prescription drugs: $5 for generics, $25 for preferred brand drugs, and $45 for preferred specialty brand drugs.

Emergent BioSolutions hasn’t provided a price for the nonprescription Narcan but said the product will be available by late summer.

If approved, Perrigo’s Opill could be the first-ever nonprescription birth control pill.

Leniolisib, now with the brand name Joenja, treats APDA, a genetic disorder that impairs the immune system. It will have an annual list price of $547,500 a year.

Rezzayo is a novel once-weekly antifungal approved to treat invasive candidiasis, a serious infection that can affect the blood, heart and brain.

Regulatory officials identified additional requirements for approval of an extended-release version of Jakafi, which is under review for myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera and graft-versus-host disease.

Zynyx will be priced comparable to other PD-1 inhibitors currently available to treat metastatic or recurrent locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare skin cancer.

Sandoz will now launch both high-concentration and low-concentration versions of Hyrimoz (adalimumab-adaz) in July.

In a complete response letter, the FDA has requested information about the pump that will be used to deliver ABBV-951, which will provide continuous subcutaneous delivery of oral immediate-release carbidopa/levodopa.

Evkeeza treats a rare form of high cholesterol. It is now approved for patients as young of 5 years of age.

Illuccix is for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positive lesions in men with prostate cancer.

Daybue will be available by the end of April with a list price of about $375,000 annually.

Zavzpret is the first calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist nasal spray approved for patients with acute migraine.

Other news includes the launches of the first generic of an ulcer drug, the antipsychotic lurasidone, an extended-release version of topiramate for migraine, and additional strengths of the cancer drug lenalidomide. Additionally, Glenmark will distribute Cediprof's generic Adderall, and the FDA has accepted Amneal’s application for a generic naloxone nasal spray.

If approved, Jardiance would be the first SGLT2 inhibitor indicated for this population. A decision is expected in the second quarter of 2023.

Voxzogo is already available to treat patients older than five years with a genetic cause of dwarfism. The FDA has set a PDUFA of Oct. 21, 2023, for children younger than 5.

If approved, berdazimer could be the first prescription product treat molluscum, a common skin infection caused by poxvirus. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act goal date is Jan. 5, 2024.

With a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of Dec. 22, 2023, eplontersen is an antisense medicine to treat patients living with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy, which results in nerve damage.

The agency has set a new PDUFA target action date of June 30, 2023, for Roctavian. If approved, it would be the first one-time gene therapy for hemophilia. A.

The FDA plans to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the Alzheimer’s therapy. The agency has assigned Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action of July 6, 2023.

Niraparib and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone has potential to address unmet need for patients with BRCA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

If approved, ADX-2191 could be the first marketed drug specifically for patients with primary vitreoretinal lymphoma. The FDA assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date of June 21, 2023.

Kevzara is the first biologic to treat patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). It is also approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

If authorized, Pfizer’s RSV vaccine would be used to prevent respiratory disease caused by RSV in adults 60 years of age and older. An FDA decision is expected by May 2023.

The companies have also submitted an EUA for a fourth dose of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 months through 4 years of age.

Skyclarys will be available in the second quarter of 2023 to treat patients with Friedreich’s ataxia, an ultra-rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder. The wholesale acquisition cost is $370,000.

BMS is seeking an indication for Opdivo as monotherapy to treat patients with stage IIB or IIC melanoma after surgery. The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date of Oct. 13, 2023.

Altuviiio is a first-in-class therapy providing factor VIII replacement to prevent bleeding in patients with hemophilia A. It is expected to be available in April 2023.

If approved, pozelimab would be the first treatment for CHAPLE disease, which causes damage to blood and lymph vessels along the upper digestive tract. The target action date for the FDA decision is Aug. 20, 2023.