Cross-investigation · Divergent outcome

What happens after a second FDA Complete Response Letter?

Five companies, five paths. Replimune and CorMedix were approved after one more resubmission; Verrica after a third letter; Outlook's appeal after a third letter was granted and it resubmitted; Aldeyra, after a third letter, plans to appeal.

EphemerisX Research · Published · Aldeyra Therapeutics · CorMedix · Outlook Therapeutics · Replimune · Verrica Pharmaceuticals · 4 min read

Short answer

In these five records, a second Complete Response Letter led to five different paths. Where the repeat letter turned on a manufacturing facility (CorMedix, Verrica), the companies worked through the facility issues and approval followed. Where it turned on evidence of effectiveness, Replimune resubmitted and received accelerated approval after an advisory committee; Outlook and Aldeyra received a third letter, after which Outlook's appeal was granted and it resubmitted, and Aldeyra plans to appeal.

How the records connect

Five regulatory records, one question. The passages below show where the records converge and where they diverge; each card is a question in one company's record that quotes the same evidence.

CROSS-INVESTIGATION · DIVERGENT OUTCOMEWhat happens after a second FDA Complete Response Letter?ALDEYRA THERAPEUTICSWhat is Aldeyraappealing, and whathad the FDA's 2026letter recommended?3 shared passagesDid the FDA's 2025letter ask Aldeyrafor the same study asits 2023 letter?1 shared passageHow did a field trialleft out of the June2025 resubmission endup in the FDA'sreview?1 shared passage+1 more →CORMEDIXWhich manufacturerwas DefenCathapproved with, andwhat happened to thealternatives?3 shared passagesHow did CorMedixdescribe the FDA'ssecond letter?2 shared passagesWhat did the FDA'sfirst letter onDefenCath require?1 shared passage+4 more in CorMedix →OUTLOOK THERAPEUTICSWhat happened afterthe FDA's December2025 letter?5 shared passagesWas the FDA's August2025 letter its firstComplete ResponseLetter on ONS-5010?2 shared passagesWhat did the FDA'sAugust 2025 letterobject to?1 shared passage+2 more →REPLIMUNEHow did RP1 go from asecond FDA letter toaccelerated approvalin four months?3 shared passagesWhat did the FDA'ssecond letter objectto?2 shared passagesWhy did a differentFDA team review theresubmission?1 shared passage+2 more in Replimune →VERRICAHow did VP-102 getfrom a third FDAletter to approval inJuly 2023?3 shared passagesWhat happened to theglass ampule the FDAflagged in 2020?2 shared passagesHow did Verrica'saccount of its threeFDA letters changefrom 2020 to 2022?2 shared passages+4 more →

What the evidence shows

Replimune. The second letter, dated April 10, 2026, said the review team unanimously determined data presented are insufficient to conclude substantial evidence of effectiveness FDA · Apr 10, 2026 · p. 1, and that you must conduct and provide the results from adequate and well-controlled clinical trial(s) FDA · Apr 10, 2026 · p. 6. The 10-K then reports that the Company and the FDA aligned on a path forward for resubmission and reconsideration of the BLA 10-K · Jun 29, 2026, and that the FDA accepted the BLA resubmission as a Class 1 resubmission with an action date of August 2, 2026 10-K · Jun 29, 2026. An advisory committee voted 10 to 3 8-K · Jul 31, 2026, and the company announced that the FDA has granted accelerated approval for TUDRIQEV 8-K · Aug 7, 2026. How did RP1 go from a second FDA letter to accelerated approval in four months?

