Biologics

Lux Therapeutics LLC dba Ponya Therapeutics LLC

FDA issued a warning letter to Lux Therapeutics LLC dba Ponya Therapeutics LLC (Brookhaven, GA, United States) on Nov 25, 2025, citing 21 CFR 1271.230 and 21 CFR 1271.55. Subject: Unapproved New Drug, Unlicensed Biological Product, Biologics License Application (BLA).

From the letter: “you failed to validate the manufacturing process for your dehydrated, dual layer amniotic membrane patch, TheraMend, which cannot be fully verified, to ensure that your process does not cause contamination or cross-contamination and…”

Brookhaven, GA, United StatesIssued Nov 25, 2025Posted Dec 9, 2025No close-out recorded

At a glance

What a reviewer notes before reading: findings, citations, the response deadline and what the letter warns of.

Violations
2 findings · 2 issue types
Response due
Fifteen (15) working days of receipt
FDA asks for
4 actions
Named as possible actions
None named
Issued by
Office of Compliance and Biologics Quality
Published status
No close-out recorded

AI assisted findings

Model-assisted reading of each issue. Open one to see the FDA text it comes from, and check it against the full letter.

01Production & process controls · 21 CFR 1271.230(a)The manufacturing process for TheraMend was not validated as required because results cannot be fully verified by subsequent inspection and testing.
you failed to validate the manufacturing process for your dehydrated, dual layer amniotic membrane patch, TheraMend, which cannot be fully verified, to ensure that your process does not cause contamination or cross-contamination and prevents the introduction, transmission or spread of communicable disease through the use of the HCT/P. Since August 2023, your firm has processed TheraMend products and distributed those products without a validated process.
02Labeling, claims & marketing · 21 CFR 1271.55(b)(2)Accompanying records for HCT/Ps did not include a listing and interpretation of all communicable disease test results.
a listing and interpretation of the results of all communicable disease tests is not included on the *Notification of Requirements to Maintain Traceability of Human Tissue-Based Products or Instructions for Use and Product Information* forms, which are considered accompanying records as described in 21 CFR 1271.55(a).

What FDA requested

  • Provide plans for addressing Luxegen product remaining in the marketplace within expiry
  • Confirm that distribution of Luxegen has ceased by December 1, 2025, with documentation demonstrating that
  • Provide planned actions for TheraMend products already distributed
  • Ensure that a statement whether the donor has been determined eligible or ineligible accompanies HCT/Ps at all times once a donor-eligibility determination has been made

FDA Warning Letter

20 paragraphs · 1 section

Text as published on FDA.gov, retrieved Sep 8, 2026. Layout added for reading; the wording is FDA’s. View on FDA.gov (opens in a new tab)

DatedNovember 25, 2025
Sent toCBER 26-720001
AddressedDear Mr. Abebe

1Letter text

14 paragraphs

During an inspection of your firm, Lux Therapeutics LLC dba Ponya Therapeutics LLC located at 13 Corporate Blvd NE, Brookhaven, GA, conducted between June 2, 2025, and June 6, 2025, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) documented significant violations from the regulations for human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) set forth in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR) Part 1271 (21 CFR 1271) and issued under the authority of Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. § 264].1

The observations documented on the Form FDA-483, List of Inspectional Observations (FDA 483), were presented to and discussed with you at the conclusion of the inspection, and following FDA’s review, your violations include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) Failure to validate and approve a process according to established procedures where the results of processing cannot be fully verified by subsequent inspections and tests. The validation activities and results must be documented, including the date and signature of the individual(s) approving the validation [21 CFR 1271.230(a)]. For example, you failed to validate the manufacturing process for your dehydrated, dual layer amniotic membrane patch, TheraMend, which cannot be fully verified, to ensure that your process does not cause contamination or cross-contamination and prevents the introduction, transmission or spread of communicable disease through the use of the HCT/P. Since August 2023, your firm has processed TheraMend products and distributed those products without a validated process.

2) Failure to provide a summary of records to accompany an HCT/P, that contains a listing and interpretation of the results of all communicable disease tests performed [21 CFR 1271.55(b)(2)]. Specifically, a listing and interpretation of the results of all communicable disease tests is not included on the Notification of Requirements to Maintain Traceability of Human Tissue-Based Products or Instructions for Use and Product Information forms, which are considered accompanying records as described in 21 CFR 1271.55(a).

The violations identified above are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of violations at your facility. It is your responsibility to ensure that your establishment complies with all applicable federal regulations. You are responsible for reviewing your firm’s operations, including firms within the same organization, as a whole to ensure that you are in compliance with the law.

