Received Marketing Authorization Research Articles

Factors associated with acceleration of clinical development for infectious diseases: a cross-sectional analysis of 10-year EMA registration data

Clinical trials feature centrally in the development of drugs and vaccines to determine safety and efficacy. Clinical development can be slow and may have a duration of more than ten years. Global public health threats such as Ebola virus disease (EVD) and COVID-19 have demonstrated that it is possible to accelerate clinical trials while maintaining safety and efficacy. We investigated acceleration in clinical trials over the past decade and identified factors associated with acceleration for drugs targeting infectious diseases. A cross-sectional study was performed of all medicinal compounds targeting infectious diseases that received marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) between 2012 and 2022. We calculated median clinical development time in years between the first phase 1 trial enrolment date and the authorisation date. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with shorter development times. Eighty-one trajectories were included. The median clinical development time was 7.3 years (IQR 4.4-12.3). The fastest times belonged to drugs and vaccines targeting COVID-19 (1.3 years, IQR 0.8-1.6), EVD (5.5 years, IQR 5.1-5.8), and Hepatitis A-E (5.5 years, IQR 3.9-8.2). Factors associated with shorter development times were outbreak setting (-5.4 years [95% CI,-8.2 to-2.6]), accelerated assessment status (-4.0 years [95% CI,-7.6 to-0.5]), and drugs with combined compounds (-2.7 years [95% CI,-4.9 to-0.4]). Clinical development time for infectious disease-related drugs and vaccines was relatively short, and outbreak setting and accelerated EMA assessment were associated with shorter development times. Amsterdam Public Health research institute.

Single point of entry to the European precision cancer medicine trial network PRIME-ROSE.

e23024 Background: Over the last decades, there has been a surge in the development and approval of targeted drugs and immunotherapies for treating cancer patients, as seen by the 757 % increase in approvals by the FDA for new cancer treatments since 2000 (1). This has significantly impacted cancer care and contributed to improving overall survival in various cancer subgroups. However, access to these new treatments is constrained by the market access strategy of the patent-owning company and available knowledge of treatment effects. Only a few treatments have received pan-cancer approval from EMA or FDA, and most drugs receive market authorization per indication. As a result, there is a widening access gap between patients with different cancer types (2). Methods: Exploring the effect of biomarker-driven treatments in new cancer subtypes requires the ability to find patients with rare biomarkers. PRIME-ROSE is a European precision medicine network comprising 11 ongoing or soon-to-start national DRUP-like clinical trials testing registered drugs outside their current label ( www.prime-rose.eu ). Patients with relevant tumor biomarkers are identified and treated with matched drugs available in each trial’s drug portfolio. The ambition is to swiftly and systematically evaluate the effectiveness of approved precision cancer medicines in new indications through pragmatic trial designs and with RWE control cohorts, ensuring expansion into all relevant patient groups to maximize societal benefit. This is particularly relevant for rare cancers, which are enriched in precision medicine trials (3). Results: In PRIME-ROSE, the trials now share and aggregate data to build evidence faster and more effectively impact patient care by addressing key challenges in precision cancer medicine implementation (increasing the recruitment area to 71 million inhabitants). This will significantly reduce the time for filling treatment cohorts and contribute to closing the indication/drug-specific knowledge gap. In fact, several pharmaceutical companies have already shown their interest in and commitment to participating in PRIME-ROSE, as it offers the unique advantage of entering the trials in the network simultaneously (single point of entry) and with a floating allocation of treatment slots between trials, increasing efficiency in finding patients with specific biomarkers to fill treatment cohorts. Conclusions: A unified entry point to the PRIME-ROSE network is feasible and can facilitate building the knowledge base faster for label expansion and/or country-specific approvals/ reimbursement. National multi-stakeholder ecosystems that include pragmatic, RWE-controlled DRUP-like clinical trials may advance precision medicine implementation.

Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Urge Urinary Incontinence and Overactive Bladder: Narrative Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Applicability to Implantable Devices.