Outlook. Its 10-K describes the August 2025 letter as a second CRL from the FDA. This CRL included only one deficiency, for a lack of substantial evidence of effectiveness 10-K · Dec 19, 2025. Following a September 2025 Type A meeting with the FDA, we resubmitted the ONS-5010/LYTENAVA BLA on November 3, 2025 10-K · Dec 19, 2025. The December 2025 letter that followed is, in a March 2026 filing, a third Complete Response Letter 8-K · Mar 16, 2026. The company then submitted a formal dispute resolution request (FDRR) 8-K · Apr 7, 2026, and in May 2026 reported that the FDA has granted the appeal following completion of the Formal Dispute Resolution (FDR) process with the Office of New Drugs (OND) 8-K · May 26, 2026. On June 1, 2026 it announced the resubmission of its Biologics License Application (BLA) 8-K · Jun 1, 2026, described as a Class 1 resubmission with a PDUFA date and decision expected within 60 days of FDA’s receipt of the resubmission 8-K · Jun 1, 2026. Not in this record: an FDA decision on that resubmission.

Aldeyra. The September 2026 filing counts three Complete Response Letters, the first two of which recommended an additional clinical trial 8-K · Sep 29, 2026. After the second, in April 2025, Aldeyra ran a further chamber trial; the only new clinical data included in the resubmitted NDA were from the recently completed dry eye chamber trial, which achieved the primary endpoint 8-K · Jun 17, 2025. The third letter, in March 2026, did not request further clinical trials 8-K · Sep 29, 2026. Aldeyra's request is designed to appeal the March 16, 2026 Complete Response Letter 8-K · Sep 29, 2026; Submission of the FDRR and a meeting with the OND are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 8-K · Sep 29, 2026. Its presentation adds: We are aware of two FDRRs in 2026 for ophthalmological drug products: one FDRR resulted in an Appeal Granted decision, and one FDRR is awaiting an advisory panel 8-K · Sep 29, 2026. The passage does not name the products. What is Aldeyra appealing, and what had the FDA's 2026 letter recommended?

CorMedix. The second letter, August 2022, was about facilities: Satisfactory resolution of these deficiencies is required before this application may be approved. FDA · Aug 4, 2022 · p. 2 The searchable text of the two letters (one PDF) does not mention efficacy, effectiveness or the LOCK-IT-100 trial. One page of the February 2021 letter has no text layer and could not be searched. FDA · searched The company described deficiencies recently conveyed to the contract manufacturing organization (CMO) and the supplier of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) heparin during inspections 8-K · Aug 9, 2022. In April 2023 the FDA told it NDA resubmission with CMO 1 can be done at the Company’s discretion 8-K · Apr 26, 2023; the resubmission was accepted as a complete, Class 2 response with a six-month review, and has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of November 15, 2023 8-K · Jun 21, 2023, and On November 15, 2023, we announced that the FDA approved the new drug application 10-K · Mar 5, 2026.

Verrica. The second letter was due to open general inspection items at a contract manufacturer (CMO) that were not specific to VP-102 8-K · Nov 29, 2021. After the inspection was classified and closed, Verrica resubmitted the NDA for VP-102 on November 24, 2021 8-K · Nov 29, 2021. A third letter followed in May 2022, in which the only deficiency listed was related to the deficiencies identified at a general reinspection of the contract manufacturing organization (CMO) that manufactures Verrica’s bulk solution drug product 8-K · Aug 11, 2022. Verrica has begun working with Piramal Pharma Solutions to manufacture bulk solution for VP-102 8-K · Aug 11, 2022, and On July 21, 2023, YCANTH (VP-102) (cantharidin) 0.7% topical solution was the first product approved by the FDA for the treatment of molluscum 10-K · Mar 11, 2026. The 2026 10-K names neither Sterling nor Piramal, and does not mention human factors, a Type A meeting or a CRL. 10-K · searched How did VP-102 get from a third FDA letter to approval in July 2023?

What divides the paths in these records is what the repeat letter turned on. The two facility letters (CorMedix, Verrica) were followed by work on manufacturing sites and then approval. Of the three letters on effectiveness, Aldeyra's was followed by a further trial and then a third letter, Outlook's by a resubmission and then a third letter and an appeal, and Replimune's by alignment with the FDA, a Class 1 resubmission and an advisory committee.

Follow the thread

Questions this raises

Comparing these records raises new questions. They are not yet investigated.

  • What distinguished the records that reached approval after one more resubmission from those that went to formal dispute resolution?
  • Which deficiencies in a second letter carried into a third, and which did not?
  • When did an advisory committee or an appeal change a program's course after a repeat letter?

