Quarterly Drug Pipeline: October 2024

Clinical insights and competitive intelligence on anticipated drugs in development

Editor-in-chief's message

Welcome to the Prime Quarterly Drug Pipeline! Dive into clinical insights and competitive intelligence on anticipated drugs in development, so you are well-sourced on the drug pipeline.

Methodology
 
The drug pipeline is complex and fluid. Our talented and committed team of clinical and analytics experts are excited to bring you this robust publication after thoughtful research. Specialty and traditional drugs that are covered under the pharmacy and medical benefits are featured. New molecular entities, pertinent new and expanded indications for existing medications, biosimilars, and regenerative medicines, such as gene and cellular therapies, are also profiled. 

Quarterly Drug Pipeline details both agents submitted for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review and those in phase 3 studies with a likelihood to apply to the FDA. Our Deep Dives consider the evidence, the products’ potential to fill an unmet need or become the new standard of care, and the ability to replace existing therapies. 

A market agnostic financial forecast primarily from Evaluate™ is included for select agents to assist payers with assessing the potential budgetary impact of the pipeline. Five-year projected annual U.S. sales are forecasted.

Reflection

With only a couple of months left in 2024, thus far the agency has approved 37 novel drugs, compared to about 43 novel approvals about the same time last year. For the remainder of the year, 22 notable drugs filed with the agency are profiled, each with an anticipated FDA decision in 2024. 

Some of the recent noteworthy approvals include the first engineered cell therapy for unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma, new mechanisms of action for gastrointestinal cancers and schizophrenia, first SC formulation of a PDL-1 inhibitor for select cancers, new options for the neurological manifestations of Niemann-Pick disease – a rare progressive genetic disorder, two Accelerated Approvals for primary biliary cholangitis – a rare liver disease, a SC formulation of ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for multiple sclerosis (MS), the first nasal formulation of epinephrine and a self/caregiver-administered option for intranasal flu vaccine. 

While numbers do not tell the entire story, they do represent significant innovation in patient care and advance public health for the American public.

On the horizon

The FDA decisions for specialty medications (75%) and for Orphan Drugs (35%) continue to grow for agents with applications submitted to the FDA. Four agents submitted to the FDA are seeking FDA’s Accelerated Approval, which allows for earlier drug approval for serious conditions that fill an unmet need based on a surrogate endpoint reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit.

Notable FDA decisions expected for fourth quarter 2024 include:
  • New indication for tirzepatide (Zepbound) for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity 
  • Accelerated Approvals for two Orphan Drugs – a one-time gene therapy for an ultrarare protein deficiency and a drug for biliary tract cancer 
  • CAR T cell therapy for bone marrow cancer
  • Several agents for rare diseases 
    o First-in-class encapsulated cell therapy implant for a neurodegenerative ophthalmic disorder
    o Oral option for classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, related to an enzyme deficiency
    o Injectable for familial chylomicronemia syndrome, characterized by severe hypertriglyceridemia
    o Injectable for short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure

We hope you enjoy the report! 

 

Maryam Tabatabai
Vice President, Clinical Information 


 

Editorial team

Maryam Tabatabai, PharmD

Editor-In-Chief
Vice President, Clinical Information 


Carole Kerzic, RPh
Executive Editor
Clinical Pharmacist, Drug Information 


Nicole Kjesbo, PharmD, BCPS
Executive Editor
Clinical Program Director, Pipeline

 

Consultant panel


Robert Greer, RPh, BCOP
Vice President, Clinical Strategy and Programs

Andrea Henry, PharmD, MBA, BCPS  
Specialty Drug Information Pharmacist 

Katie Lockhart
Director, Trend and Forecasting Analytics  

Olivia Pane, PharmD, CDCES 
Clinical Pharmacist, Drug Information 

Devon Trumbower, PharmD, BCPS  
Clinical Pharmacist

The drug pipeline is fluid; the dates and information within this publication are subject to change. Nothing herein is or shall be construed as a promise or representation regarding past or future events and Prime Therapeutics expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to the use of or reliance on the information contained in this presentation. The information contained in this publication is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered clinical, financial, or legal advice. By receipt of this publication, each recipient agrees that the information contained herein will be kept confidential and that the information will not be photocopied, reproduced, distributed to, or disclosed to others at any time without the prior written consent of Prime Therapeutics.

 
All brand names are property of their respective owners.

Deep dive

The Deep Dive section features an analysis for select pipeline drugs that are expected to be FDA-approved in the upcoming quarters. Selected agents are expected to have a high clinical and/or financial impact on healthcare. Agent selection considers the evidence — the products’ potential to fill an unmet need, become the new standard of care, or the ability to replace existing therapies. Typically, Deep Dives focus on new moieties, however, existing drugs that may offer a novel mechanism of action for existing conditions may be featured. Agents granted designations from the FDA to expedite review and/or support development and evaluation of pipeline drugs are also considered.
 
Specialty drug names appear in pink throughout the publication.

Keep on your radar

Notable agents that are further from approval have been identified in this unique watch list. These are products with the potential for significant clinical and financial impact. Their development status is being tracked on the Quarterly Drug Pipeline radar. These pipeline products, their respective class or proposed indication, as well as an estimated financial forecast for the year 2028, are displayed. The financials are projected total annual U.S. sales, reported in millions.

Drug list

The pipeline drug list is an aerial outline of drugs with anticipated FDA approval through 2026. It is not intended to be a comprehensive inventory of all drugs in the pipeline; emphasis is placed on drugs in high-impact categories. Investigational drugs with a recent Complete Response Letter (CRL) are also reported.

Gene & cellular therapies

Biosimilars

Specialty

Traditional

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