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  • Prescription Drugs and Biologics

    • Deference to Agency DeferenceAugust 27th, 2019

      Companies challenging FDA in court typically face a steep uphill battle given the long-standing doctrine known as Auer deference, which (in simplified terms) requires courts to defer to FDA’s interpretation of its own regulations if they are ambiguous.  The recent Supreme Court ruling in Kisor …

    • HP&M is Pleased to Welcome Suchira Ghosh to the FirmAugust 20th, 2019

      Hyman, Phelps & McNamara P.C. (“HP&M”) is pleased to announce that Suchira Ghosh has joined the firm as Counsel.  Suchira comes to HP&M with more than 10 years of FDA and Hatch-Waxman legal experience, as well as several years of experience working as a process …

    • Note to Pharma: Stop With the Dancing! (And Get Off My Lawn)August 19th, 2019

      After reading OPDP’s latest enforcement letter, we had déjà vu all over again and were transported back to 2016 when we blogged that OPDP was Not Dead Yet.  At that time, OPDP had posted two enforcement letters on the same day relating to TV ads …

    • Is Promoting a 361 HCT/P for Its Clinical Effects Compatible with a Homologous Intended Use?August 16th, 2019

      The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates human cell, tissue, and cellular and tissue-based products, or HCT/Ps, under a unique regulatory regime set forth in 21 C.F.R. Part 1271 (Part 1271).   An HCT/P that meets certain requirements is eligible for regulation as a “361 HCT/P.”  …

    • Dust Yourself Off and Try Again: GAO Report On ANDA Approval Shows that Multiple Review Cycles Are Still Often NecessaryAugust 9th, 2019

      Over the last few years, FDA has clearly prioritized efficient generic development (see, for example, the Drug Competition Action Plan).  While FDA hosted public meetings, published MAPP revisions, and compiled lists of off-patent/off-exclusivity drugs, Congress reauthorized the Generic Drug User Fee Act in 2017 and …

    • Brief Updates on California and Colorado Drug Price Reporting LawsAugust 8th, 2019

      California Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Morrison C. England Jr. denied the state of California’s motion to dismiss PhRMA’s lawsuit challenging SB 17, which was signed into law in October 2017 and became effective on January 1, 2018.  (Our summary of SB 17 is available …

    • FDA Law Alert: Issue #2August 7th, 2019

      Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. is pleased to publish this second issue of the FDA Law Alert, a newsletter highlighting key postings from our nationally acclaimed FDA Law Blog.  Please subscribe to the FDA Law Blog to receive contemporaneous posts on government regulatory and enforcement …

    • ACI’s Paragraph IV Disputes Master SymposiumAugust 7th, 2019

      The American Conference Institute’s (“ACI’s”) popular “Paragraph IV Disputes Master Symposium” is coming up again! The conference will take place from October 3-4, 2019 at the W Chicago in City Center, Chicago, IL. ACI has put together an excellent program for conference attendees that include presentations …

    • A “Big” Bulks Decision for Outsourcing Facilities and Athenex: Court Affirms FDA’s Method of Determining “Clinical Need” in a Resounding Blow for Outsourcing FacilitiesAugust 6th, 2019

      In a much-anticipated decision for those that have been following the saga of whether FDA has appropriately set the test for determining how it may include bulk substances on its list of substances that may be used in compounding under Section 503B of the Federal …

    • Everything Old is New Again: FDA Revises its 2014 Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Guidance for IndustryAugust 2nd, 2019

      Developing drugs for kids with rare diseases is important work. If you would like to hear from one of these kids, check out this video: “My Philosophy for a Happy Life,” by the late Sam Berns. Offering priority review vouchers to sponsors that develop new drugs …

    • HHS/FDA Safe Importation Action Plan Proposes Two Pathways for Drug ImportationAugust 1st, 2019

      As we have previously reported (see here, here, and here) four states (Vermont, Colorado, Florida, and Maine) have passed laws to establish drug importation programs.  Reversing long-standing policy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 that HHS …

    • ACI’s 34th FDA Boot Camp – Boston EditionJuly 24th, 2019

      The American Conference Institute’s (“ACI’s”) popular “FDA Boot Camp” – now in its 34th iteration – is scheduled to take place from September 18-19, 2019 at The Bostonian Hotel, Boston, MA. The conference is billed as the premier event to provide folks with a roadmap …

    • Rule to Require Drug Prices in TV Ads Found InvalidJuly 9th, 2019

      On July 8, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta struck down a recently finalized Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rulethat would have required drug pricing disclosures to be included in television advertisements for certain prescription drugs and biological products (the “Price …

    • A Round Up of New State Laws to Control Drug PricesJuly 8th, 2019

      While the federal government continues to debate the hot topic of drug prices, states continue to pass new laws designed to tackle drug pricing, price reporting, and discounting.  We’ve previously reported on the laws passed in California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Vermont …

    • HP&M’s James Valentine Named a 2019 RARE Champion of Hope; Moderates Global Rare Disease Town Hall with FDA and EMAJuly 1st, 2019

      Last week, Global Genes, a global rare disease patient advocacy organization, announced the 2019 RARE Champion of Hope Awardees, which included Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C.’s very own, James Valentine.  This is a great honor, bestowed upon “true champions for rare disease”, “people who inspire …