• where experts go to learn about FDA
  • Year: 2018

    • Whither Regulation of Animal Cell-Cultured Foods?July 10th, 2018

      To anyone with an interest in that question, FDA’s public meeting later this week is a can’t miss event.  Perhaps the most critical issue facing this nascent industry is the need for clarity on which federal agency – FDA or USDA – will exercise jurisdiction …

    • New DOJ Policy Purports to Prevent Piling-On of PenaltiesJuly 9th, 2018

      Rather than rolling out the red carpet, DOJ has been highlighting with little fanfare a policy that could prove to be a powerful negotiating tool for companies in the government’s crosshairs. First announced by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein here, and later reinforced by Acting …

    • California to Pharmacies: Start Balancing your Opioid CheckbookJuly 6th, 2018

      The Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and the states are struggling with how to confront the challenges posed by the opioid abuse crisis. One aspect of this problem relates to employee theft, particularly at the pharmacy level. The California Board of Pharmacy (“BOP”), as well as …

    • FSIS Invites Comments on Petition Regarding Product of USA Labeling for Meat and Meat ProductsJuly 3rd, 2018

      On June 22, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the receipt of a Petition by the Organization for Competitive Markets and the American Grassfed Association to revise FSIS’s policy on “Product of USA” claims so that only U.S. domestic meat and meat products …

    • Blind Voting and PMA Advisory Panels: “Do Great Minds Think Alike?”July 2nd, 2018

      By Jeffrey N. Gibbs and David A. Gibbs* – FDA’s premarket approval (PMA) advisory panels are high visibility events. Both FDA and companies invest heavily in preparing for these meetings. Thus, when the rules governing PMA panel meetings change, it should be big news. Yet, when FDA …

    • Clarifications to FDA’s Q7 Good Manufacturing Practice Guidance for Active Pharmaceutical IngredientsJune 29th, 2018

      In 2016, FDA published the Q7 cGMP Guidance for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. It outlines best practices for everything from quality management issues, personnel, buildings and facilities, equipment and recordkeeping, to validation, change control, complaints and recalls. While it provides very useful information to stakeholders, in …

    • Court Rules That Boehringer Doesn’t Have to Give Barr Deal Analysis to the FTCJune 28th, 2018

      On June 19, the D.C. Circuit issued a decision setting forth the Court’s views on attorney-client privilege in Federal Trade Commission v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharms., Inc.  The D.C. Circuit previously ruled on attorney work-product protection issues in the same matter. See 778 F.3d 142 (D.C. …

    • cGMPs for Combination Products – FDA’s Proposal for Streamlined Mechanisms of ComplianceJune 27th, 2018

      On January 22, 2013, FDA published its final rule on cGMP requirements for combination products under 21 CFR Part 4. Specifically Part 4.4 provides two mechanisms for combination product manufacturers to comply with the cGMP requirements: either by complying with all the cGMP requirements of …

    • Nevada Department of Health and Human Services to Exercise Enforcement Discretion for Required Reports under Drug Pricing Transparency LawJune 26th, 2018

      As we previously reported, Nevada enacted a law on June 15, 2017 addressing drug prices. S.B. 539 imposed new reporting requirements on pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”) related to diabetes treatments and health care provider payments (also see related posts here and here). …

    • Potential Major Changes in Updated Draft Pre-Sub GuidanceJune 24th, 2018

      By far one of CDRH’s greatest recent successes has been the Pre-Submission program. In our experience, more companies have been engaging early and often with the Agency to discuss product-related regulatory issues and questions. Under the Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act and the MDUFA …

    • The Mutual Recognition Agreement Rolls Along – But Where is Germany?June 22nd, 2018

      Earlier this month the FDA recognized the drug inspectorates of Ireland and Lithuania for purposes of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), and in March of this year, the agency recognized the drug inspectorates of Greece, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania. Indeed, it was last October …

    • FDA Issues First Installment of Guidance on Intentional Adulteration RuleJune 21st, 2018

      The FSMA final rule on intentional adulteration, entitled “Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food against Intentional Adulteration” (IA rule), 21 C.F.R. Part 121, was published in May, 2016. The rule is designed to address hazards that may be intentionally introduced to foods, including by acts of …

    • Like Ma Bell, I’ve Got the Ill Communications: Final Guidances IssuedJune 20th, 2018

      Announced as another effort to improve patient access and address drug pricing, FDA recently finalized two guidance documents intended to facilitate better communication and negotiation with payors, formulary committees, and others: Medical Product Communications That Are Consistent With the FDA-Required Labeling – Questions and Answers: Guidance …

    • DEA Issues Decisions in Pharmacy CasesJune 18th, 2018

      Over the last couple of months, DEA has issued four decisions revoking the registrations of pharmacies (recall that DEA issued only one decision in 2017 involving a pharmacy). In February 2018, the Acting Administrator revoked the registrations of Trinity Pharmacy I, 83 Fed. Reg. 7220 …

    • Stop, Collaborate, and Listen – Or Get a WaiverJune 15th, 2018

      In an attempt to ensure that implementation of the FDCA requirement for shared REMS does not cause undue burden, FDA released two new guidance documents targeting shared REMS systems. We have seen the negotiation of shared REMS systems succeed – and fail spectacularly resulting in waivers. …