• where experts go to learn about FDA
  • Year: 2009

    • HP&M Attorney to Present at First EFLA Conference Devoted to International Relations in the Food Law SectorOctober 12th, 2009

      On October 27, 2009, the European Food Law Association (“EFLA”) will hold its first international EU-US Food Law Conference at the Brussels Sofitel, Place Jourdan 1 – 1000, Brussels.  EFLA is an international scientific association whose primary goal is to study and to promote Food …

    • Q: What does FDA’s Regulation of Tobacco Products Have in Common with its Regulation of Dietary Supplements? A: FDA’s Interpretation of “Marketing.”October 8th, 2009

      By Ricardo Carvajal – FDA has issued a draft guidance document that addresses FDCA section 201(rr)(4), which prohibits a tobacco product from being “marketed” in combination with any other FDA-regulated product.  The guidance provides the following as an example of prohibited conduct: "Nicotine that is derived …

    • District Court Orders Patent Use Code Change; Novo Nordisk AppealsOctober 8th, 2009

      By Kurt R. Karst –       In what could shape up to be a very interesting (and important) precedent, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Southern Division) recently ruled and issued an Order and Injunction requiring Novo Nordisk, Inc. (“Novo”) to change an Orange …

    • The FTC Issues and Then Explains New Guidance on the Use of Endorsements and “New Media” in AdvertisingOctober 7th, 2009

      By Ricardo Carvajal &  Susan J. Matthees – When the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sought comments in 2008 on proposed revisions to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, we noted that endorsers (including expert endorsers and celebrities) and bloggers should beware.  …

    • Two New Developments for Proprietary Name ReviewOctober 6th, 2009

      By Susan J. Matthees – FDA recently announced two new developments related to its review of proprietary name submissions.  First, FDA announced the availability of a new manual of policies and procedures (“MAPP”), MAPP 6720.2: Procedures for Handling Requests for Proprietary Name Review, that details the …

    • Healthcare Reform Bill Emerges From Senate Finance Committee With Changes But No Increase in Drug/Device Fees and RebatesOctober 5th, 2009

       By Alan M. Kirschenbaum – Last Friday the Senate Finance Committee completed its mark-up of the “America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009.”  The Committee is awaiting scoring by the Congressional Budget Office before it votes on the bill this week.  Earlier we reported on the original …

    • Another Court Rules Against Preemption in Generic Drug Case; Cornyn Preemption Amendment Would Shield Generic Manufacturers from LiabilityOctober 5th, 2009

      By Kurt R. Karst –       Last week, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire ruled in a 67-page opinion that various state law tort claims brought against generic drug manufacturer Mutual Pharmaceutical Company, Inc. (“Mutual”) are not preempted by Title I of the …

    • FDA Issues Substantial REMS Draft GuidanceOctober 4th, 2009

      By William T. Koustas – FDA recently issued its most extensive guidance for industry regarding Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (“REMS”) since their enactment of the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (“FDAAA”).  The “Draft Guidance for Industry: Format and Content of Proposed …

    • Senate and House Conferees Agree on Rare and Neglected Diseases LanguageOctober 2nd, 2009

      By Kurt R. Karst –       We previously reported on a Senate floor amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 (H.R. 2997) co-sponsored by Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) that would establish within …

    • Court Backs FDA’s Approval of the Anthrax VaccineOctober 1st, 2009

      By William T. Koustas – The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (“Court”) recently issued an opinion affirming the FDA’s (or “Agency”) approval of the anthrax vaccine for all known routes of infection and rejected the Plaintiffs’ efforts to enjoin …

    • Seeking Clarity, Cigar Importer Sues FDASeptember 30th, 2009

      By David B. Clissold & Ricardo Carvajal – An importer and distributor of cigars has sued FDA to enjoin the agency from taking any adverse action with respect to Djarum brand cigars under Chapter IX of the FDCA until such time as the agency lawfully asserts …

    • InterMune CEO Convicted of Wire Fraud and Acquitted of FDC Act ChargeSeptember 30th, 2009

      By Jeff Wasserstein – We previously blogged on the effort by W. Scott Harkonen, the former CEO of InterMune, to dismiss an indictment for misbranding and fraud.  That effort was unsuccessful, and Mr. Harkonen was convicted after trial of one count of wire fraud.  He …

    • FDA Issues Proposed Rule on cGMPs for Combination ProductsSeptember 29th, 2009

      By Jeffrey K. Shapiro – FDA’s Office of Combination Products (“OCP”) recently issued a proposed rule (74 Fed. Reg. 48,423) setting forth current good manufacturing practice (“cGMP”) requirements for combination products.     The proposed rule does not independently establish new requirements; rather, it clarifies which set of …

    • Will We See More Strict Liability Prosecutions?September 27th, 2009

      The latest FDLI Update article by Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C.’s Jamie K. Wolszon and John R. Fleder explores the so-called “strict liability” criminal prosecution doctrine in FDA cases that largely derives from the 1975 U.S. Supreme Court case of United States v. Park.  FDA believes …

    • First Circuit Affirms Judge Saris’s AWP DecisionSeptember 24th, 2009

      By Douglas B. Farquhar –      In a 98-page decision filed on September 23rd, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the judgment of Boston federal court Judge Patti Saris awarding certain “Medigap” insurance companies, patients and third-party payors $13 million from …