Regulatory

Discovery Laboratories has submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application for its Aerosurf aerosolized KL4 surfactant for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants, the company has announced. Assuming the FDA review proceeds without objection, the company says, enrollment in a planned Phase 2 study could be initiated in the 4th … [Read more...] about Discovery Labs submits IND for Aerosurf

According to MannKind Corporation, the company resubmitted its new drug application for Afrezza insulin inhalation powder for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes to the FDA on October 13, 2013. The resubmitted application includes all data from the product's clinical development program, the company said. Earlier this year, MannKind announced positive results … [Read more...] about MannKind resubmits Afrezza NDA

Teva has announced that the US FDA has approved its tobramycin inhalation solution, a generic equivalent to Novartis's TOBI inhalation solution for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients. According to Teva, the company will launch the product in November 2013 in accordance with an agreement with Novartis. Teva UK's marketing … [Read more...] about Teva’s generic tobramycin inhalation solution approved by FDA

The European Parliament has voted to regulate e-cigarettes under less stringent rules than drug delivery products, unless the products make medical claims. The Parliament voted to prohibit sales of e-cigarettes to any one under 18 years old, to limit products to 30mg/ml of nicotine, and to require health warnings. Linda McAvan, the member designated as the lead … [Read more...] about European Parliament rejects regulation of e-cigarettes as medicines

According to Eleison Pharmaceuticals, the European Commission has granted Orphan Drug Designation for the company's inhaled lipid-complexed cisplatin (ILC) for the treatment of osteosarcoma. The sustained-release inhalation solution, which Eleison licensed from Insmed in 2011, is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial. Eleison Chief Medical Officer Forrest Anthony … [Read more...] about Orphan drug designation for inhaled lipid-complexed cisplatin

Just days after its approval in Japan, Novartis has announced that the Ultibro Breezhaler indacaterol/glycopyrronium (QVA149) DPI has been approved in Europe for the treatment of COPD. The approval triggers $10 million milestone payments to Sosei and Vectura. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Division Head David Epstein commented, "We are very pleased that the European … [Read more...] about European approval for Ultibro Breezhaler

According to AstraZeneca, it has received a positive opinion from the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for its Fluenz Tetra intranasal four-strain live attenuated influenza vaccine developed by its MedImmune subsidiary. Fluenz Tetra includes two strains of influenza A and two strains of influenza B. If approved, the vaccine would replace … [Read more...] about Positive opinion on Fluenz Tetra from CHMP

Sosei Group and Vectura have announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has approved Ultibro glycopyrronium/indacaterol inhalation capsules, which are delivered using the Breezhaler DPI, for treatment of COPD. Ultibro, also known as QVA149, was developed by Novartis, which filed the Japanese marketing application in November 2012. … [Read more...] about Ultibro inhalation capsules approved in Japan