It may be easier to use observational study data to replicate randomized controlled trial results in certain therapeutic areas or where drugs were studied against each other instead of placebo, the US FDA’s David Martin says; the agency-funded DUPLICATE real-world evidence demonstration project has completed replication work on the first five trials, all of which are diabetes drug cardiovascular outcomes studies.

Agency approved 11 biosimilars from six sponsors with only one publicly disclosed complete response letter (Tanvex’s filgrastim). Pink Sheet infographic shows 351(k) application submission, approval and CRL rates over the life of the user fee program.

A lower-than-expected number of fee-paying application submissions in FY 2018 resulted in the agency spending approximately $9.7m more than anticipated from its user fee carryover balance, leading to a reset of spend-down targets for the remainder of BsUFA II.

A lower-than-expected number of fee-paying application submissions in FY 2018 resulted in the agency spending approximately $9.7m more than anticipated from its user fee carryover balance, leading to a reset of spend-down targets for the remainder of BsUFA II.

Methodological problems with RWE submissions for approved applications may give sponsors ‘a little bit of a pause’ as they work through data selection and analytical issues, Aetion’s Jeremy Rassen says. CDER’s Janet Woodcock says it is easier to use RWE when treatment effects are large.

US FDA approves a PrEP indication for emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide that excludes cisgender women due to a lack of efficacy evidence; Gilead will conduct a new randomized trial with a novel design in women comparing Descovy's efficacy and safety against external controls and Truvada.