Orphan Drug Tax Credit Defense Adds To NORD's Legislative Challenges
• By Kate Rawson and M. Nielsen Hobbs
Generate a summary of this article
Listen to this article
Republican tax reform proposal would eliminate research credit; NORD already had its hands full countering 'misinformation' about impact of orphan drugs on drug spend; critics on Capitol Hill argue sponsors are gaming the system.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a big new challenge on Capitol Hill – defending the Orphan Drug Tax Credit that would be eliminated under the GOP's tax reform plan.
Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee will consider whether open-label extension data from a randomized trial that failed its primary endpoint, along with a historical control comparison, are enough to support approval in the ultra-rare disease.
Under current law, drugs or biologics must receive rare pediatric disease designation before 1 October to be eligible for a priority review voucher. The sunset provisions have led to a spike in designation requests at the FDA and a push by pediatric and rare disease advocates for an extension, either through a continuing resolution or reauthorizing legislation.
A real-world evidence study also does not meet the regulatory standard for an adequate and well-controlled clinical investigation, the agency said. The FDA should allow the accelerated approval drug to remain available like other treatments that failed their confirmatory trials, Intercept said.
It is unclear in a revised staff manual guide whether Commissioner's National Priority Voucher program approval “recommendations” from the drug and biologic center directors will be advisory or decisional, experts told the Pink Sheet.
Revised recommendation is based on most recent data on circulating strains in US, where KP.3 is now dominant. Novavax sticks with plans targeting the JN.1 ‘parent strain.’
Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss the US FDA’s changes to the COVID-19 vaccine indication and its revocation of the vaccine emergency use authorizations, as well as new vaccine coverage and reimbursement questions.