The documents, by date

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Form 8-K, filed November 29, 20218-K · Nov 29, 2021FDA Complete Response Letter, August 4, 2022FDA letter · Aug 4, 2022CorMedix Form 8-K, filed August 9, 20228-K · Aug 9, 2022Verrica Pharmaceuticals Form 8-K, filed August 11, 20228-K · Aug 11, 2022CorMedix Form 8-K, filed April 26, 20238-K · Apr 26, 2023CorMedix Form 8-K, filed June 21, 20238-K · Jun 21, 2023Aldeyra Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed June 17, 20258-K · Jun 17, 2025Outlook Therapeutics Form 10-K, filed December 19, 202510-K · Dec 19, 2025CorMedix Form 10-K, filed March 5, 202610-K · Mar 5, 2026Verrica Pharmaceuticals Form 10-K, filed March 11, 202610-K · Mar 11, 2026Outlook Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed March 16, 20268-K · Mar 16, 2026Outlook Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed April 7, 20268-K · Apr 7, 2026FDA Complete Response Letter, April 10, 2026FDA letter · Apr 10, 2026Outlook Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed May 26, 20268-K · May 26, 2026Outlook Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed June 1, 20268-K · Jun 1, 2026Replimune Form 10-K, filed June 29, 202610-K · Jun 29, 2026Replimune Form 8-K, filed July 31, 20268-K · Jul 31, 2026Replimune Form 8-K, filed August 7, 20268-K · Aug 7, 2026Aldeyra Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed September 29, 20268-K · Sep 29, 2026Aldeyra Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed September 29, 20268-K · Sep 29, 2026

The passages quoted

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Form 8-K, filed November 29, 2021

Verrica received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA on September 17, 2021 due to open general inspection items at a contract manufacturer (CMO) that were not specific to VP-102. The Company received a General Advice Letter (GAL) from the FDA on September 22, 2021 with recommendations to improve VP-102’s user interface. On November 5, 2021 Verrica was notified that the inspection of the CMO was classified as “voluntary action indicated” (“VAI”), is now closed and that the VAI classification will not directly negatively impact FDA’s assessment of the Company’s NDA. Verrica resubmitted the NDA for VP-102 on November 24, 2021; the resubmission is limited to address the successful resolution of inspection deficiencies identified at the CMO in the CRL, as well as the recommendations included in the General Advice Letter.
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FDA Complete Response Letter, August 4, 2022

The searchable text of the two letters (one PDF) does not mention efficacy, effectiveness or the LOCK-IT-100 trial. One page of the February 2021 letter has no text layer and could not be searched.

Searched the whole document for: efficac, effectiveness, LOCK-IT, substantial evidence. None found.

Open the document →

FDA Complete Response Letter, August 4, 2022 · page 2

During a recent inspection of the and Rovi Pharma Industrial Services S.A (FEI 3016688535) manufacturing facilities for this application, our field investigators conveyed deficiencies to the representatives of the facilities. Satisfactory resolution of these deficiencies is required before this application may be approved.
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CorMedix Form 8-K, filed August 9, 2022

A second Complete Response Letter (CRL) was received from the FDA stating that the DefenCath NDA cannot be approved until deficiencies recently conveyed to the contract manufacturing organization (CMO) and the supplier of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) heparin during inspections are resolved to the satisfaction of FDA. There were no other deficiencies related to DefenCath cited in the CRL, and the Company expects that resolution of the site-specific compliance deficiencies will clear a pathway for FDA to approve the DefenCath NDA.
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Verrica Pharmaceuticals Form 8-K, filed August 11, 2022

According to the CRL, the only deficiency listed was related to the deficiencies identified at a general reinspection of the contract manufacturing organization (CMO) that manufactures Verrica’s bulk solution drug product. None of the issues identified by FDA during the reinspection were specific to the manufacturing of VP-102.
Open at the source →

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Form 8-K, filed August 11, 2022

