By Christine P. Bump – On April 22, 2009, FDA announced that it sent a letter to the manufacturer of Plan B stating that the Agency would, “upon submission and approval of an appropriate application,” permit the sale of Plan B without a prescription to …
By Carrie S. Martin – As we reported previously, FDA decided to institute a class-wide Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (“REMS”) for 24 different opioid products. FDA held a private meeting on March 3, 2009, with the 16 manufacturers of the opioid products to discuss …
By Jamie K. Wolszon & Anne Marie Murphy – On April 20th, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (“PhRMA”) issued a revised “Principles on Conduct of Clinical Trials and Communication of Clinical Trials Results.” The revision outlines, among other things, the trade group’s Principles on …
By Kurt R. Karst – We previously reported (here and here) on concerns as to whether a company submitting an ANDA (or a 505(b)(2) application) containing the results of an in vivo bioequivalence study must certify on Form FDA 3674 that new Public Health Service …
By Ricardo Carvajal – According to a CVM Animal Feed Safety System update, the CVM Division of Animal Feeds has formed an Ingredient Safety Team that will begin accepting GRAS notification submissions for animal feed ingredients as part of a pilot program starting this summer. …
By Kurt R. Karst – We previously reported on FDA’s recent drug-based marketed unapproved drug enforcement action concerning certain narcotics. In that case, FDA issued 9 Warning Letters to companies concerning 14 narcotic drug products, including morphine sulfate, hydromorphone, and oxycodone. Late on April 9, 2009, FDA …
By Kurt R. Karst – Earlier today, FDA announced the approval of Novartis’ combination drug product COARTEM (artemether; lumefantrine) for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated malaria infections in adults and children weighing at least five kilograms. Accompanying the approval is the first Priority Review Voucher …
By JP Ellison – In U.S. v. Palazzo, the Fifth Circuit recently reversed a trial court’s decision to dismiss criminal charges against a clinical investigator based upon violation of 21 C.F.R. § 312.62(b), which requires such investigators “to prepare and maintain adequate and accurate case …
By Kurt R. Karst – Earlier today, FDA announced that the Agency has taken enforcement action against several manufacturers of unapproved prescription narcotics. The 9 Warning Letters issued by FDA concern 14 narcotic drug products, including morphine sulfate, hydromorphone, and oxycodone. The Warning Letters direct …
By Kurt R. Karst – Last week, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) issued a report, titled “Nonprescription Drugs: Considerations Regarding a Behind-the-Counter Drug Class.” The report updates the Office’s 1995 report on the same topic (see our previous post here). The updated report was requested …
By Susan J. Matthees – FDA announced last week that it had added the first unapproved new animal drug to the Index of Legally Marketed Unapproved New Animal Drugs for Minor Species (i.e., the Index) since the Agency began accepting submissions last February. The drug, …
By Kurt R. Karst – In a scathing 52-page opinion issued earlier today, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York takes FDA to task over the Agency’s August 24, 2006 approval of a supplemental NDA (“sNDA”) for Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s …
By Kurt R. Karst – Late yesterday, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), along with Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA), and Joe Barton (R- TX), announced the introduction of the Pathway for Biosimilars Act (H.R. 1548). (A copy of the bill should be available soon). The introduction of …
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. (“HP&M”) has issued a detailed analysis of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Wyeth v. Levine. A copy of the analysis, written by James P. Ellison and Carrie S. Martin, is available here. In Wyeth, the Court ruled that, based …
By Bryon F. Powell – On March 11, 2009, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health ("DPH") Public Health Council unanimously approved a final rule on Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturer Conduct. This vote came just seven months after Massachusetts’ Governor Deval Patrick signed into law …
