By Karla L. Palmer & Larry K. Houck – Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) sent a written request to the U.S. Department of Justice on October 15th asking Attorney General Eric Holder to commence an investigation into whether the New England Compounding Center (“NECC”) violated the …
By Karla L. Palmer & Delia A. Stubbs – Last week, DEA continued the temporary scheduling of a single synthetic cathinone, methylone (3, 4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone) in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”). The temporary scheduling will expire on April 20, 2013, or upon completion of …
By Kurt R. Karst & Jeffrey N. Gibbs – We’ve been following litigation involving the Florida veterinary compounding pharmacy Franck’s Lab, Inc. (“Franck’s”) for a couple of years. We won’t get into all of the case details here – for that, see our previous posts …
By Kurt R. Karst – The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) is seeking leave to file a second amicus brief in private antitrust litigation espousing the Commission’s views that a branded drug company’s commitment, as part of a settlement agreement, not to launch an Authorized Generic …
By John A. Gilbert, Jr. & Larry K. Houck – A bipartisan group of thirteen congressional representatives penned a letter to Administrator Michele Leonhart last week requesting “clarification, guidance and collaboration” about the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (“DEA’s”) efforts to combat prescription drug abuse. While voicing …
By Ricardo Carvajal – A few weeks ago, we posted on a decision by a divided three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacating FDA’s regulations that require graphic warnings on cigarette packages (see here). FDA has now petitioned the D.C. Circuit Court of …
The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (“USP”) recently announced at an Awards and Recognition Program for USP Expert Volunteers that the 2012 USP Award for an Innovative Response to Public Health Challenges went to the Food Ingredients Expert Committee. Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. Director Diane B. …
By Kurt R. Karst – It was 50 years ago today (October 10th) that President John F. Kennedy signed into law the Kefauver-Harris Amendments of 1962, Pub. L. No. 87-781, 76 Stat. 780 (1962), which amended the 1938 FDC Act to require, among other things, …
By Kurt R. Karst – In a Complaint recently filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Actelion Clinical Research, Inc. (collectively “Actelion”) seek declaratory relief that Actelion is under no duty or obligation to supply prospective …
By Jeffrey K. Shapiro & Jessica A. Ritsick – Under FDA’s regulations (10 C.F.R. § 10.75), the decision of an FDA employee (other than the Commissioner) is subject to supervisory review in four circumstances: (1) when an employee so requests; (2) when a supervisor initiates review; …
By Kurt R. Karst – Just weeks after Federal Trade Commssion (“FTC”) Chairman Jon Leibowitz signaled in a speech that the Commission would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit’s April 2012 ruling (and subsequent July 2012 …
By Carmelina G. Allis – Should FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (“CDRH”) regulate medical mobile apps? Or should medical mobile apps be regulated by another office within FDA? Or should they be regulated by a separate entity under the Department of Health and …
By Kurt R. Karst – Those of us who work in the drug approval world know that a high degree of coordination among various FDA components is necessary for a smooth and efficient approval process. This is particularly true for ANDA generic drug …
By Ricardo Carvajal & Wes Siegner – The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General released two reports (see here and here) critical of dietary supplements in the weight loss and immune support categories. OIG focused on those categories because they were reported …
By Kurt R. Karst – The question was not whether, but when, FDA would be sued over a decision involving 180-day generic drug exclusivity and the so-called “failure to obtain timely tentative approval” forfeiture provision at FDC Act § 505(j)(5)(D)(i)(IV). That day has finally come. …
