Although drugs on the FDASIA-created expedited pathway may promise more than they can deliver, it will be difficult to reduce demand for such treatments awarded the designation, Boston researchers predict in a NEJM piece.

Agency is working with manufacturers, including Takeda and Emergent BioSolutions, to accelerate development of hyperimmune globulin products, with an eye toward starting clinical testing in several months; new FDA guidelines on convalescent plasma collection for single-patient emergency IND use are helpful in understanding agency expectations around source plasma collection for manufactured products as well, Emergent SVP Laura Saward says.

Sanofi’s Lantus stands alone as the only insulin product still listed in the ‘Orange Book’ post-transition because it is referenced in Mylan/Biocon’s pending 505(b)(2) application for insulin glargine; the FDA said it stands ready to review biosimilar and interchangeable applications that reference the newly ‘deemed’ biologic products.