Verrica has begun working with Piramal Pharma Solutions to manufacture bulk solution for VP-102 at their Sellersville, Pennsylvania site. Verrica will continue to work closely with Piramal and the FDA to facilitate a timely technology transfer and production quality at the facility.
Open at the source →

CorMedix Form 8-K, filed April 26, 2023

At the Type A meeting, the FDA informed CorMedix that it is in receipt of the close out report for inspectional observations received from its existing contract manufacturing organization (“CMO 1”), and NDA resubmission with CMO 1 can be done at the Company’s discretion. The FDA may conduct a pre-approval inspection at the facility as part of the NDA review process.
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CorMedix Form 8-K, filed June 21, 2023

today announced that the resubmission of the New Drug Application (NDA) for DefenCath has been accepted for filing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Agency considers the resubmission as a complete, Class 2 response with a six-month review, and has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of November 15, 2023.
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Aldeyra Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed June 17, 2025

Per FDA agreement, the only new clinical data included in the resubmitted NDA were from the recently completed dry eye chamber trial, which achieved the primary endpoint.
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Outlook Therapeutics Form 10-K, filed December 19, 2025

we resubmitted the BLA application for ONS-5010/LYTENAVA on February 27, 2025, and received a subsequent CRL on August 27, 2025. Following a September 2025 Type A meeting with the FDA, we resubmitted the ONS-5010/LYTENAVA BLA on November 3, 2025 and received a PDUFA goal date of December 31, 2025 from the FDA.
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Outlook Therapeutics Form 10-K, filed December 19, 2025

On August 27, 2025, we received a second CRL from the FDA. This CRL included only one deficiency, for a lack of substantial evidence of effectiveness. In the CRL, the FDA advised that, because ONS-5010 did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint in NORSE EIGHT, it is recommended that confirmatory evidence of efficacy be submitted to support the application for ONS-5010. Additionally, the FDA reiterated that NORSE TWO met its primary endpoint for effectiveness.
Open at the source →

CorMedix Form 10-K, filed March 5, 2026

On November 15, 2023, we announced that the FDA approved the new drug application (“NDA”) for DefenCath, an antimicrobial catheter lock solution (“CLS”) (a formulation of taurolidine 13.5 mg/mL, and heparin 1000 USP Units/mL) indicated to reduce the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (“CRBSI”) in adult patients with kidney failure receiving chronic hemodialysis through a central venous catheter (“CVC”). We launched DefenCath commercially in April 2024 in the inpatient setting and July 2024 in the outpatient hemodialysis setting, and it is the largest contributor to our net sales.
Open at the source →

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Form 10-K, filed March 11, 2026

The 2026 10-K names neither Sterling nor Piramal, and does not mention human factors, a Type A meeting or a CRL.

Searched the whole document for: Sterling Pharmaceutical, Piramal, human factor, Type A meeting, CRL. None found.

Open the document →

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Form 10-K, filed March 11, 2026

On July 21, 2023, YCANTH (VP-102) (cantharidin) 0.7% topical solution was the first product approved by the FDA for the treatment of molluscum in adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older. We commercially launched YCANTH (VP-102) in August 2023 in the United States for the treatment of molluscum.
Open at the source →

Outlook Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed March 16, 2026

Moreover, on December 31, 2025, we reported that we had received a third Complete Response Letter, or CRL, with respect to our Biologics License Application, or BLA, for ONS-5010, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has again recommended that confirmatory evidence of efficacy be submitted to support the application. However, the FDA did not indicate in the CRL what type of confirmatory evidence would be acceptable, and it is possible that we may need to conduct additional clinical and/or non-clinical studies of ONS-5010 in order to satisfy the FDA’s requirements
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Outlook Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed April 7, 2026

today announced that it submitted a formal dispute resolution request (FDRR) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a follow-up to its recent Type A meeting regarding the December 30, 2025 Complete Response Letter (CRL) for the Biologics License Application (BLA) for ONS-5010/LYTENAVA™ (bevacizumab-vikg) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The FDA has accepted the FDRR and has granted a meeting with the deciding official to be conducted in April 2026.
Open at the source →

