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By PharmaCompass
2025-05-15
Impressions: 260
The first quarter (Q1) of 2025 witnessed an impressive surge in Drug Master File (DMF) submissions to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), signaling a robust expansion in pharmaceutical development activities, the looming threat of tariffs notwithstanding.
A total of 339 Type II DMFs were submitted during this period, as opposed to 235 submissions in Q1 2024, marking an exceptional increase of 44.26 percent. PharmaCompass’ data suggests that this is a record high for any first quarter.
Overall, 440 DMFs were submitted across all categories (Types II, III, IV, and V) during Q1 2025, compared to 353 in the same period last year — representing a 24.65 percent increase.
India and China continued to dominate the DMF landscape. India led with 162 submissions in Q1 2025, posting a remarkable 51.4 percent increase over 107 submissions recorded in Q1 2024. China followed with 135 submissions, representing a 33.66 percent increase over the 101 filings in Q1 2024.
Taiwan sprung a surprise as a distant third. It made 12 DMF submissions in Q1 2025, as opposed to just one in Q1 2024. Western countries like the US, Spain, Germany, and Italy have maintained relatively stable or declining submission rates. Only the Netherlands showed significant growth with four DMF submissions in Q1 2025, up from zero in Q1 2024.
View FDA DMF Filings in Q1 2025 (Power BI Dashboard, Free Excel Available)
Indian giants MSN, Aurobindo, Cipla, Dr Reddy’s lead record-breaking DMF surge
India lived up to its “pharmacy of the world” reputation with the highest DMF submissions. In fact, seven of the top eight companies in the DMF tally were headquartered in India. MSN Group, emerged as the unequivocal leader with 23 submissions in Q1 2025, as against 15 in Q1 2024.
Aurobindo Pharma increased its DMF activity from seven submissions in Q1 2024 to 12 in Q1 2025. Alivus Life Sciences, formerly known as Glenmark, made a dramatic leap with eight submissions in Q1 2025, quadrupling its previous year’s count of just two. Cipla more than doubled its DMF submissions — from three in Q1 2024 to eight in Q1 2025.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, one of India’s largest generic drugmakers, filed seven DMF submissions. The company’s Q1 2025 DMF portfolio includes high-value molecules like deucravacitinib, finerenone, enzalutamide, niraparib tosylate monohydrate, tucatinib, and tizanidine hydrochloride.
Dr. Reddy’s has also indicated that they are open to manufacturing in the US. Meanwhile, Hetero Drugs filed seven submissions while Lee Pharma recorded six in Q1 2025.
Chinese manufacturer Jiangsu East-Mab Biomedical Technology also established a significant presence with six DMFs.
View FDA DMF Filings in Q1 2025 (Power BI Dashboard, Free Excel Available)
Semaglutide, finerenone see most DMF submissions; first-time filings surge 64%
Semaglutide and finerenone emerged as the most documented molecules in Q1 2025, each garnering nine DMF submissions. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that has revolutionized diabetes management and weight loss treatment, continues to attract significant manufacturer interest. Similarly, finerenone, a non-steroidal drug used in treating chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients, has garnered attention from manufacturers.
Carfilzomib, used in multiple myeloma treatment, secured the third position with five DMF submissions. Deucravacitinib, a novel drug approved for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, followed with four DMF submissions.
There were several molecules with three DMF submissions each. Among them were tapinarof, a novel drug for psoriasis, and tirzepatide, a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist that has shown remarkable efficacy in diabetes and weight management.
During the quarter, 23 molecules received their inaugural DMF submissions. This number has risen by 64 percent since Q1 2024, when only 14 drugs saw their first DMF filings.
In Q1 2025, these 23 first-time molecules collectively garnered 30 DMF submissions, with deucravacitinib emerging as the clear leader. Indian companies Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Cipla filed DMFs for this plaque psoriasis treatment as did Spain’s Curia and PMC Global.
The Q1 2025 roster of first-time DMF filings include retatrutide (another GLP-1 receptor agonist), sotagliflozin, setmelanotide acetate, daridorexant, nusinersen, zavegepant, belzutifan, elacestrant dihydrochloride, selumetinib sulfate, sotorasib, atogepant, omadacycline tosylate, osilodrostat phosphate, ensifentrine, landiolol hydrochloride, maralixibat chloride, maribavir, methyl olivetolate, diazoxide choline, sparsentan, thinnertide, and vismodegib.
View FDA DMF Filings in Q1 2025 (Power BI Dashboard, Free Excel Available)
Our view
Given Trump’s rhetoric around tariffs on imported drugs, the record-breaking DMF submissions in Q1 2025 sent out a strong message that the global pharmaceutical industry is willing to take on the complex geopolitical situation with resilience and strategic foresight.
On a different note, the rise in DMF filings also indicate increased workload for the FDA staff, as also more inspections by the agency. It seems like more ‘laid off’ FDA employees will be asked to return to work in the coming days.
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Image Credit : FDA DMF Filings in Q1 2025 by PharmaCompass license under CC BY 2.0
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