• where experts go to learn about FDA
  • Jeffrey N. Wasserstein

    • OIG Fires Another Warning Shot at Drug and Device Companies’ In-Person Speaker ProgramsNovember 19th, 2020

      On Monday, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Special Fraud Alert highlighting “some of the inherent fraud and abuse risks” associated with in-person speaker programs, a widely used channel to educate physicians and …

    • AdvaMed Updates Code of EthicsJanuary 17th, 2019

      On January 9, 2019, the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) announced updates to its “Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals” (Code).  The Code was last updated in 2008; the newest updates will become effective on January 1, 2020. The Code includes new sections …

    • Maryland AG Seeks SCOTUS Review of Generics Price-Gouging Prohibition Struck Down by Fourth CircuitOctober 26th, 2018

      Maryland Attorney General (“AG”) Brian Frosh is not going down without a fight in his bid to defend a Maryland law prohibiting “price gouging” by generic pharmaceutical manufacturers. H.B. 631, 437th Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Md. 2017) (hereinafter, “HB 631”), was passed by the Maryland …

    • Like Ma Bell, I’ve Got the Ill Communications: Final Guidances IssuedJune 20th, 2018

      Announced as another effort to improve patient access and address drug pricing, FDA recently finalized two guidance documents intended to facilitate better communication and negotiation with payors, formulary committees, and others: Medical Product Communications That Are Consistent With the FDA-Required Labeling – Questions and Answers: Guidance …

    • CMS Finalizes National Coverage Determination for Next Generation Sequencing TestsMarch 20th, 2018

      On March 16, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a new National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) tests.  The granting of the new NCD resulted from the FDA – CMS Parallel Review of Foundation Medicine, Inc.’s FoundationOne CDx™ …

    • OIG Issues an Advisory Opinion on Providing Replacement ProductAugust 28th, 2017

      In an advisory opinion posted on August 25, 2017, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) determined that enforcement action would not be taken against a drug manufacturer’s proposal to replace products that require specialized handling that …

    • Not Dead Yet – OPDP Issues Two Untitled Letters Late in the Year (Our 3,000th Post!)December 18th, 2016

      Your friendly neighborhood bloggers were tempted to headline this post with a Buzzfeed worthy headline such as “When FDA pointed out THIS ONE THING, industry was SHOCKED!” or “FDA issues flood of letters – 25% of 2016 output in a single day.  What happened next …

    • How Will FDA Under @realDonaldTrump Regulate Speech?December 6th, 2016

      Most of our readers come to the blog to read posts that are well-researched, provide thoughtful analysis, and often practical advice. This is not that post.   This is a post that will be filled with rank speculation, perhaps a little wishful thinking, and a soupçon of …