FDA Launches Pilot Program to Help Further Accelerate Development of Rare Disease Therapies

In a significant move to expedite the development of novel drug and biological products for rare diseases, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a pilot program aimed at fostering more frequent communication between sponsors and FDA staff. This initiative, known as the Support for clinical Trials Advancing Rare disease Therapeutics (START) Pilot Program, aims to address clinical development challenges and generate high-quality data to support the future marketing applications of potentially life-saving therapies.

Enhancing Communication and Collaboration:
Under the START Pilot Program, a limited number of sponsors will have the opportunity to obtain regular ad-hoc communication and advice from FDA staff. This communication will focus on addressing product-specific development issues such as clinical study design, selection of control groups, and fine-tuning the choice of patient population. By facilitating improved communication, the FDA aims to streamline the development process for rare disease therapies and ensure that patients with unmet medical needs receive timely access to innovative treatments.

Eligibility and Application Process:
The program is open to sponsors of products currently in clinical trials under an active Investigational New Drug application (IND) regulated by the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and/or the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). Eligibility criteria differ between CBER and CDER-regulated products. CBER-regulated products must be gene or cellular therapies addressing an unmet medical need for a rare disease likely to cause significant disability or death within the first decade of life. CDER-regulated products must be intended to treat rare neurodegenerative conditions, including rare genetic metabolic disorders. Detailed eligibility requirements can be found in the Federal Register Notice.

The Road Ahead:
The FDA plans to accept applications for the START program between January 2, 2024, and March 1, 2024. Participants will be selected based on their application readiness and ability to progress their development programs towards a marketing application. The agency will choose up to three participants for each center. After evaluating the pilot program and receiving feedback from selected sponsors, the FDA may consider a second iteration, which would be announced in the Federal Register at a later date.

Commitment to Rare Disease Therapies:
The FDA’s efforts to advance the development of therapies for rare diseases extend beyond the START Pilot Program. The agency has recently requested feedback from stakeholders on scientific challenges and opportunities related to cellular and gene therapies for rare diseases. This input will help inform the planning of future meetings, workshops, and educational programs to facilitate the development of regulatory tools and frameworks.

Additionally, the FDA has created the Learning and Education to Advance and Empower Rare Disease Drug Developers (LEADER 3D) program under the CDER Accelerating Rare disease Cures (ARC) initiative. Stakeholder feedback gathered through this program will contribute to identifying knowledge gaps in rare disease drug development and the creation of publicly available resources to guide stakeholders in designing and conducting clinical trials.

The FDA’s launch of the START Pilot Program demonstrates its commitment to expediting the development of rare disease therapies. By facilitating enhanced communication and collaboration between sponsors and FDA staff, the program aims to accelerate the availability of potentially life-saving treatments for patients with unmet medical needs. This pilot program, along with other ongoing initiatives, highlights the FDA’s dedication to improving the regulatory framework and recommendations for rare disease product sponsors, ultimately ensuring the safety, effectiveness, and quality of these important therapies.

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Read the press release: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-launches-pilot-program-help-further-accelerate-development-rare-disease-therapies?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery