
5 Key Drug Approvals and CRLs in 2024
In 2024, multiple drugs received complete response letters (CRLs), sometimes unrelated to the safety and efficacy of the drug, but patients with schizophrenia gained the first new treatment with a new mechanism of action in decades.
Among the many FDA decisions in 2024, some stood out more than others. Among the approvals were some surprising—and not-so surprising—complete response letters (CRLs). In addition, some biologics gained new biosimilars with interchangeability designations, and a treatment for schizophrenia with a new mechanism of action was approved.
Here are 5 key approvals and CRLs from 2024.
1. MDMA for PTSD Receives a CRL
The
2. Multiple Cancer Drugs Receive CRLs, Mostly for Manufacturing Concerns
Manufacturing concerns led to the FDA delivering CRLs to multiple cancer drugs. The year started with a CRL
Along similar lines,
3. Multiple Biosimilars Approved as the First Interchangeables for Their Reference Products
Both aflibercept (Eylea) and denosumab (Xgeva and Prolia) gained competition with the first approved biosimilars for both reference products.10,11 In addition, these first biosimilars were also approved with the interchangeability designation.
The
The timeline of when the
4. Two Drugs Approved to Treat Niemann-Pick Disease Type C
Within the space of just 1 week, FDA approved both the
Arimoclomol (Miplyffa) is approved to treat adults and children 2 years of age and older, while levacetylleucine (Aqneursa) is approved in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 15 kilograms.
5. First Drug in Decades With a New Target in Schizophrenia
Xanomeline-trospium chloride (Cobenfy)
Megan Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP, professor and codirector of the Mental Health Program, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy,
“I'm very excited about the potential new mechanism of this medication, and I think we still have a lot to learn about how we utilize this medication in the treatment of schizophrenia, but it is some groundbreaking work to have this brand-new mechanism available for our patients,” she said.
References
1. Grossi G. MDMA-assisted therapy receives a complete response letter from the FDA. AJMC®. August 9, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
2. Kunzmann K. FDA Psychopharmacologic Advisory Committee votes against supporting effectiveness of MDMA for PTSD. HCPLive®. June 4, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
3. Grossi G. Lykos Therapeutics restructures after FDA setback, commits to progressing MDMA therapy for PTSD. AJMC. August 16, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
4. Sava J. FDA issues complete response letter to zolbetuximab BLA in GI cancer. Targeted Oncology®. January 9, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
5. Conroy R. FDA sends CRL for camrelizumab/rivoceranib in unresectable liver cancer. Cancer Network®. May 20, 2024. Accessed December 23, 2024.
6. Klein HE. FDA issues CRL for patritumab deruxtecan for locally advanced, metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC. AJMC. June 27, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
7. Klein HE. FDA issues CRL for linvoseltamab in R/R multiple myeloma. AJMC. August 21, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
8. Klein HE. FDA rejects subcutaneous amivantamab for NSCLC over manufacturing concerns. AJMC. December 17, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
9. McNulty R. FDA issues CRLs for odronextamab in R/R follicular lymphoma, R/R DLBCL. AJMC. March 25, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
10. Joszt L. FDA approves first 2 denosumab biosimilars. AJMC. March 5, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
11. Jeremias S. FDA approves first Eylea biosimilars. The Center for Biosimilars®. May 20, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
12. FDA approves first treatment for Niemann-Pick disease, type C. FDA. News release. September 20, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
13. FDA approves new drug to treat Niemann-Pick disease, type C. FDA. News release. September 24, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
14. Grossi G. First schizophrenia treatment approved in decades targets cholinergic receptors. AJMC. September 27, 2024. Accessed December 20, 2024.
15. Joszt L. The latest in new and emerging therapies in schizophrenia: Dr Megan Ehret. AJMC. October 22, 2024. Accessed December 23, 2024.
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