The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a pivotal role in fostering the development of treatments for rare diseases through its Orphan Products Grants Program. Each year, FDA selects a limited number of clinical trials to fund to help sponsors pursue development of medical …
The fight between Jazz, Avadel, and FDA over narcolepsy drug sodium oxybate has been a long and arduous one. Starting in 2022 with a patent certification requirement, both Jazz and Avadel have sued FDA over this drug, with Jazz most recently bringing suit challenging FDA’s …
Back in July, the United States Supreme Court turned the world of administrative law on its head, adding new layers of judicial oversight to what might have previously been thought of as fairly non-descript Federal agency functions. One of those cases was Loper Bright v. …
The Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher program has had a bit of a tumultuous history in its 12 short years of existence. Designed to incentivize the development of drugs for pediatric rare diseases where such development may not otherwise have occurred, vouchers may be …
On July 17, 2024, FDA announced the establishment of a Rare Disease Innovation Hub (the “Hub”) to enhance and improve outcomes for patients with rare diseases and conditions by focusing on rare disease drug and biological product development across the Agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation …
The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Loper Bright v. Raimondo has done away with Chevron deference to federal agencies’ interpretation of ambiguous statutes, including the FDA. The decision commands that federal judges must make their own decisions in suits against FDA, considering—but not deferring to—the …
On May 21, 2024, the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases (ELF) will host a Scientific Workshop at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. aimed at identifying and characterizing the challenges in developing therapies for ultra-rare diseases and conditions that affect exceedingly small populations. The workshop …
In 2009—15 years ago— the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) announced the first U.S. recognition of Rare Disease Day. NORD’s announcement followed in the footsteps of European rare disease patient organization, Eurodis, who had celebrated the first Rare Disease Day the year before. Time flies when …
On December 12, 2023, FDA announced the creation of a new advisory committee specifically for treatments for genetic metabolic diseases, the Genetic Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee, or “GeMDAC.” As described by FDA’s press release, genetic metabolic diseases are conditions whereby a genetic mutation, generally one …
Neither Jazz Pharmaceuticals nor Avadel CNS Pharmaceuticals has taken the battle of sodium oxybate—a drug approved to treat narcolepsy—lying down. After suing each other in patent litigation and Avadel’s suit against FDA challenging the Agency’s authority to compel patent certifications, it’s Jazz’s turn to sue …
FDA has not been shy about its distaste for the Catalyst decision; the Agency has published on its website the litany of problems that arise from it and has sent emails and letters to stakeholders essentially urging them to contact Congress to address the decision. …
In early 1984, a year after President Reagan signed the Orphan Drug Act into law, the FDA was not seeing the anticipated avalanche of requests for orphan drug designation. At that time, new Federal laws on drugs were far and few between. FDR signed the …
On December 29, 2022, the President signed into law the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022 (“FDORA”) as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Pub. L. No. 117-328 (2022). FDORA primarily amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public …
On September 30, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, Division F of which is titled the “FDA User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2022” (“FUFRA”). In addition to reauthorizing for an additional five fiscal years—Fiscal Years 2023-2027—several …
We’re in the midst of UFA (User Fee Act) season! It’s the quinquennial event when many of the UFAs are up for reauthorization. And with “must-pass” FDA legislation, comes a host of riders—pieces of FDA-related legislation not specific to UFA reauthorization, but that folks seek …