The tibial nerve is an established target for neuromodulation in the management of overactive bladder (OAB) and its associated symptoms, including urge urinary incontinence (UUI). Technologies are currently available to deliver tibial nerve stimulation (TNS) through percutaneous devices or through implantable devices. The benefits and safety of percutaneous TNS have led to it as a guideline-recommended therapy. However, patient compliance is limited by the burden of weekly office visits and the need for maintenance treatments. Further, insurance often only covers a limited number of lifetime visits for percutaneous TNS. These factors and others have led to the development, study, and utilization of implantable TNS devices. Implantable TNS devices deliver the same therapeutic mechanism of action for nerve stimulation with a permanent implanted device that provides at-home stimulation rather than in-office therapy delivery. Additionally, there is an added potential for dynamic and patient-centered stimulation. There is a large body of high-quality evidence published for TNS, including numerous randomized controlled trials published on percutaneous TNS which have consistently demonstrated superior efficacy to sham and similar efficacy to that of anticholinergic medications. Percutaneous TNS also performs better than conservative therapy including pelvic floor muscle training. The percutaneous and implantable approaches deliver nerve stimulation to the same target nerve, using the same mechanism of action. Therefore, data from randomized trials of percutaneous TNS are informative for implantable TNS devices. At the time of this article's publication, at least two implantable TNS devices have received marketing authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The objective of this review is to discuss the mechanism of action for TNS and summarize the published literature from clinical trials of percutaneous TNS as a foundation of high-quality evidence for implantable devices targeting the tibial nerve.

Novel drugs approved by the EMA, the FDA, and the MHRA in 2023: A year in review.

In 2023, seventy novel drugs received market authorization for the first time in either Europe (by the EMA and the MHRA) or in the United States (by the FDA). Confirming a steady recent trend, more than half of these drugs target rare diseases or intractable forms of cancer. Thirty drugs are categorized as "first-in-class" (FIC), illustrating the quality of research and innovation that drives new chemical entity discovery and development. We succinctly describe the mechanism of action of most of these FIC drugs and discuss the therapeutic areas covered, as well as the chemical category to which these drugs belong. The 2023 novel drug list also demonstrates an unabated emphasis on polypeptides (recombinant proteins and antibodies), Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (gene and cell therapies) and RNA therapeutics, including the first-ever approval of a CRISPR-Cas9-based gene-editing cell therapy.

Design and Preclinical Evaluation of a Nanoparticle Vaccine against Respiratory Syncytial Virus Based on the Attachment Protein G.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant human health threat, particularly to infants and the elderly. While efficacious vaccines based on the F protein have recently received market authorization, uncertainties remain regarding the future need for vaccine updates to counteract potential viral drift. The attachment protein G has long been ignored as a vaccine target due to perceived non-essentiality and ineffective neutralization on immortalized cells. Here, we show strong G-based neutralization in fully differentiated human airway epithelial cell (hAEC) cultures that is comparable to F-based neutralization. Next, we designed an RSV vaccine component based on the central conserved domain (CCD) of G fused to self-assembling lumazine synthase (LS) nanoparticles from the thermophile Aquifex aeolicus as a multivalent antigen presentation scaffold. These nanoparticles, characterized by high particle expression and assembly through the introduction of N-linked glycans, showed exceptional thermal and storage stability and elicited potent RSV neutralizing antibodies in a mouse model. In conclusion, our results emphasize the pivotal role of RSV G in the viral lifecycle and culminate in a promising next-generation RSV vaccine candidate characterized by excellent manufacturability and immunogenic properties. This candidate could function independently or synergistically with current F-based vaccines.

