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  • Hyman Phelps McNamara

    • 905(j) “Substantial Equivalence” Reports for Tobacco ProductsJanuary 10th, 2011

      By David B. Clissold – Last week, FDA released Agency's first guidance for tobacco product manufacturers concerning the introduction of “new” tobacco products.  The guidance was issued in final form since some manufacturers will need it to help them submit reports to FDA over the next few months. A “new …

    • 32 State AGs Urge U.S. Supreme Court to Take on Patent Settlement AgreementsJanuary 10th, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –       Last Friday, 32 State Attorneys General filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the Court to grant the Petition for Writ of Certiorari filed last month by a group of drug purchasers in Louisiana Wholesale Drug Co., Inc., …

    • FDA Amends Informed Consent RegulationsJanuary 10th, 2011

      By Susan J. Matthees – Last week, FDA announced that the Agency has adopted final amended informed consent regulations.  As we noted last year, the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act ("FDAAA") § 801(b)(3)(A) required that FDA amend the informed consent regulations set forth at 21 C.F.R. § …

    • California Requires Businesses to Address International Slavery and Human TraffickingJanuary 6th, 2011

      By James R. Phelps – California's SB 657, adopted in 2010, enlists manufacturers and retailers of goods with annual worldwide gross receipts over $100 million in the effort to eradicate “slavery and human trafficking.”  They are to provide information on …

    • FDA Seeks to Clean Up Unapproved Cough/Cold/Allergy Drug MarketJanuary 6th, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –       In a notice slated for publication in the January 7th Federal Register, FDA is seeking to end the continued marketing of many unapproved oral prescription drugs for the relief of cough, cold, or allergy.  The action will likely affect hundreds of …

    • Nutritional Labeling for Raw Meat and Poultry Products Coming to you January 1, 2012January 6th, 2011

      By Riëtte van Laack – More than 9 years after issuing a proposed rule, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) published the final rule for nutrition labeling of single-ingredient meat and poultry products, as well as ground and chopped meat and poultry products.  Starting January …

    • With New Food Safety Law, Significant Burdens on Industry (and on FDA)January 5th, 2011

      By Ricardo Carvajal – The Food Safety Modernization Act ("FSMA") is now law.  We previously blogged on some provisions that take immediate effect (namely stronger records access authority under FDC Act § 414, mandatory recall authority, whistleblower protection, and authority to refuse admission of imported food …

    • BPCIA’s Principal Authors Seek to Clarify Congressional Intent With Respect to 12-Year Exclusivity Period; PhRMA/BIO Request “Umbrella Exclusivity”January 5th, 2011

      By Kurt R. Karst –     In a letter recently submitted to FDA by the three principal authors of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (“BPCIA”) – Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Jay Inslee (D-WA), and Joe Barton (R-TX) – the legislators take issue with …

    • HPM Announces that Anne K. Walsh has Joined the Firm as Of CounselJanuary 4th, 2011

      Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. (“HPM”) is pleased to announce that Anne K. Walsh has joined the firm as Of Counsel.  Prior to joining the firm in January 2011, Ms. Walsh served as an Associate Chief Counsel with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office …

    • More Members of Congress Concerned About 510(k) ReformJanuary 4th, 2011

      By Jeffrey K. Shapiro – A group of nine U.S. Senators has sent a letter to FDA expressing concern over potential changes to the 510(k) medical device clearance program.  The letter is similar to a November 2010 letter from Minnesota lawmakers and an October 2010 letter …

    • A Holiday Present to the Human and Animal Food Industries: FDA Reopens Comment Period on 1997 GRAS Notice Proposed RuleJanuary 4th, 2011

      By Diane B. McColl & Ricardo Carvajal – On December 28th, FDA reopened the public comment period for its 1997 proposed rule that outlined the voluntary GRAS notification process intended to replace the voluntary GRAS affirmation petition process.   FDA stopped accepting GRAS affirmation petitions and implemented …

    • Will Increasing Beverage Serving Sizes Send the Wrong Message to Consumers?January 3rd, 2011

      By Cassandra A. Soltis – The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) posed that question in 2005, when it issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the serving sizes of products that could reasonably be consumed at one eating occasion.  70 Fed. Reg. 17010 (Apr. 4, …

    • Here We Go Again . . . . Amphastar Renews Generic LOVENOX Case Against FDADecember 30th, 2010

      By Kurt R. Karst –       Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Amphastar”) has filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia an Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against FDA in Amphastar’s continuing battle to win approval of the company’s long-pending Abbreviated New Drug Application …

    • Must FDA Treat Similarly-Situated Competitors the Same Way?December 29th, 2010

      In his latest article appearing in FDLI Update, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. Director John R. Fleder explores whether the FDA should enforce the FDC Act by giving different treatment to similarly-situated competitors.  The article reaches the conclusion that the public is not well served …

    • U.S. Supreme Court Petitioned to Review Federal Circuit Patent Use Code DecisionDecember 28th, 2010

      By Kurt R. Karst –       Another week, another Petition for Writ of Certiorari filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on an issue involving the drug industry.  The latest petition comes from Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. (“Caraco”) and Sun Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. (“Sun”) and requests the Court’s …