While FDA’s medical product centers have been advancing programs and policies that support incorporating the voice of the patient into their regulatory decision-making for several years (see previous coverage of CDRH here and CDER/CBER here), in the first quarter of 2018 this work has been …
On November 16, 2017, FDA released a comprehensive policy framework for how the Agency intends to apply existing laws and regulations that govern regenerative medicine products, including human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps). The policy framework is set forth in a series …
Today (October 12, 2017) FDA’s Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval of Spark Therapeutics, Inc.’s Biologics License Application (BLA 125610) for Voretigene Neparvovec (also called LUXTURNA), a gene therapy for the treatment of patients with vision loss due to confirmed biallelic RPE65 …
If you read our blog, you already know that the 21st Century Cures Act included a provision that created the Regenerative Advanced Therapy designation program, or “RAT” (see our previous coverage of the Act here). You will also already know that the Center for Biologics …
On August 29, 2017, FDA approved Chemo Research’s NDA for benznidazole for treating children with Chagas disease and granted the sponsor a Tropical Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) (see FDA Press Release here). This is the first drug to treat Chagas disease, a life-threatening parasitic disease that affects …
FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) recently announced in the Federal Register and the FDA Voice blog that it has scheduled the first-ever meeting of the Patient Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC), which will provide recommendations to FDA regarding the regulation of medical devices …
On July 25, 2017, FDA announced the availability of a guidance on “IRB Waiver or Alteration of Informed Consent for Clinical Investigations Involving No More Than Minimal Risk to Human Subjects.” FDA issued this guidance for immediate implementation, without initially seeking prior comment, based on …
On July 11, 2017, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) provided Congress with an assessment report on FDA’s Expanded Access (“EA”) program. EA programs allow patients with serious or life-threatening diseases and no satisfactory therapy available to access investigational drugs outside of a clinical trial (report …
On April 14, 2017, Congress released a discussion draft of a bill to reauthorize the FDA’s various user fee programs, commonly referred to as “the UFAs.” The FDA Reauthorization Act (FDARA) would renew the Agency’s authority to collect user fees in Fiscal Years 2018 through …
On March 22, 2017, the jury rendered its verdict in the case of the United States v. Cadden, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (jury verdict form available here). The defendant, Barry J. Cadden, was the part owner and head pharmacist at …
On March 15-17, 2017, the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (ASENT) held its 19th Annual Meeting in Rockville, MD. The meeting brought together clinical investigators, pharmaceutical industry sponsors, officials from drug regulatory agencies, and patient advocacy organizations to address and advance the science of neurotherapeutics. On …
Every year, hundreds of rare disease patients and caregivers descend on Capitol Hill to participate in Rare Disease Week to learn about federal legislative issues, meet other advocates, and share their unique stories with legislators. As part of this, on March 2, 2017, Hyman, Phelps …
On Inauguration Day (January 20, 2017) President Trump’s assistant Reince Priebus circulated a regulatory “freeze order” blogged here affecting regulations and guidance published in the Federal Register but that had not yet taken effect, postponing their effective date for 60 days (from January 20, 2017). The …
On January 18, 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services along with 15 other federal agencies issued the Final Rule to revise the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, known as the “Common Rule.” This 1991 set of regulations created a …
As the door was closing on 2016, FDA squeezed through three guidance documents on drug compounding: (1) Final guidance on Section 503A prescription requirement here; (2) Final guidance on electronic drug product reporting for outsourcing facilities here, and (3) Draft guidance on compounding of radiopharmaceuticals …