International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy Position Paper: Key considerations to support evidence-based cell and gene therapies and oppose marketing of unproven products

The field of regenerative medicine, including cellular immunotherapies, is on a remarkable growth trajectory. Dozens of cell-, tissue- and gene-based products have received marketing authorization worldwide while hundreds-to-thousands are either in preclinical development or under clinical investigation in phased clinical trials. However, the promise of regenerative therapies has also given rise to a global industry of direct-to-consumer offerings of prematurely commercialized cell and cell-based products with unknown safety and efficacy profiles. Since its inception, the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy Committee on the Ethics of Cell and Gene Therapy has opposed the premature commercialization of unproven cell- and gene-based interventions and supported the development of evidence-based advanced therapy products. In the present Guide, targeted at International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy members, we analyze this industry, focusing in particular on distinctive features of unproven cell and cell-based products and the use of tokens of scientific legitimacy as persuasive marketing devices. We also provide an overview of reporting mechanisms for patients who believe they have been harmed by administration of unapproved and unproven products and suggest practical strategies to address the direct-to-consumer marketing of such products. Development of this Guide epitomizes our continued support for the ethical and rigorous development of cell and cell-based products with patient safety and therapeutic benefit as guiding principles.

국내 허가 및 긴급사용승인된 코로나19 바이러스감염증 치료제의 허가사항 비교 고찰

In a situation where the development of various treatments is urgently needed to overcome the global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the sequential emergence of new variant viruses, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) made tremendous efforts to promptly supply the safe and effective therapeutics manufactured by local and global companies through accelerated marketing authorization or emergency use approvals. To date, seven products (including overlapped) have received marketing authorization or emergency use approvals from MFDS, and their indicated patient group according to the severity, efficacy, and safety information are different by each products. Therefore, this study is to compare the product information and the major clinical outcomes obtained from clinical studies of COVID-19 treatments authorized or approved for emergency use in Korea and to introduce the MFDS’s efforts for establishment of accelerated approval system for COVID-19 treatment and development of relevant guidelines. It is hoped that this study will serve as a reference for the latecomers who is preparing the development of therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases in the future.

Algorithms and heuristics of health technology assessments: A retrospective analysis of factors associated with HTA outcomes for new drugs across seven OECD countries

ContextPositive health technology assessment (HTA) outcomes can have important implications for equity, efficiency and timely patient access to novel therapies. Several outcomes and dimensions of benefit beyond utility feed into HTA processes. ObjectiveWe analyse a proprietary dataset of HTA outcomes in 7 countries, to (a) test whether HTA decision-making is grounded in welfarist or extra-welfarist approaches; and (b) empirically determine the factors associated with positive HTA outcomes, the time to achieve these and establish the magnitude of inter-country differences in assessment processes. MethodsData were extracted from publicly available HTA reports on drugs that received marketing authorisation between 2009 and 2018 (N = 1415). The outcomes of interest were the probability of positive HTA outcomes and the time-to-HTA outcome; these were examined with respect to clinical, regulatory, product- and disease-related, evidence uncertainty and contextual variables. Econometric models utilising survival analysis and multinomial logistic regression were specified. FindingsPositive HTA outcomes accounted for 87.3% of the sample (n = 1235), of which 71% (n = 1004) were restricted. Drugs with positive HTA outcomes were subject to clinical restrictions (n = 652, 46%), financial risk-sharing (n = 439, 31%) or had been rejected at least once (n = 282, 20%). Significant predictors of positive HTA outcomes were orphan drugs with cancer indications, high quality of evidence linked to clinical and economic evidence uncertainties which had been overcome, and contextual considerations, particularly innovativeness and unmet need. Comparative analyses revealed systematic differences between countries in their propensity to accept the same drugs, particularly oncology and orphan drugs. ConclusionsOur results are contextual and reinforce arguments in favour of explicitly accounting for social value judgements, establishing separate assessment frameworks for highly uncertain products, adopting risk mitigation strategies for novel therapies with early phase evidence, and sharing of HTA practices across settings. Lastly, HTA agencies have adopted an extra-welfarist approach to value assessment and resource allocation.

