Yesterday, FDA announced the publication of 89 previously unpublished Complete Response Letters (“CRLs”), which appears to be the next step in FDA’s effort towards “radical transparency.” The first step was the posting of 200 already-published CRLs on July 10, 2025, which we blogged about here. …
FDA’s recent approval of Papzimeos (zopapogene imadenovec-drba) highlights FDA’s use of regulatory flexibility in rare, serious diseases with unmet medical need. Approved on August 14, 2025, Papzimeos is the first treatment in the U.S. for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a rare disease characterized by recurrent …
Boston was once again the hub for female leadership in life sciences law this summer as attorneys, executives, and policymakers gathered for the 12th Annual American Conference Institute (“ACI”) Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law Summit on July 30–31, 2025. Hosted at the Seaport Hotel, the …
In a move FDA is calling “radical transparency,” the Agency announced on July 10, 2025 that it has published 200+ Complete Response Letters (CRLs) issued in response to marketing applications for drugs and biologics on its openFDA database. These particular CRLs were issued in response …
Thirty two years ago today, on June 10, 1993, Congress passed the landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) Revitalization Act to remedy historical exclusion of women and minorities from research participation. The law directed the NIH Director to ensure the inclusion of women and minorities …
FDA’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) issued its second Untitled Letter of 2025 to Taiho Oncology (Taiho) for a healthcare provider branded website for its drug LYTGOBI (futibatinib). This letter, dated March 21, 2025, cites Taiho’s false or misleading representations about the benefits of …
The recent and drastic Reduction In Force (RIF) at the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is already having ripple effects not just internally, but across the broader regulatory and life sciences communities and the public at large. While much of the focus has …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a pivotal role in fostering the development of treatments for rare diseases through its Orphan Products Grants Program. Each year, FDA selects a limited number of clinical trials to fund to help sponsors pursue development of medical …
FDA’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) has issued its fourth Untitled Letter of 2024 – this one to AbbVie, Inc. (AbbVie), for a direct-to-consumer (DTC) TV advertisement for its drug UBRELVY (ubrogepant) that features tennis star, social media influencer and entrepreneur Serena Williams. This …
FDA’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) has issued two new Untitled Letters this summer after 5 months without any letter activity. The letters are vastly different from one another in subject matter, but together they make a cruel summer of OPDP enforcement against industry. …
On July 17, 2024, FDA announced the establishment of a Rare Disease Innovation Hub (the “Hub”) to enhance and improve outcomes for patients with rare diseases and conditions by focusing on rare disease drug and biological product development across the Agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation …
The Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act (“FDORA”), enacted in December 2022, added a requirement that sponsors submit Diversity Action Plans (“DAPs”) for certain clinical studies involving drugs, biological products, or devices (codified at 21 U.S.C. § 355(z)(3) and 21 U.S.C. § 360j(g)(9)(A)). For drugs, …
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara (HPM) would like to congratulate the 7 rare disease programs selected for the inaugural class of the FDA’s “Support for clinical Trials Advancing Rare disease Treatment” (START) pilot program. The START pilot program was announced last September as a way to …
Among FDA-regulated establishments and stakeholders, there is one word that makes everyone go on edge – the dreaded FDA “inspection.” In an effort to clarify for industry and alleviate some of the stress associated with these activities, last week the FDA issued a draft guidance …
On May 21, 2024, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases (ELF) will host a Scientific Workshop at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. aimed at identifying and characterizing the challenges in developing therapies for ultra-rare diseases and conditions that affect exceedingly small populations. The workshop …
