By Jamie K. Wolszon – FDA is signaling that it is considering whether to fundamentally reshape how it regulates laboratories and laboratory-developed tests ("LDTs"). LDTs, which are diagnostic tests developed and performed by a laboratory, are widely used. For example, virtually every genetic test is …
By Wes Siegner – On June 14, 2010, The University of Maryland School of Law hosted the first of a series of multidisciplinary meetings being held as part of a Human Microbiome Project ELSI (Ethical, Legal, Social Implications) grant to study federal regulation of probiotics. …
By Kurt R. Karst – With all of the FDA-related amendments being introduced for consideration to the Tax Extenders Act (H.R. 4213), including the Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act to address patent settlement agreements and an amendment to legislatively extend a patent covering …
By Kurt R. Karst – Since shortly after the enactment of the Hatch-Waxman Amendments in 1984, FDA has recognized an NDA sponsor’s ability to relinquish or selectively waive exclusivity, such as 5-year new chemical entity exclusivity and 3-year new use exclusivity, even though the …
By Ricardo Carvajal – June 22 looms large on the calendar for firms subject to the requirements of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (“FSPTCA”) and FDA’s final rule curbing promotion and sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to underage consumers. In anticipation …
By Kurt R. Karst – On the same day that the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on “Oversight of the Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws,” at which Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) Chairman Jon Leibowitz and U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Assistant Attorney General …
By Jeffrey N. Wasserstein – Loyal readers of the FDA Law Blog have followed (with bated breath) the saga of Vermont’s law that prohibits pharmaceutical and medical device companies from giving many items that are permitted under the PhRMA Code and AdvaMed Code. The plot …
By Kurt R. Karst – FDA's recent approval of an ANDA submitted by Perrigo R&D Company ("Perrigo") for a generic version of the over-the-counter drug MONISTAT 1 Combination Pack (1200 mg miconazole nitrate vaginal insert and 2% miconazole nitrate cream) contains some interesting language …
By Diane B. McColl & Ricardo Carvajal – It’s here! FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (“CVM”) finally implemented a "generally recognized as safe" (“GRAS”) notification program for use of ingredients in animal feed or pet food. We have waited for this program since 1997, when it …
By Ricardo Carvajal – Kellogg Company has agreed to FTC’s expansion of the settlement order that the company entered into in July 2009 regarding false claims that Frosted Mini-Wheats improve children’s attention (see our prior post here). At issue now are “dubious health claims” that Rice …
By Kurt R. Karst – Earlier this year, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) denied an application for a Patent Term Extension (“PTE”) for U.S. Patent No. 6,869,939 (“the ‘939 patent”). The ‘939 patent is one of four patents listed in FDA’s Orange Book …
By Kurt R. Karst – Last week’s 29-page decision by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in In re Budeprion XL Marketing & Sales Litigation is yet more affirmation that lower courts are broadly reading and applying the U.S. Supreme Court’s …
By Ricardo Carvajal & Diane B. McColl – The Alliance for Natural Health (“ANH”) has prevailed on summary judgment in its court challenge to FDA’s denials of, and restrictions on, certain qualified health claims regarding selenium and cancer. The decision marks the latest chapter in …
By Susan J. Matthees – FDA has denied a Citizen Petition requesting that FDA require drug and device companies to submit data only from non-animal test methods ("NATMs") whenever NATMs are available. The Citizen Petition was submitted on behalf of the Mandatory Alternatives Petition Coalition …
By William T. Koustas – As we have previously reported (here, here, and here), the FTC has delayed enforcement of its Red Flags Rule (“the Rule”) several times since its original effective date of November 1, 2008. Now, some in Congress have requested that the …