An Advax-CpG55.2™ adjuvanted recombinant spike protein vaccine protects cynomolgus macaques from a homologous SARS-CoV-2 virus challenge

Traditional protein-based vaccine approaches to COVID-19 were overshadowed by the new mRNA and adenoviral vector vaccine approaches which were first to receive marketing authorization. The current study tested for the first time in repurposed aged (median 15.4 years) cynomolgus macaques, a novel Advax-CpG55.2™ adjuvanted recombinant extracellular domain spike protein trimer antigen for immunogenicity, protection and safety. Nine animals received two intramuscular injections 10 days apart of recombinant spike protein (25 μg) with Advax-CpG55.2™ (10 mg/200 μg) and 5 controls received saline injections. Serum antibody levels were followed for 3 months and then the animals were challenged with SARS-CoV-2 virus. Clinical signs, local reactions, body weight, food consumption and antibody levels were monitored till termination on either day 3 or 7 post-infection. Two weeks after the second dose, 8/9 immunized macaques had high serum spike and receptor binding domain binding antibodies that were able to cross-neutralize Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2) and, to a lesser extent, Omicron variants (B.1.1.529 ). Antibody levels decayed over the subsequent 3 months, and minimal neutralizing antibody was detectable immediately prior to the challenge which used a vaccine-homologous Wuhan-like ancestral virus. Of the nine vaccinated animals, only one 18-year-old female sacrificed at d3 had low levels of lung virus, versus 100 % of the control animals. Four of 5 (80 %) control animals had positive lung staining for SARS-CoV-2 virus versus just 1 of 9 (11 %) in the immunized group. The immunized animals exhibited better maintenance of appetite post-challenge. Neutralizing antibody levels rebounded rapidly in immunized animals, post-challenge. This data supports the benefits of Advax-CpG adjuvanted recombinant spike protein vaccine in protecting against a homologous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Study of cabozantinib in second line under real-life setting in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC): Study design of a French retrospective, multicenter study (OCTOPUS).

TPS744 Background: Cabozantinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) directed against VEGFR, MET and AXL. In the pivotal phase III METEOR study, cabozantinib demonstrated significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS) versus everolimus in patients with previously treated aRCC with clear-cell component. Thus, cabozantinib received marketing authorization from the European Medicine Agency in September 2016 for the treatment of aRCC in patients previously treated with a VEGF-targeted therapy. Cabozantinib effectiveness and safety have been investigated in several real-world evidence studies such as CABOREAL or CASSIOPE. However, many questions arising during the routine care of patients with aRCC treated by cabozantinib remain unanswered by the current literature. Therefore, the aims of OCTOPUS study are to describe the effectiveness and safety of 2nd line cabozantinib in a real-life setting in France and to address these unanswered questions in certain patients subgroups. Methods: Octopus is a multicenter (25 centers), retrospective, non-comparative, non-interventional study in patients with aRCC initiating cabozantinib in 2nd line in France. The primary endpoint is the duration of treatment (DOT) with cabozantinib: median DOT will be estimated using Kaplan Meier method. Key secondary endpoints to be assessed are: best overall response (BOR), PFS, adverse events (AEs) and subsequent treatment. DOT, BOR, PFS, safety and all baseline characteristics for each of the following subgroups will be described as exploratory endpoints: sequencing post-cabozantinib, long-responders, non-responders, cabozantinib & rechallenge, cabozantinib & therapeutic schedules, cabozantinib & local treatment, cabozantinib & elderly patients. Data will be analyzed descriptively. Due to the observational nature of this study, no formal calculation of sample size and statistical power were performed. With a sample size of 300 participants who started cabozantinib in 2nd line between 1st March 2018 and 1st March 2021 and a median DOT of 7.6 months, the two-sided confidence interval of the median will be estimated with a width equal to 1.7 months (95% Confidence Interval [CI] [6.8; 8.6]) and a censoring probability near 0. All collected data will be in accordance with the daily practice of medical doctors, with a maximum follow-up of 12-months. Data collection started in Q3 2022 and the first patient was included on September 16th 2022. No interim analysis is planned. This study is funded by Ipsen Pharma. Clinical trial information: NCT05444933 .

