Incorporation of the Ped-PRO-CTCAE instrument would help inform short-term tolerability and long-term effects of treatment, particularly newer immunotherapy agents, but there are logistical and operational challenges to overcome, advisory committee members said.

A 2008 law that limited exclusivity for certain antibiotics to three years does not apply to Allergan’s Avycaz, which combines an approved old antibiotic active moiety and a new active moiety, CDER exclusivity board concludes.

Emergency use authorization in 12-15 year-olds follows announcement of a June advisory committee meeting on pediatric data requirements, including the FDA’s criteria for younger children. Authorization for US adolescents has raised ethical questions about prioritizing this lower-risk group over hard-hit populations overseas.

Advisory committee will discuss ways to encourage inclusion of the Pediatric PRO-CTCAE tool in cancer trials on 11 May, followed the next day by a discussion on real-world data sources that could inform the efficacy and long-term safety of pediatric cancer treatments.

US FDA’s expedited pathway remains alive and well in oncology, but ‘dangling’ indications may be subject to more regular public scrutiny going forward; negative votes for two of six indications reflected the influence of Oncology Center of Excellence director Richard Pazdur.

Measure clarifies the meaning of new chemical entity by replacing the term ‘active ingredient,’ which encompasses esters and salts, with ‘active moiety’ as defined by the FDA; legal experts are skeptical the measure will generate cost savings and say it gives the agency wide latitude to make future changes in eligibility for 5-year exclusivity.