REPL News & Events

The Food and Drug Administration review process for accelerated approvals was meant to drugs for rare diseases to pass the approval process, clearing the drugs based on early biological signs instead of waiting years for definitive proof of real-world outcomes, David Wainer of The Wall Street Journal. Now, however, the accelerated approval pathway isn't closed but has become much narrower and harder to predict. Recently, the FDA issued a string of rejections, including Regenxbio's (RGNX) gene therapy for Hunter Syndrome and Disc Medicine's (IRON) treatment for a blood disorder. In some cases, the agency reversed its own guidelines provided to the companies. In 2025, the FDA greenlighted only nine accelerated approvals, down from 20 in 2024. Other companies in the space include: uniQure (QURE), Moderna (MRNA), Replimune (REPL), and Capricor (CAPR).

"We have been engaged with the FDA in the review of the BLA resubmission for RP1," said Sushil Patel, Ph.D., CEO of Replimune. "Advanced melanoma patients can progress quickly and are in urgent need of safe and effective treatment options. Our team remains ready to launch RP1 with commercial supply produced and the commercial organization prepared to engage with our target accounts rapidly, assuming FDA approval."

"After a collaborative dialogue and productive engagement with the FDA we are encouraged by the acceptance of our BLA resubmission for RP1 in combination with nivolumab," said Sushil Patel, Ph.D., CEO of Replimune. "We are currently partnering with the agency on the ongoing review to bring this important therapy to patients."