CarcinogenicityAccepted with a conditionBeyond the letter
Only the Tg.RasH2 mouse study completed before approval; 2-year rat carcinogenicity study in progress and made a postmarketing requirement
Why: Prior FDA agreement; two-species carcinogenicity routinely expected for use beyond 6 months, so rat study made a PMR
“A 2-year rat carcinogenicity study is currently in progress. The incomplete status of the carcinogenicity testing program is in accordance with the FDA’s prior agreement with the Applicant.”
✓ VerifiedFDA integrated review, p. 68Source ↗ “Carcinogenicity studies in two rodent species are routinely expected to support the approval of drugs for which the duration of use is expected to exceed 6 months. Therefore, submission of the 2-year rat carcinogenicity study should be a Postmarketing Requirement.”
✓ VerifiedFDA integrated review, p. 68Source ↗ Safety marginAcceptedBeyond the letter
Safety margins calculated on dose rather than systemic exposure
Why: Very low bioavailability (in general below 1%) · Pharmacology or kinetics
“As the bioavailability of maralixibat is very low (in general below 1%) the use of doses instead of systemic exposure for calculation of safety margins is acceptable as well.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 35Source ↗ DARTCriticised but acceptedBeyond the letter
Rat reproductive studies used dietary dosing; PPND study did not prevent pup access to maternal diet, confounding pup body weights
“Unfortunately, no measure was taken to prevent access of offspring to the maternal diet in the PPND study, where adverse effects on pups’ body weights were considered due to consuming the maternal diet at the time when the offspring start to eat on their own.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 37Source ↗ “In line with the proposed indication “Treatment of cholestatic liver disease in patients with Alagille syndrome (ALGS) 2 months of age and older”, a full range of reproductive and juvenile toxicity studies were submitted, which do not raise any concerns.”
✓ VerifiedEMA assessment report, p. 40Source ↗