Half of the FDA’s upcoming 2024 user fee goals target rare diseases, but highly prevalent conditions like uncomplicated urinary tract infections and atopic dermatitis are also up for agency action in the second half of the year.

Crowded calendar could bring to an end the slow start for novel approvals in 2024, as decisions come due for Lilly’s donanemab, Merck’s sotatercept, Regeneron’s odronextamab and more.

Almost 80% of novel agent submissions from the biggest companies were approved in recent years, compared with a 60% approval rate for the rest of the industry, according to a recent analysis of FDA approval decisions since 2021.

Almost 80% of novel agent submissions from the biggest companies were approved in recent years, compared with a 60% approval rate for the rest of the industry, according to a Pink Sheet analysis of FDA approval decisions since 2021.