By Kurt R. Karst – For several years now we’ve closely tracked the changes in user fees rates FDA sets each fiscal year under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”). Last year, we added rates set pursuant to the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of …
By Kurt R. Karst – The Major Contribution to Patient Care (“MC-to-PC”) basis for demonstrating that an orphan drug is clinical superiority, and is therefore not the “same drug” as a previously approved orphan drug containing the same active moiety, is supposed to be a pretty …
By Kurt R. Karst – We thought Eisai Inc.’s (“Eisai”) beef with FDA over New Chemical Entity (“NCE”) exclusivity might resurface at some point . . . and now it has. Last Friday, Eisai filed a Complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of …
By Kurt R. Karst – “Driveway moments” – most of us have had them. It’s that moment when we feel compelled to stay in the car and finish listening to something on the radio. This blogger recently had such a moment commuting home from work on …
By Douglas B. Farquhar – While Wikipedia tells us that this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau will best be consumed during a flexible time period beginning November 21, drug manufacturers and drug wholesalers should be warned that there is less flexibility in an important deadline for the “pedigree …
By Kurt R. Karst – In a rather lengthy (33-page) response to two citizen petitions submitted to FDA by AbbVie Inc. (Docket No. FDA-2011-P-0610) and Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Docket No. FDA-2013-P-0371) concerning their testosterone gel 1% drug products – AbbVie’s ANDROGEL (NDA No. 021015) and Auxilium’s TESTIM …
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By Kurt R. Karst — Beginning in 1999, around the time FDA issued a (still) draft guidance document on 505(b)(2) applications, and lasting until about 2009, this blogger taught an introduction to drug law course at FDA to FDAers. The focus of my talk was – surprise, surprise …
By James E. Valentine* — On July 15, 2014, FDA announced the availability of a draft guidance, titled “Informed Consent Information Sheet: Guidance for IRBs, Clinical Investigators, and Sponsors” (“FDA Draft Information Sheet”). When final, it will replace the Agency’s informed consent 1998 Information Sheet, “A Guide …
By Kurt R. Karst – Our FDA Citizen Petition Tracker is littered with petitions and petitions for reconsideration submitted to FDA over the past 18 months requesting that the Agency recognize a period of 5-year New Chemical Entity (“NCE”) exclusivity for certain Fixed-Dose Combination Drugs (“FDCs”) …
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 Kurt R. Karst – We watched the World Cup final between Germany and Argentina this past weekend and were pleased with the outcome (well, at least this blogger was). Things got pretty intense as the minutes in extra time ticked away, edging the match ever …
By Kurt R. Karst – Earlier this week, and just a day after the second anniversary of the 2012 FDA Safety and Innovation Act that, among other things, includes the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments (“GDUFA” ), FDA announced the release of two draft guidance documents …
By Kurt R. Karst – Earlier this year we posted on two pending lawsuits brought by potential biosimilar applicants challenging the the so-called “patent dance” patent resolution provisions added to the PHS Act by the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (“BPCIA”). The BPCIA …
By Kurt R. Karst – The years-long, knock-down, drag-out fight between the K-V Pharmaceutical Company (“KV”) – now known as Lumara Health Inc. – and FDA (and the Department of Health and Human Services) involving KV’s pre-term birth orphan drug MAKENA (hydroxyprogesterone caproate) Injection, 250 mg/mL, …
