By Ed SilvermanJuly 31, 2026
Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer
And so, another working week will soon come to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still taking shape, but we plan on promenading with the official mascots, catching up on our reading, and manicuring the Pharmalot campus. We also hope to hold still another listening party, where the rotation will likely feature this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? If the weather cooperates, the possibilities are endless — hiking, surfing, sunbathing, strolling, gazing at the stars in the sky. Maybe you want to try a new restaurant. You could also do something meaningful and reach out to someone special. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted 10-to-3 to recommend use of an experimental Replimune treatment for advanced melanoma, STAT writes. The panel determined the company collected sufficient data to allow the FDA to review RP1, an engineered viral immunotherapy. What comes next could be seen by some as a signal of how the FDA, which is under new leadership, weighs potential benefits and risks for investigational drugs. RP1 was initially rejected last year and again this past April. Investors have interpreted the decision to hold an advisory committee meeting as a sign of new lenience.
