By Kurt R. Karst – The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced the publication of an interim report on authorized generic drugs. The report, titled “Authorized Generics: An Interim Report,” presents the first set of results from an FTC study conducted, at the request of several members …
By Kurt R. Karst – On June 22nd, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced S. 1315, the “Drug Price Competition Act of 2009.” (At this point we have a copy of the discussion draft; however, we understand that it is the same as the version of …
By Kurt R. Karst – Section 11 of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (“BPCA”) of 2002 amended the FDC Act to add a new provision, which was reauthorized under the FDA Amendments Act of 2007 and is located at FDC Act § 505A(o), to …
By Carmelina G. Allis – We previously reported that the State of New Jersey had entered into an agreement with Synthes, Inc. to settle allegations that the company failed to disclose financial conflicts of interest among doctors who conducted clinical testing on its products. Now, …
JP Ellison – The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri announced three guilty pleas to misdemeanor violations of the FDC Act in connection with the "nationwide recall of pet food and the death and serious illness of countless pets across the United States …
By Riëtte van Laack – The FDA Amendments Act (“FDAAA”) amended the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDC Act”) to create section 417, which directs FDA to establish a Reportable Food Registry (“Registry”). The purpose of the Registry is to provide a “reliable mechanism to …
By Kurt R. Karst & Frank J. Sasinowski – FDA’s recent decision to approve the Pancreatic Enzyme Product (“PEP”) CREON (pancrelipase) to help patients with cystic fibrosis and others with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (“EPI”) digest and absorb nutrients from foods has apparently left the Agency …
By Jamie K. Wolszon – Earlier this month, a U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California judge refused to dismiss a criminal indictment of the former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of InterMune for misbranding and wire fraud charges connected to the off-label promotion …
By Ricardo Carvajal – In an increasingly common exercise of the agency’s authority under FDC Act § 404, FDA announced that is has it has suspended the temporary Emergency Permit issued to Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc. in April 2008. Under § 404 …
By Kurt R. Karst – Will FDA apply the Agency’s pre-Medicare Modernization Act (“MMA”) “holding-on-the-merits standard” to the post-MMA “failure to market” 180-day exclusivity forfeiture provisions? It is a reasonable question, and one that FDA has not yet definitively answered. Nevertheless, there appears to be …
On June 12th, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 307-97 on final passage of H.R. 1256 – The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill on June 11th with a 79-17 vote. President Obama is expected to sign …
By Ricardo Carvajal – Much ink has already been spilled detailing the burdens that draft federal food safety legislation would impose on industry (click here for the latest version of the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (“FSEA”)). Little has yet been said about the burdens …
By Kurt R. Karst – On June 10th, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced the release of its highly anticipated report on Follow-On Biologics (“FOBs”). The 120-page report, titled “Emerging Health Care Issues: Follow-On Biologic Drug Competition” is the product of an FTC Roundtable held …
By Kurt R. Karst – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s recent decision in Abbott Labs. v. Sandoz, Inc. concerning U.S. Patent No. 4,935,507 (“the ‘507 patent”) covering OMNICEF (cefdinir) has been discussed at length in the blogosphere for its possible implications …
By Kurt R. Karst – Galderma Laboratories L.P. (“Galderma”) recently submitted a citizen petition to FDA (also see our Citizen Petition Tracker) requesting that the Agency interpret the QI Program Supplemental Funding Act of 2008 (“QI Act”) to impose a 30-month stay of approval of …
