US FDA veterans offered varying opinions as to the benefits and risks of the CBER director taking on a more hands-on role in reviewing Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. The move was called unusual, but not inappropriate; some said it should be monitored closely to ensure review staff’s judgements are not pushed aside.
Reports that US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologic Evaluation and Research Director Peter Marks is assuming leadership of Pfizer Inc./BioNTech SE’s COVID-19 biologics license application raises some potential red flags the agency should be sure to handle carefully.
“I think it's great to have the center director engaged. And trying to help the process along, but I do...
Revised recommendation is based on most recent data on circulating strains in US, where KP.3 is now dominant. Novavax sticks with plans targeting the JN.1 ‘parent strain.’
US FDA’s 2015 accelerated approval called for confirmatory trial completion by 2018, but study initiation was delayed. Completed in 2022, the trial not only verified Bexsero’s clinical benefit, it also served as the pivotal study for GSK’s pentavalent meningococcal vaccine candidate.
To help sponsors developing candidate mpox vaccines, the World Health Organization will soon be finalizing guidance on the preferred and minimum characteristics these products must satisfy regarding efficacy, dose regimen and other aspects to secure regulatory approval.
The WHO’s emergency committee has warned of a lack of understanding of the epidemiology of mpox, the limited availability of vaccines, and the complexities of donations and procurement.
It is unclear in a revised staff manual guide whether Commissioner's National Priority Voucher program approval “recommendations” from the drug and biologic center directors will be advisory or decisional, experts told the Pink Sheet.
Revised recommendation is based on most recent data on circulating strains in US, where KP.3 is now dominant. Novavax sticks with plans targeting the JN.1 ‘parent strain.’
Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss the US FDA’s changes to the COVID-19 vaccine indication and its revocation of the vaccine emergency use authorizations, as well as new vaccine coverage and reimbursement questions.
