Chronicle of the development and review of Epizyme’s epithelioid sarcoma treatment tazemetostat.

US FDA reviewers recommended against accelerated approval of Epizyme’s tazemetostat for epithelioid sarcoma, finding the modest overall response rates were not substantial evidence of an improvement over available therapies; they were overruled by senior oncology review staff, who cited a unanimous ODAC endorsement and the regulatory flexibility encouraged for rare diseases.

Final guidance on regulatory pathway for antibacterial and antifungal drugs is not substantially different from 2018 draft version but gives more detail on the process for submitting promotional materials prior to dissemination and seeking termination of LPAD labeling limitations.

Citing difficulties in conducting randomized trials, industry speakers call for a new way of thinking about the US FDA's substantial evidence standard for antifungal approvals under the LPAD route, as well as revisions to enrollment criteria and study endpoints.

Agency has created a centralized team to help review divisions with virtual advisory committee preparations and is trying to notify sponsors earlier in the review process about the need for a panel; sponsors cite importance of having a back channel of communications so team members can communicate with each other while an AdComm is underway.

Generic drugs program has approved almost 300 manufacturing changes to help shore up the supply chain, with some prior approval supplements being downgraded to ‘changes being effected’ supplements, FDA officials said at GDUFA III kick-off meeting.