P431 A Pan-European Real-World Study of SB5 biosimilar following transition from reference adalimumab: The PROPER study; 48-week analysis of persistence

Abstract Background SB5, a biosimilar to reference adalimumab (ADL) received marketing authorisation in 2017 (EU) and 2019 (US) based on pre-clinical and clinical phase I and III study data demonstrating bioequivalence and comparable efficacy, safety and immunogenicity to ADL. The real-world study “Pan-EU Real-World Experience with Imraldi” (PROPER) was designed to provide insights into outcomes, including predictors of persistence, following transition from ADL to SB5 outside the randomised, controlled trial setting. Methods Under an umbrella design, 1040 patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease (rheumatoid arthritis [RA], axial spondyloarthritis [axSpA], psoriatic arthritis [PsA], Crohn’s disease [CD] or ulcerative colitis [UC]) who had received at least 16 weeks of treatment with ADL prior to transition to SB5 were enrolled at centres in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the UK and followed for 48 weeks post-transition. Candidate predictors of persistence on SB5 included sex, medical history, age, duration of disease, disease score and concomitant therapy, all as recorded at time of SB5 initiation. Variables of clinical relevance reported for at least 15% of each cohort were selected as candidate predictors and fitted into a univariate Cox regression model. Persistence on SB5, i.e., time to SB5 discontinuation up to Week 48 post-transition was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. This abstract presents results for the CD cohort. Results Of 447 CD patients included, 433 completed 48 weeks’ follow-up; 316 of those (70.7%) remained on SB5 throughout. The probability of persistence (95% Confidence Interval [CI]) at Week 48 was 71.8% (67%, 76%) (Figure 1). Figure 1. Persistence on SB5 Table 1 shows the six variables qualifying as candidate predictors in the CD cohort and the probability of each to predict persistence at Week 48. Being female was the only variable shown to be associated with non-persistence of SB5: Hazard ratio (95% CI) 2.21 (1.54, 3.18). The 95% CIs of the other variables all crossed 1.0. Table 1. Probability of candidate variable to predict persistence on SB5 Conclusion The majority of the CD cohort remained on SB5 at 48 weeks after transition from reference ADL. Of the candidate predictors of persistence, only female sex was found to have an association with increased risk for SB5 discontinuation. A limitation of this finding is the low proportion of subjects discontinuing SB5 prior to Week 48, hence a low incidence of potential candidate predictors. When anticipating persistence, results suggest no evidence to mitigate against transition, within the baseline categories explored.

Comparing timelines and evidence available to support new TB, HIV, and HCV drug approvals: The same, only different.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) share a global presence and propensity to disproportionately affect marginalized populations. However, over recent decades, many fewer drugs have been brought to market for TB than for the others. Although three new anti-TB drugs have been approved in the US or Europe in the last 10 years, uptake of these drugs has been limited. Using case examples of drugs developed recently for TB, HIV, and HCV, we explore possible reasons. We examine the use and effect of regulatory pathways intended to address weak economic incentives in the face of urgent, unmet needs; evaluate the extent of data underpinning authorizations for these indications; document development timelines and evidence available at the time of each approval; consider explanations for observed differences; and discuss the implications for clinical guidelines and use.Methods and findingsFor each indication, we selected two drugs: one recently approved and one approved between 2012 and 2014, when the first new anti-TB drug from a novel class in more than 40 years received marketing authorization. We calculated time from first published peer-reviewed evidence of activity to date of approval; the number of phase 1, 2, and 3 trials; the number of trial participants randomized to treatment arms containing the drug; and the total number of participants in each trial from the individual drug approval packages. We found that the two TB drugs took longer to gain approval (8.0 and 19.2 years for bedaquiline and pretomanid, respectively) despite availing of special regulatory pathways meant to expedite approval, when compared to the HIV (2.6 years for dolutegravir and 4.7 years for doravirine) and HCV drugs (3.2 and 1.6 years for sofosbuvir and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, respectively). Moreover, fewer participants were studied prior to TB drug approvals (380 and 879) than prior to approvals for HIV (1598 and 979) and for HCV (2291 and 2448) drugs.ConclusionsThe dramatic disparities observed in TB drug development reaffirm the importance of several actions. Increased investment in TB research and development is necessary to rapidly advance drugs through the pipeline. Development plans and partnerships must provide safety and efficacy evidence on combinations and durations that are relevant to real-world use in heterogeneous populations. Reliable, validated surrogate markers of relapse-free cure are essential to decrease the duration and cost of TB treatment trials and increase the confidence and speed with which new regimens can advance. Lastly, regulators and normative bodies must maintain high evidentiary standards for authorization while ensuring timely and broad approval for TB drugs and regimens.