We acknowledge receipt of your email correspondence submitted on June 30, 2025, responding to the inspectional observations. We have reviewed your response, and we have determined that the response is inadequate to address our concerns. We have the following comments regarding your FDA 483 response:

• In response to Observation 1, you state that you discontinued manufacturing your Luxegen product, derived from human umbilical cord tissue, but will continue distributing Luxegen until December 1, 2025. We remain concerned about the Luxegen product that you previously distributed as well as your continued distribution of this product given its lack of approval as well as the conditions under which it was manufactured, as described in the FDA-483. We ask that you respond to this letter with your plans for addressing the Luxegen product that remains in the marketplace, within expiry, as well as confirmation that you have ceased distribution by December 1, 2025, and documentation demonstrating that you have done so.

• In response to Observation 4a, you stated “Validation planning will being [sic] in July 2025 with all process validation activities anticipated to be completed by the end of Q2 2026.” Your response does not indicate that you will halt distribution of TheraMend products until your process has been validated. Your response also does not indicate any planned actions for the TheraMend products that have already been distributed.

Additionally, your response states, “Regarding product in the field, to date, we have not received any product complaints or adverse events. Similarly, the product has a straightforward manufacturing process, and an approximately 99.99% change of passing validation. It is intended as a protective covering, so we believe any product in the field is safe and of a quality manner.” This justification is insufficient. You are required to validate your process to ensure that processing prevents the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable disease through use of the HCT/P. It is your responsibility to ensure you validate all processing activities for the product(s) you are manufacturing.

• In response to Observation 7, we acknowledge your commitment to revise procedures and retrain staff on the required summary of records as part of your CAPA #CPAR25-010. Please also ensure that a statement whether, based on the results of screening and testing, the donor has been determined to be eligible or ineligible accompanies your HCT/P at all times once a donor-eligibility determination has been made in accordance with 21 CFR 1271.55(a)(2).

You should take prompt action to correct any violations addressed in this letter and prevent their recurrence. Failure to promptly correct any violations may result in regulatory action being initiated by FDA without further notice.

Response requested

We request that you respond in writing within fifteen (15) working days from your receipt of this letter, outlining the specific steps you have taken or plan to take to correct any violations, including an explanation of how you plan to prevent them, or similar violations, from occurring again. Additionally, include any documentation necessary to show that correction has been achieved. If you believe that your products are not in violation of the law, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration. If you cannot complete all corrective actions within fifteen (15) working days, please explain the reason for your delay and the timeframe within which the remaining corrections will be completed.

Your written response should be sent to the following address: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Document Control Center, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, WO71-G112, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Please also email your response to CBERDCMRecommendations@fda.hhs.gov.

If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact CBER’s Division of Case Management at CBERDCMRecommendations@fda.hhs.gov. Please be advised that only written communications are considered official.

Sincerely,/s/Melissa J. MendozaDirectorOffice of Compliance and Biologics Quality Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

1This letter only pertains to your dehydrated, dual layer amniotic membrane patch products, TheraMend, intended to serve as a covering or barrier. Accordingly, references in this letter to HCT/Ps or “products” do not include products manufactured by your firm that are not regulated solely under section 361 of the Public Health Service Act and the regulations in 21 CFR Part 1271. This letter does not address those products.

Citations and trends

Each 21 CFR section, ISO 13485 clause and issue type in this letter, how often it appears across all letters, and its trend by the year FDA issued the letters. 2026 runs to Nov 3, 2026, compared with the same dates last year. Select a row or a bar to see those letters in Letters. As cited in this historical letter, not a statement of current requirements.

Regulations

21 CFR 1271.230Process validation3letters cite it
0 letters issued this year vs 0 by the same date last yearAbout 21 CFR 1271.230 →
120211202202023020241202502026

Also cited: 21 CFR 1271

Issue types

Record details

Issuing center
Office of Compliance and Biologics Quality
Issuing office
Office of Compliance and Biologics Quality
Location
Brookhaven, GA, United States
Letter posted date
Dec 9, 2025
Letter issue date
Nov 25, 2025
Addressed to
Owner and Chief Executive Officer
Inspection dates
Jun 2, 2025 to Jun 6, 2025
Response window
15 working days after receipt of this letter
Read the source clause
We request that you respond in writing within fifteen (15) working days from your receipt of this letter, outlining the specific steps you have taken or plan to take to correct any violations, including an explanation of how you plan to prevent them, or similar violations, from occurring again.
Record length
1,091 words · 1 recorded redactions
Published status
No published close-out
Original letter
View on FDA.gov (opens in a new tab)
Dataset last checked
Nov 11, 2026 · How this is built

A response window is not a calculated due date. Source excerpts are selected passages. Finding interpretations and categories are model-assisted. Verify the original letter before relying on a finding.

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