USFDA

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Janssen) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved INVOKAMET® XR—a once-daily, fixed-dose combination therapy of canagliflozin and metformin hydrochloride extended-release (XR)—for first-line use as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes when treatment with the two medications is appropriate. INVOKAMET® XR combines INVOKANA® (canagliflozin), the most prescribed sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, with more than 9 million U.S. prescriptions since launch, and an XR formulation of metformin. Metformin is commonly prescribed as an initial therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., a developer of innovative RNA-targeted therapeutics, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for Exondys 51 (eteplirsen) as a once weekly intravenous infusion of 30 milligrams per kilogram for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients who have a confirmed mutation in the DMD gene that is amenable to exon 51 skipping.

DBV Technologies announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for Viaskin Milk, the Company’s investigational treatment for pediatric patients two years of age and older with Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA), currently under clinical investigation in a Phase IIb trial. There are currently no approved treatments for CMPA, the most common food allergy in infants and young children. Fast Track is a process designed by the FDA to facilitate the development, expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need.

Lannett Company, Inc. announced that it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Buprenorphine and Naloxone Sublingual Tablets, 2 mg/0.5 mg and 8 mg/2 mg, the therapeutic equivalent to the reference listed drug, Suboxone Sublingual Tablets, 2 mg/0.5 mg and 8 mg/2 mg.  According to IMS, total U.S. sales in 2015 of Buprenorphine and Naloxone Sublingual Tablets, 2 mg/0.5 mg and 8 mg/2 mg, at Average Wholesale Price (AWP) were approximately $270 million.

Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation to VT-1598, a novel candidate for the oral treatment of coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever. Valley fever is an invasive fungal infection found primarily in the southwest United States that affects an estimated 150,000 people annually.

Active Biotech provided an update on laquinimod which is being developed in multiple sclerosis (MS) and Huntington's disease (HD) by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has informed Teva that the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for the Phase III CONCERTO clinical trial evaluating laquinimod in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) was rescinded.

Varian Medical Systems announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Nexus DR, a high resolution imaging system for X-ray imaging using a digital X-ray detector. The Nexus DR is designed to replace conventional film techniques, or existing digital systems, in multipurpose or dedicated applications. The system is a single common imaging platform intended for general radiographic procedures (excluding fluoroscopy, angiography, and mammography).

Array BioPharma announced that it has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) related to BEACON CRC, a global Phase 3 trial of encorafenib and Erbitux® (cetuximab), with or without binimetinib, versus standard of care in patients with BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer (CRC) who have previously received first-or second-line systemic therapy.