FDA Complete Response Letter, April 10, 2026 · page 1

This BLA resubmission primary clinical review team, supervisory leadership in the Office of Therapeutic Products, and subject matter experts from Oncology Center of Excellence unanimously determined data presented are insufficient to conclude substantial evidence of effectiveness of vusolimogene oderparepvec for treatment of unresectable advanced cutaneous melanoma.
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FDA Complete Response Letter, April 10, 2026 · page 6

To address these deficiencies, you must conduct and provide the results from adequate and well-controlled clinical trial(s) which demonstrate substantial evidence of effectiveness.
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Outlook Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed May 26, 2026

today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the appeal following completion of the Formal Dispute Resolution (FDR) process with the Office of New Drugs (OND). The FDA concluded that substantial evidence of effectiveness has been established for LYTENAVA™ for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). As a result, Outlook Therapeutics expects to resubmit the ONS-5010/LYTENAVA™ (bevacizumab-vikg) Biologics License Application (BLA) in June 2026.
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Outlook Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed June 1, 2026

The FDR decision directed the Division of Ophthalmology and Office of Specialty Medicine to work with Outlook Therapeutics to focus on reach ing an agreement on final product labeling. Additionally, as indicated in the formal decision, this will be a Class 1 resubmission with a PDUFA date and decision expected within 60 days of FDA’s receipt of the resubmission.
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Outlook Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed June 1, 2026

today announced the resubmission of its Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ONS-5010/LYTENAVA™ for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
Open at the source →

Replimune Form 10-K, filed June 29, 2026

We announced on May 29, 2026, that following collaborative communications with the FDA, the Company and the FDA aligned on a path forward for resubmission and reconsideration of the BLA for RP1 in combination with nivolumab for the treatment of advanced melanoma.
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Replimune Form 10-K, filed June 29, 2026

On June 26, 2026 we announced the FDA accepted the BLA resubmission as a Class 1 resubmission with an action date of August 2, 2026. The FDA also stated that they would convene an advisory committee meeting in late July 2026.
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Replimune Form 8-K, filed July 31, 2026

The committee then voted 10 to 3, on the question: "Are the efficacy results from IGNYTE evaluable and clinically meaningful?"
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Replimune Form 8-K, filed August 7, 2026

today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for TUDRIQEV TM (vusolimogene oderparepvec-wtpg), previously referred to as RP1, in combination with nivolumab for the treatment of adults with unresectable advanced cutaneous melanoma who experienced disease progression on an anti-PD-1 antibody-based regimen.
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Aldeyra Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed September 29, 2026

The FDRR, which is expected to be reviewed by the FDA’s Office of New Drugs (OND), is designed to appeal the March 16, 2026 Complete Response Letter that denied approval of a New Drug Application (NDA) for reproxalap for the treatment of dry eye disease. Submission of the FDRR and a meeting with the OND are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Open at the source →

Aldeyra Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed September 29, 2026

Following an NDA submission and two NDA resubmissions of reproxalap for the treatment of dry eye disease, Aldeyra has received three Complete Response Letters, the first two of which recommended an additional clinical trial to “demonstrate a positive effect on the treatment of ocular symptoms of dry eye” and the most recent of which did not request further clinical trials but stated that the “totality of evidence from the completed clinical trials does not support the effectiveness of the product.” Over the course of the three NDA submissions, Aldeyra has provided data from nine adequate and well-controlled clinical trials, five of which achieved all multiplicity-controlled primary endpoints, consistent with or greater than the success rates of clinical trials conducted for approved dry eye disease products.
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Aldeyra Therapeutics Form 8-K, filed September 29, 2026

We are aware of two FDRRs in 2026 for ophthalmological drug products: one FDRR resulted in an Appeal Granted decision, and one FDRR is awaiting an advisory panel.
Open at the source →

Prepared from public FDA letters and SEC filings: every quoted passage is matched to the original document, and every “not in” statement comes from a search of the whole document, before it is published. Questions, summaries and connecting sentences are EphemerisX’s wording. Not investment advice. How this research works → · Ask the FDA and SEC Ephemeris →