Seven panelists are regular members of the Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies advisory committee, while many of the 13 temporary voting members bring neurology and neuroscience expertise. In a conflict-of-interest waiver, the agency noted a struggle to find experts in clinical neurology and neurodegenerative diseases who lack disqualifying financial interests.

Sponsor’s assertion of a ‘floor effect’ cannot explain the lack of difference versus placebo on clinical endpoints, and there is no evidence that assessed biomarkers are reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, agency says. Although advisory committee will focus primarily on efficacy, FDA also cites concerns about ‘grossly deficient’ product quality information.

EU marketing authorization applications have been submitted for a number of new drugs, including Eli Lilly’s donanemab, Italfarmaco's givinostat and Arcturus Therapeutics/CSL’s ARCT-154.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has divested its API arm to the Nirma group for over $681m, a move that will deleverage the drug maker’s balance sheet as it seeks to evolve into an “innovative/brand led organization.”