UCB Frustrated By FDA Failure To Inspect Facility For Psoriasis Drug

Delays Expected Approval Of Bimekizumab

The Belgian group is the latest to be hit by the FDA's difficulties in address the growing backlog of facility inspections, leaving bimekizumab in limbo in the US, despite having just been approved as Bimzelx in Europe.

travel disrupt
COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented inspection of UCB facility • Source: Alamy

UCB S.A.'s hopes of launching bimekizumab in the US before year-end have been thwarted by COVID-19-related travel restrictions that have prevented an inspection of the site where the closely watched psoriasis drug is manufactured.

The IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor was approved in the EU and the UK in August, branded as Bimzelx, and UCB...

Scrip Podcast

Keep up with the top pharma business news of the week. On the go.

Scrip brings you a weekly bulletin of top picks.

More from New Products

Scrip-NewProducts (Premium-2): Top 12 Pharma Companies: Pfizer Tops The Leaderboard Again

 
• By 

The world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies mostly saw growth in 2024 but 2025 promises to be more of a mixed bag with headwinds including losses of exclusivity, Medicare Part D redesign and challenges in the Chinese market.

Innovent/GenFleet Score China’s First KRAS G12C Inhibitor Approval

 

The nod will help unlock a national market for the partners’ Dupert (fulzerasib) in which roughly 50,000 people are expected to be newly diagnosed with lung cancer harboring the KRAS G12C mutation in 2025. Meanwhile, two other homegrown rivals are also closing in on marketing clearances in China.

Cagrisema Leads The Charge For 2025

 

2030 sales forecasts for Novo’s obesity hope are an order of magnitude larger than its closest rival among 2025’s expected debutantes.  

Small But Mitey: Tarsus To Amp Up Strong Xdemvy Launch

 

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals is putting more sales and marketing heft behind its novel eyelid disease therapy, Xdemvy, to capitalize on a solid start in a previously untapped market.    

More from Scrip

EHA: Lilly’s Jaypirca Posts First Phase III Triplet Win In CLL While BTK Degraders Advance

Lilly's first Phase III triplet win opens the door to a label expansion in BTK-pretreated CLL, with analysts suggesting Jaypica could attain blockbuster status. However, the window to capitalize may be brief as next-generation BTK degraders close in with head-to-head trials.

EHA: Lilly’s Jaypirca Posts First Phase III Triplet Win In CLL While BTK Degraders Advance - Clone

Lilly's first Phase III triplet win opens the door to a label expansion in BTK-pretreated CLL, with analysts suggesting Jaypica could attain blockbuster status. However, the window to capitalize may be brief as next-generation BTK degraders close in with head-to-head trials.