• where experts go to learn about FDA
  • Hyman Phelps McNamara

    • Good News on FDA’s Phantom “Domestic Address” Requirement for OTC Drugs and Dietary Supplements; In a Tough Economy, Industry Could Save $84M – or More – by Doing NothingMarch 4th, 2009

      By Cassandra A. Soltis & Wes Siegner –   Previously we have commented on FDA’s draft guidance originally issued on January 2, 2008 and recently reissued again in draft form on December 11, 2008 (here and here).  Both draft guidance documents assert that, in the Dietary …

    • A Pig is a Pig Even if it Has Only Three Legs, is Laying Down or is FatiguedMarch 3rd, 2009

      By Riëtte van Laack – The Eastern District Court of California enjoined California from enforcing California's Penal Code Section 599f against federally inspected swine slaughterhouses on the ground that section 599f is expressly preempted by the Federal Meat Inspection Act (“FMIA”).  Section 599f prohibits a slaughterhouse …

    • States Take Action to Limit Enviga Green Tea Beverage Weight Loss ClaimsMarch 3rd, 2009

      By Cassandra A. Soltis – A settlement agreement reached between numerous state attorneys general and Coke, Nestle, and Beverage Partnership Worldwide makes clear that it is not just the Federal Trade Commission that is scrutinizing weight loss claims.  The target of the attorneys general action …

    • Stimulating Privacy: Changes to HIPAA in the Stimulus BillMarch 2nd, 2009

      By Susan Matthees and Jeff Wasserstein – Although the stimulus bill that President Obama recently signed into law received significant attention for its economic implications, less noticed was Title XIII of the stimulus bill, entitled the "Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act" or …

    • Obama Pledges To Open Borders for Personal Importation of Prescription DrugsMarch 2nd, 2009

      By Douglas B. Farquhar –       More than nine years after passage of federal legislation that would permit individuals to legally import prescription drugs from Canada, the Obama Administration appears ready to open the door to importation.  Prior administrations, including President Clinton’s, prevented individuals from legally …

    • Actavis Sues FDA Over VYVANSE Exclusivity; Action Challenges FDA’s NCE Exclusivity PoliciesMarch 1st, 2009

      By Kurt R. Karst –      Actavis Elizabeth LLC (“Actavis”) has sued FDA after the Agency refused to accept the company’s ANDA for a generic version of the ADHD drug VYVANSE (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) Capsules earlier this year.  FDA’s Orange Book shows that VYVANSE is a Type …

    • Obama Budget Part 2: Reducing Drug PricesMarch 1st, 2009

      By Alan M. Kirschenbaum – Last week we reported on the Obama Administration’s 10-year budget proposal, focusing on the Department of Health and Human Services budget.  As noted, the budget establishes a reserve fund of over $630 billion over 10 years to finance health care reform.  …

    • Yet Another Petition is Submitted to FDA Concerning the QI Act & 30-Month Stay Availability; Latest Petition Concerns CELLCEPTFebruary 27th, 2009

      By Kurt R. Karst –       Over the past few weeks, we have posted (here and here) on citizen petitions submitted to FDA requesting that the Agency address whether the 30-month stay provisions of the Hatch-Waxman Amendments apply to a pending ANDA for a generic version …

    • Obama 10-Year Budget Blueprint Includes Initiatives For Medicare, Medicaid, FDAFebruary 26th, 2009

      By Cassandra A. Soltis & Alan M. Kirschenbaum –  Today the Obama Administration released a summary of its 10-year budget proposal  entitled “A New Era of Responsibility – Renewing America’s Promise.”  The document provides a high level outline of priorities – details reportedly will be released in April.  …

    • Ranbaxy’s Manufacturing Woes Deepen; FDA Invokes AIP Against Paonta Sahib FacilityFebruary 25th, 2009

      By Kurt R. Karst –       Earlier today, FDA announced that the Agency was taking the unusual step of invoking its Application Integrity Policy (“AIP”) against Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited’s (“Ranbaxy”) Paonta Sahib manufacturing facility in India.  FDA takes such regulatory action under the Agency’s AIP procedures …

    • FDA Issues Notice on Maximum Civil Money Penalty AmountsFebruary 24th, 2009

      By James P. Ellison – We previously reported on FDA's Federal Register notice adjusting its civil penalties for inflation and noted our prior posts on the new civil penalty authority given to FDA in the FDA Amendments Act.  As we explained in our earlier post, FDA's …

    • Federal Circuit Affirms a 30-Month Stay Extension for Generic EVISTAFebruary 24th, 2009

      By Kurt R. Karst –       In a rare move, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court decision extending a 30-month stay available under the Hatch-Waxman Amendments with respect to Teva Pharmaceutical USA, Inc.’s ANDA for a generic version of …

    • Medicis Citizen Petition Argues For 30-Month Stay Under the QI ActFebruary 20th, 2009

      By Kurt R. Karst –       We previously reported on a citizen petition submitted to FDA requesting that the Agency address whether the 30-month stay provisions of the Hatch-Waxman Amendments apply to a pending ANDA for a generic version of DORYX (doxycycline hyclate) Delayed-Release Tablets, an …

    • FDA Stays the Course on NanotechnologyFebruary 19th, 2009

      By Ricardo Carvajal— During a session at the Food and Drug Law Institute’s Second Annual Conference on Nanotechnology Law, Regulation, and Policy, senior FDA staff confirmed that the agency does not intend to issue regulations specific to products derived through nanotechnology, or to establish a definition …

    • Second Circuit Upholds NYC Regulation Mandating Calorie Disclosure in RestaurantsFebruary 18th, 2009

      By Ricardo Carvajal The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected  the New York State Restaurant Association’s (NYSRA’s) challenge to a New York City Board of Health (NYC) regulation requiring all menu boards and menus in chain restaurants with 15 or more establishments nationally to bear …