With announcements pouring in since the beginning of this year, FDA’s fourth and newest expedited approval pathway for medicines has begun to bear fruit. Established in 2012 within the FDA Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), Breakthrough Therapy designations have so far totaled 25 as of the end of July.
With announcements pouring in since the beginning of this year, FDA’s fourth and newest expedited approval pathway for medicines has begun to bear fruit. Established in 2012 within the FDA Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), Breakthrough Therapy designations have so far totaled 25 as of the end of July. With a separate senior management team working solely on the approval of these therapies, FDA stresses the importance of efficient drug development programs that show these medicines demonstrate at least one significant improvement in clinical endpoints for conditions in which therapies already exist. Here’s a list of approved breakthroughs announced thus far in order of their announcement dates:
Name
Company
Designation
Vertex
2 for Cystic Fibrosis
2. Ibrutinib
Pharmacyclics and Janssen Research & Development
3 for relapsed or refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia, and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
3. LDK378
Novartis
Condition- ALK+ Non-small cell Lung Cancer
4. Palbociclib
Pfizer
Non-orphan breast cancer
Merck
Melanoma
6. Triple direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment regimens of daclatisvir, asunaprevir, and BMS-791325
Bristol-Meyers Squibb
Hepatitis C Virus
7. SD-101
Scioderm
Epidermolysis Bullosa
8. Daratamumab
Genmab/Janssen
Multiple Myeloma
9. DAA Combination of ABT-450/r + ABT-267 + ABT-333 with and without ribavirin
AbbVie
Hepatitis C Virus
10. Obinutuzumab
Genentech
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
11. Sebelipase Alfa
Synageva BioPharma
Early-Onset Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency
12. Asfotase Alfa
Alexion
Perinatal-, Infantile- and Juvenile-Onset Hypophosphatasia
Novartis
Acute Heart Failure
14. Drisapersen (GSK2402968/PRO051)
GlaxoSmithKline
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
It appears that this focus on a special pathway is spurring more attention to therapies that represent an advance in the standard of care.
Addressing Disparities in Psoriasis Trials: Takeda's Strategies for Inclusivity in Clinical Research
April 14th 2025LaShell Robinson, Head of Global Feasibility and Trial Equity at Takeda, speaks about the company's strategies to engage patients in underrepresented populations in its phase III psoriasis trials.
Beyond the Prescription: Pharma's Role in Digital Health Conversations
April 1st 2025Join us for an insightful conversation with Jennifer Harakal, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Canopy Life Sciences, as we unpack the evolving intersection of social media and healthcare decisions. Discover how pharmaceutical companies can navigate regulatory challenges while meaningfully engaging with consumers in digital spaces. Jennifer shares expert strategies for responsible marketing, working with influencers, and creating educational content that bridges the gap between patients and healthcare providers. A must-listen for pharma marketers looking to build trust and compliance in today's social media landscape.
Pfizer, GSK Gain ACIP Recommendations for RSV and Meningococcal Vaccines
April 18th 2025The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to expand access to Pfizer’s respiratory syncytial virus vaccine Abrysvo for high-risk adults in their 50s and voted in favor of GSK’s meningococcal vaccine, Penmenvy, for streamlined adolescent protection.