Sue primarily covers US drug, biologic, vaccine and biosimilar regulation and policy across therapeutic areas, with an emphasis on advisory committee reviews, FDA approvals and use of expedited review pathways. Sue has reported on the prescription and over-the-counter drug industries since 1999 for various publications now under the Citeline umbrella, including Pink Sheet and Scrip. Previously she worked as an editor for Mealey's Litigation Reports (now part of Lexis-Nexis), writing about asbestos, toxic tort and fen-phen litigation. She grew up in South Jersey and spends her free time watching youth sports, gardening, walking and hiking, although she'd rather be at the beach.
Latest from Sue Sutter
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.’
In what could amount to a de facto enforcement mechanism, the new draft guidance also “strongly encourages” sponsors to share details about their diversity action plan and enrollment goals with the public.
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.
The agency also should explain the potential consequences for sponsors if enrollment goals are not met, stakeholders say in comments on the DAP draft guidance. Some commenters urged the FDA to apply waiver criteria flexibly, especially for rare diseases.
The FDA and sponsors of two new accelerated approval drugs for PBC have taken steps in study design, initiation and reporting transparency to ensure timely completion; Intercept’s COBALT trial of obeticholic acid was negatively impacted by product safety labeling changes and a high crossover rate to commercial drug.