By Alexander J. Varond — FDA recently released its report entitled “Complex Issues in Developing Drugs and Biological Products for Rare Diseases and Accelerating the Development of Therapies for Pediatric Rare Diseases Including Strategic Plan: Accelerating the Development of Therapies for Pediatric Rare Diseases.” The report fulfills the …
By James E. Valentine* & Sara A. Khan** – On July 11, 2014, the House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health held its fourth hearing, as part of its 21st Century Cures Initiative, to seek input regarding the incorporation of patient perspectives in drug development and …
By James C. Shehan & Karla L. Palmer – In a curious posting on Friday, June 20, 2014, FDA with little fanfare set forth its latest position on medical marijuana. Amounting to little more than a statement of general support of scientific research on medical marijuana …
By Kurt R. Karst – The so-called “drug lag” – i.e., the difference (or perceived difference some might say) in drug availability between the United States and other countries – was one of myriad reasons some folks back in the early 1990s thought it was necessary …
By Kurt R. Karst – Interest in and efforts to address shortfalls in the inclusion of women in clinical trials and clinical research, and differences in the sexes in drug development are not new. There’s the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) Revitalization Act of 1993, which …
GTCbio recently announced that it will be holding the 4th Annual CNS Diseases World Summit from September 18-19, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The summit consists of two individual conferences that will run in parallel: (1) the 7th CNS Partnering & Deal-Making conference; and (2) …
By James E. Valentine – On June 11, 2014, a panel before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health hosted its second hearing on the 21st Century Cures Initiative. The Subcommittee sought input on whether current economic and regulatory incentives are sufficient to encourage …
By Alexander J. Varond – On May 29, FDA issued its final guidance on “Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions – Drugs and Biologics.” We blogged previously on the draft guidance and each of FDA’s four expedited programs (fast track designation, accelerated approval, priority review, and breakthrough …
By James C. Shehan & David B. Clissold – Good brand names have been important to drug marketers as far back as Biblical times – the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us that “a good name is better than precious ointment.” In a new draft guidance applicable …
By Kurt R. Karst – On May 29th, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations voted 31-18 during a mark-up session to send to the House floor its version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, along …
By Alexander J. Varond & James E. Valentine – On May 20, 2014, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C.’s Frank J. Sasinowski appeared on a panel before the House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health to present testimony at the first hearing on the 21st Century Cures …
By Kurt R. Karst – In moves that may displease both brand-name and generic drug manufacturers, and that could lead to litigation from both sides, FDA has with one hand proposed to giveth New Chemical Entity (“NCE”) exclusivity to certain Fixed-Dose Combination Drugs (“FDCs”) and has …
By Alexander J. Varond – Purdue Pharma recently submitted a citizen petition challenging FDA’s decision to require labeling revisions and postmarket study requirements for extended-release and long acting opioid analgesic products but not immediate-release products. We discussed these revisions here. Purdue’s citizen petition, dated February 11, 2014, …
By James C. Shehan – Vermont law has banned manufacturers of prescription drug, device, and biologics products from providing most gifts to physicians and other healthcare professionals since 2009 and has required these manufacturers to report permitted gifts and payments to Vermont HCPs since 2002 (summarized …
By Kurt R. Karst – Last Friday, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (“BioMarin”) and FDA announced (here and here) the approval of a BLA for a new biological product for patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA, also known a “Morquio A syndrome”: VIMIZIM (elosulfase alfa) Injection. The approval of …
