Tale Of Two ALS Drugs: Similar Study Design, Different Take By US FDA

Amylyx’s AMX0035 and Mitsubishi’s edaravone showed similar treatment effect on ALS versus placebo in a single study, but the FDA found edaravone’s results to be more robust and supported by secondary endpoints.

Path fork
US FDA takes different paths in review of two ALS drugs • Source: Alamy

When the US Food and Drug Administration approved Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation’s Radicava (edaravone) in 2017, it was the first treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to clear the agency in more than 20 years. The FDA is now considering Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s AMX0035 application for ALS, which is in some ways similar to that for edaravone. But the agency’s different views of the data show the difficulties in getting approval based on a single study.

The similarities in the studies for the two drugs was raised during the 30 March meeting of the FDA’s Peripheral...

Pink Sheet Podcast

Learn what's happening at the US FDA. On the go.

Derrick Gingery and the team bring you a weekly "Drug Fix".

More from US FDA Performance Tracker

Ocaliva Confirmatory Trial Failed To Verify Benefit In Primary Biliary Cholangitis, US FDA Says

 
• By 

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.  

Recent And Upcoming FDA Advisory Committee Meetings

Recent and upcoming US FDA advisory committee meetings and a summary of the topics covered. 

EU Filings Tracker TEST

New marketing authorization applications filed with the European Medicines Agency's human medicines committee (the CHMP) for review under the EU's centralized procedure. Updated monthly.

US FDA Adcomm Reform Ideas: Neutral Facilitator As Chair, Public Hearing Lottery Process Tweaks

 
• By 

Proposal to have panelists rate the strength of efficacy and safety evidence on a numeric scale also draws support in written comments on ways to optimize the advisory committee process.

More from Regulatory Trackers

Ocaliva Confirmatory Trial Failed To Verify Benefit In Primary Biliary Cholangitis, US FDA Says

 
• By 

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.  

Global Pharma Guidance Tracker – August 2024

 
• By 

Stay up to date on regulatory guidelines from around the world with the Pink Sheet's Guidance Tracker. The complete Global Pharma Guidance Tracker, with sortable and searchable listings going back to 2014, is available online.

Recent And Upcoming FDA Advisory Committee Meetings

Recent and upcoming US FDA advisory committee meetings and a summary of the topics covered.