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    • Del Monte Fresh Sues FDA to Invalidate Cantaloupe Import AlertAugust 23rd, 2011

      By Ricardo Carvajal – Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. ("Del Monte Fresh") sued to invalidate an FDA import alert on cantaloupe from Productos Agricolas de Oriente, S.A. ("PAO"), a Guatemalan producer that is one of Del Monte Fresh’s principal suppliers.  FDA imposed the import alert …

    • Looking For a Three-Peat – The ABA Blawg 100August 22nd, 2011

      It’s that time of year again when we at FDA Law Blog turn to our loyal readers and say:  “Our fellow Blogerians, Ask not what your blog can do for you – ask what you can do for your blog.”  Yes, the American Bar Association …

    • Strength in Numbers? The Lobbying Push for a PTEAugust 21st, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –       Recently we reported on the “other battle” going on concerning patents listed in the Orange Book for The Medicines Company’s (“MDCO’s”) ANGIOMAX (bivalirudin) Injection.  With patent reform reportedly high on President Obama’s agenda, and with the fast approaching September 6th return of …

    • Congressional Leaders Request FDA to Exclude Grocery Stores from Menu Labeling RequirementsAugust 18th, 2011

      By Cassandra A. Soltis – In response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA’s”) proposed rule on nutrition labeling of standard menu items in restaurants and similar retail food establishments, members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have requested that FDA exclude grocery stores …

    • Tobacco Companies Sue FDA Over Graphic Warnings RuleAugust 17th, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –       Earlier this week, a group of five tobacco companies (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Lorillard Tobacco Company, Commonwealth Brands,  Inc., Liggett Group LLC, and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc.) filed a four-count Complaint against FDA in the U.S. District Court for …

    • FDA Releases Two Medical Device Draft GuidancesAugust 16th, 2011

      By Jennifer D. Newberger – On August 15, 2011, FDA released two Draft Guidances:  “Factors to Consider when Making Benefit-Risk Determinations in Medical Device Premarket Review” and “Design Considerations for Pivotal Clinical Investigations for Medical Devices.”  Each is discussed in turn below. Factors to Consider when Making …

    • FDA Says Tenth Circuit Should Say Adieu to Grandfather Drug Case Without Much Ado; Not So Fast, Says Cody/LannettAugust 15th, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –       The court battle over the “new drug” status of Cody Laboratories, Inc.’s and Lannett Co., Inc.’s (collectively “Cody/Lannett’s”) Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution 20mg/mL drug product has taken a new turn.  FDA’s Motion to Dismiss the case on mootness grounds has been …

    • FDA Provides Another Chance to Comment on Its Proposal to Amend the Phytosterols Health ClaimAugust 14th, 2011

      By Riëtte van Laack – FDA is reopening the comment period on the proposed rule it published on December 8, 2010, to amend the regulations on plant sterol/stanol esters and risk of coronary heart disease.  (See our previous post on the proposed rule.) One of FDA’s proposed …

    • ANGIOMAX – The Other Patent BattleAugust 11th, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –       With all of the hullabaloo that has been going on in court and on Capitol Hill in the continuing battle over a Patent Term Extension (“PTE”) for U.S. Patent No. 5,196,404 (“the ‘404 Patent”) covering The Medicines Company’s (“MDCO’s”) ANGIOMAX (bivalirudin) …

    • FDA Denies ECR & Laser GRASE Petitions Following Voluntary Dismissal of Related LawsuitsAugust 10th, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –       FDA recently denied (here and here) two citizen petitions (here and here) submitted on behalf of ECR Pharmaceuticals (“ECR”) and Laser Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Laser”) requesting that FDA, among other things, reconsider its determinations that certain marketed unapproved drug products containing brompheniramine …

    • California Court Allows Case Against Homeopathic Drug Manufacturer to ProceedAugust 9th, 2011

      By Susan J. Matthees – Apparently as a result of a misunderstanding of the basic principles of homeopathy, and how of necessity the efficacy testing for such drugs differs from non-homeopathic drugs, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California recently decided …

    • FDA Approval of Generic IMITREX STATdose Sheds Some Light on Auto-Injector “Sameness” Issues – But What About Other Combination Products?August 8th, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –       FDA’s recent approval of ANDA No. 090358 for an AB-rated generic version of IMITREX STATdose (sumatriptan succinate) Injection, approved under NDA No. 020080, puts some meat on the bones of the Agency’s July 2009 consolidated response to two citizen petitions (here …

    • Sturm und Drang: The TPP Agreement and Biologics ExclusivityAugust 7th, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –       The latest battleground over the period of exclusivity that should apply to biological products is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (“TPP”) trade agreement.  As you might recall, earlier this year there was quite a hubbub over whether the 12-year reference product exclusivity period provided …

    • Cosmetic Advertisement + Photoshop = Deceptive Advertising?August 4th, 2011

      By Cassandra A Soltis – In a decision that could have implications in the United States, the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority (“ASA”), which describes itself as “the UK’s independent watchdog” that regulates advertising, found both a Lancôme and a Maybelline advertisement misleading because the images of …

    • FDA Reopens Comment Period for Gluten-Free Labeling of FoodsAugust 4th, 2011

      By Cassandra A. Soltis – The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has reopened the comment period for its proposed rule on “gluten-free” labeling of food to announce the availability of, and seek comments on, its report titled “Health Hazard Assessment for Gluten Exposure in Individuals with …