The Cost Effectiveness of Axicabtagene Ciloleucel Versus Best Supportive Care in the Treatment of Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma (LBCL) After Two or More Lines of Systemic Therapy in Canada.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) received marketing authorisation in Canada for the treatment of relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, and the clinical and economic value of axi-cel to patients and the healthcare system should be examined. The objective of this analysis is to determine, from societal and public healthcare payer perspectives, the cost effectiveness of axi-cel versus best supportive care for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma in Canada. A pharmacoeconomic model was developed and populated with clinical data derived from the ZUMA-1 and SCHOLAR-1 studies using a propensity score-matched comparison. A partitioned survival mixture-cure modelling approach was taken to characterise the potential curative effect of axi-cel therapy in large B-cell lymphoma. Healthcare resource utilisation and adverse event data were based on results from ZUMA-1, and utility values were derived from ZUMA-1 data supplemented with published literature. Costs (in 2021 Canadian dollars) were taken from publicly available Canadian cost databases and published literature. Benefits and costs were discounted at 1.5% per year, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the results. In the base case, axi-cel generated an incremental 6.2 life-years compared to best supportive care, corresponding to 4.6 additional quality-adjusted life-years, and was associated with $606,010 in additional costs. The incremental cost-utility ratio was $132,747 per quality-adjusted life-year gained compared with best supportive care from a societal perspective ($106,392 per quality-adjusted life-year gained from a public healthcare payer perspective). Key drivers of the analysis included progression-free survival and overall survival values for axi-cel. The results of this analysis suggest that axi-cel may be considered a cost-effective allocation of resources compared with best supportive care for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma in Canada.

Human Adenovirus Type 26 Induced IL-6 Gene Expression in an αvβ3 Integrin- and NF-κB-Dependent Manner

The low seroprevalent human adenovirus type 26 (HAdV26)-based vaccine vector was the first adenovirus-based vector to receive marketing authorization from European Commission. HAdV26-based vaccine vectors induce durable humoral and cellular immune responses and, as such, represent a highly valuable tool for fighting infectious diseases. Despite well-described immunogenicity in vivo, the basic biology of HAdV26 still needs some refinement. The aim of this study was to determine the pro-inflammatory cytokine profile of epithelial cells infected with HAdV26 and then investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. The expression of studied genes and proteins was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Confocal microscopy was used to visualize HAdV26 cell uptake. We found that HAdV26 infection in human epithelial cells triggers the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, namely IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α, with the most pronounced difference shown for IL-6. We investigated the underlying molecular mechanism and observed that HAdV26-induced IL-6 gene expression is αvβ3 integrin dependent and NF-κB mediated. Our findings provide new data regarding pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression in HAdV26-infected epithelial cells, as well as details concerning HAdV26-induced host signaling pathways. Information obtained within this research increases our current knowledge of HAdV26 basic biology and, as such, can contribute to further development of HAdV26-based vaccine vectors.

Comparison of new Brazilian legislation for the approval of advanced therapy medicinal products with existing systems in the USA, European Union and Japan

Background aimsAdvanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are a class of biological products for human use that are based on genes, cells and tissues. The first ATMP received marketing authorization in Europe in 2009, whereas Brazil granted the first authorization in 2020. The objective of this study was to compare the regulatory models adopted by Brazil, the USA, Japan and the European Union, which comprise the member countries of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, with regard to the marketing authorization of ATMPs. MethodsThe authors performed a review of the scientific literature and official documents of the regulatory agencies in the aforementioned countries. ResultsThe legislation and regulatory guidelines adopted by the regulatory agencies exhibit similarities and differences. It was not possible to assess whether these differences can be translated into divergent final recommendations by regulatory authorities upon a request for marketing authorization. ConclusionsIn the future, it will be appropriate to start a progressive process of harmonization between these agencies in terms of terminology, legal recommendations and characterization requirements. This is particularly important for emerging countries such as Brazil. In this sense, some measures can be taken to achieve alignment between regulators.

