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news.The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research has cancelled the scheduled November 16, 2016, Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting to review Dynavax Technologies' Biologics License Application (BLA) for HEPLISAV-B [Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Adjuvanted)].
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During recent conversations between Dynavax and the FDA, the Agency communicated decisions to enable compliance with the current Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of December 15, 2016.
The Agency informed Dynavax that the VRBPAC meeting was cancelled and remaining questions will be addressed between Dynavax and the review team via the normal process.
The FDA informed Dynavax that it plans to provide information requests related to remaining questions in the upcoming weeks. Dynavax is prepared to address these questions expeditiously in order to enable the FDA to complete its review as soon as possible.
Dynavax CEO Eddie Gray said: "Our dialogue with the FDA has been very open and productive, and we look forward to providing the review team with any additional information they may need to complete their review.
"We are committed to bringing HEPLISAV-B to market as we believe it offers a better level of protection than the currently available hepatitis B vaccines."
The FDA also confirmed to Dynavax that it will review the overall immunogenicity data from HBV-23, the company's most recent pivotal Phase 3 trial, to support the proposed indication for adults 18 years of age and over.
However, the Agency has decided it will not review immunogenicity data related to sub-populations including results in individuals with diabetes because these data were not a direct response to the FDA's February 22, 2013 Complete Response Letter and therefore fell outside of the review time allocated to a Class 2 resubmission. Thus, it was suggested the data should be submitted as a supplemental BLA following approval.
The FDA subsequently issued a public notice on September 2, 2016 of the decision to cancel the previously scheduled VRBPAC meeting. That notice summarized the cancellation decision, the intent to resolve outstanding questions and scheduling of a future VRBPAC meeting, if needed.
About Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral disease of the liver that can become chronic and can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, hepatocellular carcinoma and death. In the U.S., the CDC estimates that approximately 20,000 hepatitis B infections continue to occur annually, with the vast majority occurring in adults. There is no cure for hepatitis B, and disease prevention through effective vaccination is critical to reducing the spread of the disease.
Currently marketed hepatitis B vaccines are administered in three doses over a six-month schedule. Results of a published Vaccine Safety Datalink study showed that 54 percent of adults completed the currently available three-dose hepatitis B vaccine series in one year. Those who do not complete the series may not be adequately protected against hepatitis B.
About HEPLISAV-B
HEPLISAV-B is an investigational adult hepatitis B vaccine that combines hepatitis B surface antigen with a proprietary Toll-like receptor 9 agonist to enhance the immune response. HEPLISAV-B is administered in two doses over one month.
In Phase 3 trials, HEPLISAV-B demonstrated higher and earlier protection with fewer doses than a currently licensed hepatitis B vaccine. The investigational vaccine's safety profile is based on clinical trials that generated safety data from more than 14,000 participants. The most frequently reported local reaction was injection site pain.
The most common systemic reactions were fatigue, headache and malaise, all of which were similar to an existing vaccine.
Dynavax has worldwide commercial rights to HEPLISAV-B.