By Carmelina G. Allis – We previously reported that Synthes, Inc., Norian Corporation, and four of Synthes’s executives had been charged by the United States government for allegedly violating several provisions of Titles 18 and 21 of the United States Code. The defendants allegedly conducted clinical …
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara’s John R. Fleder has written an article in the July/August 2009 edition of the Food and Drug Law Institute’s Update Magazine. The article is entitled: “Vindicated on Appeal – It Does Happen.” The article discusses a recent ruling in United States …
By William T. Koustas – Last week, FDA announced the approval of Onsolis (fentanyl buccal soluble film) with a substantial Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy ("REMS"), as well as a boxed warning. Onsolis is a potent opioid that is administered through the mucous membranes of …
By John A. Gilbert & Larry K. Houck – The Senate recently passed S. 256 which places additional requirements on retailers that sell ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The bill, known as the “Combat Methamphetamine Enhancement Act of 2009,” was referred to the House (H.R. 2923), which …
By Ricardo Carvajal – The Institute of Food Technologists (“IFT”) has published an expert report that addresses the challenge of responding to food contamination events in the face of limited scientific information. The report describes the U.S. legal framework that governs substances intentionally or inadvertently …
By Ricardo Carvajal – The Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response (“CIFOR”) has published guidelines intended to help local, state and federal agencies improve their response to foodborne disease outbreaks. The guidelines address planning and preparation, surveillance and outbreak detection, investigation of clusters and outbreaks, …
By JP Ellison – The amicus brief recently filed by the Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) Antitrust Division makes it clear that at least on the issue of so-called “reverse payments” the antitrust lawyers at DOJ agree with their colleagues at the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) …
By Ricardo Carvajal – In a complaint filed on July 1, the government is asking a federal district court to enjoin certain manufacturers of protein powder mixes and dietary supplements from further marketing of products alleged to be adulterated under FDC Act section 402(a)(4) due to the …
By Kurt R. Karst – Following the introduction of several proposals last week, as well as a proposal from Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (“HELP”) Committee voted 16-7 late Monday night in favor of a proposal offered by Sens. …
By Diane B. McColl & Riëtte van Laack – On June 25, 2009, Ovos Natural Health Inc. ("Ovos") filed a citizen petition asking FDA to promulgate a regulation allowing use of homotaurine, a new dietary ingredient, in dietary supplements under sections 201(ff)(3)(B)(ii) and 301(ll)(2) of …
By Kurt R. Karst – We recently reported on a Complaint and a Motion for Preliminary Injunction Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (“Teva”) filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against FDA concerning 180-day exclusivity forfeiture for generic versions of Merck & …
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (“CPSC”) yesterday announced that former South Carolina State Superintendent of Education Inez Moore Tenenbaum has been sworn in as the ninth CPSC Chairman. We previously reported on her nomination and President Obama’s plans to expand the CPSC from the current …
By Kurt R. Karst – There has been a frenzy of activity on Capitol Hill in recent days over Follow-On Biologics (“FOBs”). At least four different proposals – all titled as the “Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009” – have reportedly been floated …
By Anne Marie Murphy – FDA’s final rule requiring IRBs that review FDA-regulated clinical investigations to register through a system maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) takes effect on Tuesday, July 14, 2009. In the Federal Register notice announcing the final …
Sigh. We've been dragged (kicking and screaming) into the 21st Century. So, we've put down our quill pens and are now twittering at www.twitter.com/fdalawblog. Many of our "tweets" will link to the blog, but we will also be putting up other FDA-related news and updates …
