FDA committee to discuss anti-NGF drug class at meeting

WASHINGTON — A Food and Drug Administration panel will meet Monday to discuss a class of drugs designed to treat chronic painful conditions that currently are under development and the safety issues possibly related to the drugs.

The FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee will discuss the anti-nerve growth drug class that is being developed for the treatment of such conditions as osteoarthritis, chronic lower back pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, chronic pancreatitis, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, vertebral fracture, thermal injury and cancer pain. The committee will be asked to determine whether reports of joint destruction represent a safety signal related to the anti-NGF class of drugs, and whether the risk benefit balance for these drugs favors continued development of the drugs as analgesics.

Drug makers participating in the meeting include Janssen, Pfizer and Regeneron.

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