Company’s appeal of the US FDA’s formal request to voluntarily withdraw accelerated approval of the multiple myeloma agent is expected to follow the streamlined procedures created in last year’s omnibus legislation, which would preclude a second advisory committee review of melflufen’s fate.

More than seven months after the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted that Pepaxto and Copiktra had negative benefit-risk profiles in their labeled indications, the drugs' approvals remain intact. Oncopeptides is still considering whether to heed the FDA's request to withdraw the Pepaxto NDA, even though the drug is not currently marketed. Secura Bio says Copiktra remains on the market and available for prescribing.

The four-hour virtual public meeting featured "incompatible" views of the FDA and sponsor on the OCEAN data, not to mention signs of impatience and resentment, with each side criticizing the positions of the other over the safety and efficacy of the multiple myeloma drug.