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Interim sample size adjustments and their many approaches are a frequent discussion point between Sponsors and statisticians during protocol development. One such approach is a blinded assessment of variance, favored by some Sponsors for its lack of alpha penalty. We will discuss how this method works, the pros, the cons, and if this approach might be appropriate for your protocol.

The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) adopted a harmonized drug-drug interaction (DDI) guidance (ICH M12) in May 2024. The next step is for this guidance to be implemented by ICH members; the FDA and EMA have already implemented the guidance. Read our blog for key highlights of the 2024 ICH M12 Guidance.

Sponsors often rely on Standardized MedDRA Queries (SMQs) to group adverse events for detection of safety signals across clinical trials. Additionally, the FDA has introduced their own version of adverse event groupings – FDA MedDRA Queries (FMQs). So, what’s the difference? 

Are you developing a new medicinal product for a rare disease and interested in applying for orphan drug designation (ODD) in the European Union (EU)? This blog lists the main areas that you will need to address in your ODD application.

Diversity Action Plans will soon be required for phase 3 clinical trials and other pivotal studies of drugs and biological products conducted in the US. Are you ready for this requirement?

Did you know that insufficient enrollment is the leading cause for clinical trials being halted? Study sponsors rightly embrace those sites which are high performing as they give a study the best opportunity to meet its enrollment targets. However, is it possible for there to be overreliance on these high enrolling sites? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. 

Responding to information requests (IRs) from FDA during review of a marketing application can be stressful. How do you survive the rollercoaster of requests? We have outlined useful tips and best practices for managing responses to IRs during FDA review of your marketing application.

Regulatory agencies like the FDA require substantial evidence of the drug’s effectiveness for its intended use and sufficient information to conclude that the drug is safe.  However, flexibility is given in how the standard can be met given the challenges associated with the limited number of subjects available in rare disease.

Reviewing recent FDA approvals, you may be struck by the total absence of odds ratios. Browsing the labels from the 2023 novel approvals, you can find proportions, differences in proportions, Chi-Squared analyses, CMH and variants, but logistic regression and odds ratios have practically disappeared from labeling. What gives?

FDA’s Benefit-Risk Framework is the presentation for communicating the assessment of the benefits and risks based on the therapeutic context, available evidence and uncertainties for the product in development.