New FDA Specialty Approvals

March 3: The FDA expanded the label for Pfizer Inc.’s Lorbrena (lorlatinib) to include the first-line treatment of people with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as detected by an FDA-approved test (see brief below). The agency also converted the 2018 accelerated approval for ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC whose disease has progressed on crizotinib and at least one other ALK inhibitor or those whose disease has progressed on alectinib or ceritinib as the first ALK inhibitor for metastatic disease to full approval (RSP 11/18, p. 8). Recommended dosing for the tablet is 100 mg once daily. Website Drugs.com lists the price of 30 100 mg tablets as more than $18,480. Visit www.lorbrena.com.

March 4: The FDA approved an additional indication for Roche Group member Genentech USA, Inc.’s Actemra (tocilizumab) for slowing the rate of decline in pulmonary function in adults with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease. The agency initially approved the interleukin-6 inhibitor on Jan. 8, 2010 (RSP 1/10, p. 6). It gave the newest indication priority review. The recommended dose for the new use is 162 mg once every week as a subcutaneous injection. Drugs.com lists the price of one 162 mg/0.9 mL solution as more than $1,130. Visit www.actemra.com.

Angela Maas

Angela Maas

Angela has an extensive background of editing, reporting and writing for trade and consumer publications. She has written Radar on Specialty Pharmacy (formerly called Specialty Pharmacy News) since she joined AIS Health in 2005 and has broad knowledge of the various issues at play within the space. Before joining AIS Health, she was managing editor at Employee Benefit News and Employee Benefit News Canada and managing editor at HemAware (a hemophilia publication), Lupus Living and Momentum (a multiple sclerosis publication). She has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in British literature from Arizona State University.

Related Posts

patient-injecting-insulin
May 11

Study Finds Fertility Program Prevents Medication Waste, Loss, Missed Doses

READ MORE
justice-scale
May 11

AbbVie Files Lawsuit Against Alternate Funding Company Payer Matrix Alleging ‘Fraudulent and Deceptive Scheme’

READ MORE
fda-approved-rubber-stamp-with-fda-and-pills-on-craft-paper
May 11

New FDA Approvals: FDA Expands Patient Population of Takeda’s HyQvia

READ MORE

GAIN THERAPEUTIC AREA-SPECIFIC INTEL TO DRIVE ACCESS FOR YOUR BRAND

Sign up for publications to get unmatched business intelligence delivered to your inbox.

subscribe today