Orphan Medicinal Products for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Lessons Learned From Two Decades of Orphan Designation.

Pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis and only a few treatment options are available. In the European Union, pancreatic cancer classifies as a rare disease, allowing drug developers to apply for orphan medicinal product (OMP) designation. The aim of this study was to provide more detail on OMPs for pancreatic cancer. All applications for OMP designation submitted to the EMA between 2000 and 2019 were identified. For each medicinal product that received an OMP designation, the mode of drug action, use of protocol assistance, and current life cycle status was determined. Fifty-two medicinal products received an OMP designation. At the time of submission, eighteen OMPs were at the non-clinical and 34 OMPs were at the clinical stage of development. At least fourteen kinds of mode of action were explored in the condition. For eighteen out of 52 OMPs protocol assistance was sought. At the time of data analysis, one OMP received marketing authorisation and 24 OMPs were ongoing in development. Many medicinal products for pancreatic cancer received an OMP designation and the majority of these products was already in the clinical stage of development. Nonetheless, the success rate of OMPs for pancreatic cancer that reach the market is low, and increasing this rate is something to aspire. Fortunately, development is still ongoing for a part of the OMPs, and a few developers are planning to submit a marketing authorisation application in the near future. This however does not guarantee success, as pancreatic cancer remains a difficult disease to treat. Developers are advised to make optimal use of incentives such as protocol assistance, establishing (early) dialogue between regulators and drug developers and to agree on important topics such as clinical trial design.

ES15.06 Global Perspectives on Implicit Bias in Oncology Care: Canada

A cure for lung cancer may remain elusive until biases in healthcare are resolved. Accessibility, comprehensiveness, and quality of care are key cornerstones that a healthcare system must address in order to be equitable for all its citizens; unfortunately, this is not always the case in Canada. Many Canadian lung cancer patients face numerous biases in care, ranging from systemic issues, social determinants of health, clinical trials design. In Canada, lung cancer has become a postal code disease. For example, targeted therapy drug coverage varies widely across each province, such as crizotinib for ROS1 positive NSCLC received marketing authorization in August 2017. However in September 2020, it was only publicly reimbursed in four provinces (Lung Cancer Canada, 2020). Unfortunately, this equity in access is common across Canada where access to one treatment or test may be accessible in one province, but completely inaccessible in another. Stigma on lung cancer patients, structural racism on minorities and indigenous populations, and discrimination all feed the biases in the healthcare system, leading to delays in testing and treatment. Geographical concerns arise for those in remote areas, particularly Indigenous communities, as traveling long distances for care has financial and emotional implications. However, the biggest factor influencing equity is the association between lung cancer risk and socioeconomic status, where incidence rates of those in the lowest income quintile are 2.1 times higher than those in the highest quintile (Mitra, Shaw, Tjepkema, & Peters, 2015). Education is also a major factor, where lung cancer incidence is 2.8 times higher for those with less than a secondary school diploma compared to those with a university degree, and this plays a role in health literacy and their ability to understand medical terminology, utilize available educational resources, and advocate for potential treatment physicians may not be aware of (Mitra, Shaw, Tjepkema, & Peters, 2015). Clinical trials also impose implicit biases on accessibility, as trials are typically done in large city centers where higher incidence rates are found, and thus, greater opportunity to fill placements. Disadvantaged populations such as ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, those In jobs with limited flexibility, and rural residents are often underrepresented in such trials, and thus, they do not consider the patient’s perspective, leading to research that is inequitable. Significant systemic changes are needed to ensure underserved and underrepresented populations are able to access care for cancer prevention, treatment, and diagnosis. Within publicly funded healthcare systems, treatment costs are real concerns. However traditional assessments of value ignore costs such as time off work, travel to treatment. The value gained in non-traditional outcomes such as patient independence, mental wellness, and cultural preservation are real but difficult to capture. To preserve and further the medical gains in treatment advances, new assessments of value need to be developed, treatments planned with rollout and outreach in mind and clinical trials reflective of the real population they were designed to serve. Without these, a cure for lung cancer may be developed but remain unreachable for patients. Lung Cancer Canada. (2020). (rep.). The Faces of Lung Cancer Report. Retrieved from https://www.lungcancercanada.ca/LungCancerCanada/media/Documents/LCC2020_FOLCR_ENGLISH.pdf Mitra, D., Shaw, A., Tjepkema, M., & Peters, P. (2015). Social Determinants of Lung Cancer Incidence in Canada: A 13-year prospective study. Health Reports, 26(6), 12–20. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2015006/article/14195-eng.htm

