New FDA Approvals: FDA Approves BeiGene’s Tevimbra

March 13: The FDA approved BeiGene, Ltd.’s Tevimbra (tislelizumab-jsgr) for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after prior systemic chemotherapy that did not include a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor. Recommended dosing for the PD-1 inhibitor is 200 mg via intravenous infusion once every three weeks. The initial dose is administered over 60 minutes; if it is tolerated, subsequent doses can be administered over 30 minutes. The drug will be available in the second half of 2024.

March 13: The FDA gave an additional indication to Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Livmarli (maralixibat) for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in people at least 5 years old with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). The agency first approved the ileal bile acid transporter inhibitor on Sept. 29, 2021. The new indication has orphan drug designation, as well as breakthrough therapy designation for PFIC type 2. The starting dose for the newest use of the oral solution is 285 mcg/kg once daily in the morning, increasing to 285 mcg/kg twice daily, then 428 mcg/kg twice daily and then 570 mcg/kg twice daily. Drugs.com lists the price of 9.5 mg/mL for 30 milliliters is more than $56,239.