Drug Pipeline News

The topical gel is the first and only FDA-approved triple-combination, fixed-dose topical treatment for acne, and is set to be available in the first quarter of 2024, according to Bausch Health Companies Inc.

In a phase 2 clinical trial, the safety and efficacy of vosoritide was similar in children aged younger than 5 years to those older than 5 years. 

The FDA approval could simplify meningococcal vaccine schedules while providing broad serogroup coverage.

A significant improvement of stimulated C-peptide levels at week 78 for patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) was observed for teplizumab-treated patients compared to placebo. Significant differences between groups for insulin dose, percentage of time in target glucose range, and change in glycated hemoglobin were not observed.

Of the patients that responded to lebrikizumab at week 16 in the phase 3 trials ADvocate 1 and ADvocate 2, 84% achieved a clinically meaningful response in at least 1 domain of the disease (mild signs, symptoms, or quality of life impact) at 52 weeks.

Patients aged 12 years and up with completely resected Stage IIB/C melanoma can now be treated (adjuvant) with FDA-approved nivolumab (Opdivo; Bristol Meyers Squibb Company).

A rapid reduction in pruritis as early as 24 hours after first application was announced as new positive data from a pair of identical, phase 3 studies of tapinarof cream 1% in children as young as 2 years and adults with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Crinecerfont, an investigational, oral, selective corticotropin-releasing factory type 1 receptor antagonist, achieved the primary and key secondary endpoints in a phase 3 study to treat congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in children aged 2 to 17 years.

Once-daily, topical roflumilast cream 0.3% has been approved by the FDA for children aged 6 to 11 years for the treatment of plaque psoriasis based on a data from a 4-week Maximal Usage Systemic Exposure study, and safety and efficacy data from a pair of phase 3 trials in adults.

Review some of the top stories from the Contemporary Pediatrics website over the last week, and catch up on anything you may have missed.

The approval of the prescription injection for children aged 9 years and up is based on data from a phase 2 and an ongoing phase 3 trial extension study, that demonstrated the lowering of urinary oxalate levels for individuals with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1).

Individuals 12 years and older can now receive the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula) (NVX-CoV2601) to protect against variants that are currently circulating, after receiving an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA.

Tocilizumab-bavi (Tofidence; Biogen) demonstrated a biosimilarity to tocilizumab (Actemra; Genentech) based on multifaceted clinical and non-clinical data for polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (PJIA) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) in children aged 2 years and up. This makes it the first tocilizumab biosimilar to be FDA-approved in the United States, according to Biogen.

Review some of the top stories from the Contemporary Pediatrics website over the last week, and catch up on anything you may have missed.

In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, Rupa Wong, MD, discusses the recent FDA approval of phentolamine ophthalmic solution 0.75% eye drops to treat pharmacologically-induced mydriasis, and how this could impact the treatment landscape for the pediatric population. [Editor's note: RYZUMVI was previously known as Nyxol, which is referenced in the interview.]

Results from the phase 3 MIRA-4 pediatric trial demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile with no reported adverse events. Rupa Wong, MD, offers thoughts on the approval, and why it may not change day-to-day practice when it comes to the pediatric population.

Positive topline results from a pair of identical phase 3 trials support the submission of a supplemental New Drug Application to the FDA for Arcutis Biotherapeutics’ roflumilast cream 0.15%, a once-daily topical to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in children 6 years or older.

Based on recent positive phase 3 results, Arcutis Biotherapeutics,. intends to submit a supplemental New Drug Application with the FDA for roflumilast cream 0.05% to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children aged 2 to 5 years.

The FDA issued the Complete Response Letter (CRL) based on the request for a completed pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study to assess how repeat doses of the epinephrine nasal spray compare to repeat doses of an epinephrine injection product. ARS Pharma is set to file a Formal Dispute Resolution Request to appeal the CRL.

A supplemental biologics license application for ALTUVIIIO (Antihemophilic factor; Sanofi) has been accepted by the FDA for use in patients aged 12 years and younger with severe hemophilia A.

Review some of the top stories from the Contemporary Pediatrics website over the last week, and catch up on anything you may have missed.

In this Contemporary Pediatrics interview, Bernard A. Cohen, MD, discusses VP-102, approved by the FDA on July 22, 2023, to treat molluscum contagiosum in pediatric patients 2 years and up.

The effects of GARDASIL 9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant) in patients aged 9 to 15 years has indicated efficacy, according to a recent long-term follow-up study.

Patients 6 years and up with ADHD now have alternate options for prescription lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse; Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA Inc), after the FDA-approval of multiple generic options.

This new data is consistent with previous results on efficacy and on safety shown in global phase 3 studies that had enrolled both adults and adolescents.

Tina Tan, MD, FAAP, FIDSA, FPIDS, discusses what Pfizer's recently FDA-approved RSV vaccine means for infants ahead of the traditional RSV season.

Approved for use at 32 weeks through 36 weeks gestation, Pfizer’s maternal respiratory syncytial vaccine (Abrysvo), is delivered through a single dose injection to the muscle, and is the first vaccine for use in pregnant individuals to prevent lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD because of RSV in infants (birth to 6 months).

Regeneron states all 10 patients achieved normalization of serum albumin and serum IgG concentrations by week 12 in a phase 2/3 trial that investigated the safety and efficacy of pozelimab-bbfg. These concentrations were maintained through 72 weeks.

Palovarotene is now the first and only treatment for the ultra-rare bone disease fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive (FOP), which impacts approximately 400 people in the United States and 900 globally.

Basis for a Biologics License Application submission to the FDA is being built for PXVX0317, following topline results demonstrated in a pair of phase 3 trials, including 1 trial featuring adolescents and adults aged 12 to 64 years.