Emerging Radionuclides in a Regulatory Framework for Medicinal Products - How Do They Fit?

Recent years have seen the establishment of several radionuclides as medicinal products in particular in the setting of theranostics and PET. [177Lu]Lutetium Chloride or [64Cu]Copper Chloride have received marketing authorization as radionuclide precursor, [68Ga]Gallium Chloride has received regulatory approval in the form of different 68Ge/68Ga generators. This is a formal requirement by the EU directive 2001/83, even though for some of these radionuclide precursors no licensed kit is available that can be combined to obtain a final radiopharmaceuticals, as it is the case for Technetium-99m. In view of several highly promising, especially metallic radionuclides for theranostic applications in a wider sense, the strict regulatory environment poses the risk of slowing down development, in particular for radionuclide producers that want to provide innovative radionuclides for clinical research purposes, which is the basis for their further establishment. In this paper we address the regulatory framework for novel radionuclides within the EU, the current challenges in particular related to clinical translation and potential options to support translational development within Europe and worldwide.

Therapeutic implications of B-RAF mutations in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancers (CRC) with B-RAF mutation carry a particularly poor prognosis. In this context, the value of first-line intensified chemotherapy associated with an anti-VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) to treat metastatic CRC has recently been called into question. In patients with mutated B-RAF, the efficacy of first-line anti-EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) associated with chemotherapy for treatment of metastatic CRC is uncertain while that of anti-VEGF has been shown to be effective. The therapeutic pathways involving inhibition of B-RAF activity, although ineffective as monotherapy, have received marketing authorization when used in association with anti-EGFR for second-line treatment of metastatic CRC. Immunotherapy has provided very encouraging results in a recent phase III study in patients with microsatellite instability, irrespective of their B-RAF status. Finally, new therapies, targeting other RAF proteins and other specific receptors are currently under development. Surgery for liver metastases in patients with the B-RAF mutation should be considered whenever possible, after a complete search for peritoneal carcinomatosis and distant metastases, similarly to workup for patients without the B-RAF mutation.

CAR-T cells : nouvelle option thérapeutique dans les hémopathies malignes

AbstractCancer immunity may be impaired by tumor immune escape mechanisms such as loss of major histocompatibility complex (HLA) molecules or blockade of T cell activation in the immunosuppressive microenvironement of the tumor.Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cell immunotherapy is based on the genetic engineering of patients’ T cells so that they express a chimeric antigen receptor encompassing the variable region of a tumor-specific antibody which directly recognizes a surface molecule and intracellular T cell-activating domains. CAR-T cells are therefore endowed with the capacity of eliminating cells that express the target antigen without HLA requirements, notably tumor cells. This breakthrough immunotherapy have yielded remarkable clinical results and received market authorization in France in 2018 for the treatment of relapsing or refractory B cell malignancies. It remains nevertheless a costly personalized treatment available only in specialized centers. Active CAR-T cell research is ongoing with the objectives to ameliorate efficacy, reduce side effects and broaden indications to solid tumors.