FDA Approves Semaglutide to Reduce Risk of Kidney Disease Progression

Semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic, recently became the first glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure, and death due to cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), a common complication of T2D.

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The Evolving Landscape of Biologics

The introduction of biosimilars, first in Europe in 2006 and followed by the US in 2015, marked a pivotal shift in access to and equity in biological therapy. The 2009 Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA), which created an abbreviated Biologics License Application pathway, defined a biosimilar as a biologic product that is highly similar to a reference (originator) biologic product in quality, safety, and efficacy. While pre-BPCIA biosimilar applications may have included phase 2 or phase 3 studies, the BPCIA specified that, at a minimum, applicants must demonstrate biosimilarity through analytical studies, animal studies, and studies that evaluate immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics if necessary. As of November 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 61 biosimilars referencing 17 biologics, of which 41 have launched.

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FDA Authorizes Marketing of ZYN Nicotine Pouch Products

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized the marketing of 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products, the first of their kind to receive such approval. The decision followed an extensive scientific review that concluded that the benefits of these cigarette alternatives outweighed the risks, in line with the public health standards set by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

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Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care and Biomedicine—Reply

In Reply The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is committed to including patient perspectives in the development and evaluation of all medical products, and AI- and machine learning–enabled products are no different. We thank Mr Jaiswal and colleagues for highlighting the importance of patient and caregiver perspectives in response to our Special Communication investigating the FDA’s regulation of AI. While truly achieving a patient-centric approach to AI will take concerted effort from all involved entities, the FDA has taken several actions focused on priority issues to place patients at the center of the health AI life cycle.

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