By Kurt R. Karst – The long-running dispute 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) may be far from over. On September 1st, APP Pharmaceuticals, LLC, which previously submitted an amicus brief …
By William T. Koustas – Franck’s Lab, Inc. (“Defendant”), an Ocala, Florida veterinary compounding pharmacy, resumed compounding after a federal judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida denied the Government’s (“Plaintiff”) request for a preliminary injunction on August 19, 2010 that …
By Nisha P. Shah – At the conclusion of a multi-year federal investigation, Allergan Inc. ("Allergan") announced today it has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and will pay $600 million to resolve criminal and civil claims related to the sales and …
By Kurt R. Karst – Some drugs, it seems, are destined for Hatch-Waxman controversy and lore. Eisai, Inc.s’ ARICEPT (donepezil HCl) Tablets is one of those drugs. As the battle over pre-Medicare Modernization Act shared 180-day exclusivity takes off – with a recent citizen …
By Ricardo Carvajal – According to one working definition, synthetic biology encompasses "the design and fabrication of biological components and systems that do not already exist in the natural world" and "the re-design and fabrication of existing biological systems." Recent developments in the field prompted …
By Kurt R. Karst – Responding to a request from certain Members of Congress, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) has released a report evaluating FDA’s use of evidence from non-inferiority trials to establish a drug’s effectiveness and support approval of new therapies. As …
By Riëtte van Laack – In anticipation of the possible approval of the New Animal Drug Application (“NADA”) for genetically engineered AquAdvantage Salmon (“GE salmon”), FDA announced a public hearing on September 21, 2010, concerning the labeling of food made from such salmon. This is …
By Oisin A. Mulvihill* & Peter M. Jaensch – A recent string of high-profile pharmaceutical and medical device product recalls appears to be reigniting FDA’s interest in pressing misdemeanor charges against corporate executives under the Responsible Corporate Officer Doctrine, or Park Doctrine. Lewis Grossman, professor …
By Ricardo Carvajal – In several cases that challenge food marketers’ use of the term “natural” in labeling and advertising, the presiding judges have recently opted to suspend proceedings and seek an administrative determination from FDA as to whether high fructose corn syrup ("HFCS") qualifies …
By Kurt R. Karst – When we attended the August 17th hearing in Sanofi-aventis U.S. L.L.C.’s (“Sanofi’s”) challenge to FDA’s July 23, 2010 approval of Sandoz Inc.’s (“Sandoz’s”) ANDA No. 77-857 for a generic version of Sanofi’s LOVENOX (enoxaparin sodium injection), it seemed as …
By Susan J. Matthees – FDA announced yesterday the availability of two new draft guidance documents regarding implementation of the menu labeling provisions of section 4205 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”). As we reported last month, FDA requested comments on how …
By Ricardo Carvajal – FDA announced a public workshop intended to help the agency gather information on the safety and effectiveness of medical devices that use nanotechnology. FDA posted questions on its website that focus on manufacturing, characterization, and biocompatibility issues of the sort that …
By Diane B. McColl – According to Sharon Benz, Ph.D., Director of the Division of Animal Feeds in FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine ("CVM"), CVM is moving away from enforcement discretion for new animal feed/pet food ingredients. In a conversation with HP&M's Diane McColl, Dr. …
By Jamie K. Wolszon – FDA announced on August 19, 2010 in the Federal Register that the agency is reopening the comment period for comments related to FDA oversight of laboratory-developed tests ("LDTs"), and will now accept comments until September 15. The comment period had closed …
In the July/August 2010 edition of FDLI Update, HP&M attorneys John R. Fleder and Cassandra A. Soltis authored an article, titled “Advertising and Promotion: FDA Is Not the Only Cop on the Beat.” The article focuses on the various non-FDA groups that police alleged false …
