Sarepta, FDA and Gene Therapy
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Shares of Sarepta Therapeutics plunged more than 30% on Friday as the future of its key gene therapy treatment appeared at risk. The Food and Drug Administration will request that the company voluntarily stop all shipments of the treatment, Elevidys, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.
Shipments will halt by close of business Tuesday evening, the company said. Sarepta had initially rejected the agency’s request, which was issued Friday.
Sarepta officials said the temporary halt in shipments was done to maintain a productive working relationship with regulators while they address a safety labeling update about the risk of acute liver disease related to Elevidys.
A standoff over Elevidys could have major consequences for Duchenne patients, gene therapy companies and the perception of the FDA.
The crisis over Sarepta Therapeutics' Duchenne therapy offers a valuable lesson: Listening to critics, and responding with data, is the surest path forward.
The Sarepta saga continues, with the FDA slapping a clinical hold across all of the company’s investigational limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) trials, while also revoking the biopharma’s gene therapy platform technology designation.