Quality Systems

Looking to resolve litigation over Vioxx (rofecoxib), Merck & Co reached an agreement to settle the vast majority of Vioxx claims for $4.85 billion.

The current system for regulating imported drugs is putting consumers' health and safety at risk.

Wyeth Consumer Healthcare launched a voluntary recall and replacement program for US retail outlets that sell several ?Robitussin? and ?Children?s Dimetapp Cold and Chest Congestion? products.

US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach testified before Congress last week to outline the agency’s inspection process for foreign drug manufacturers and efforts to improve the agency’s information technology systems.

The US Food and Drug Administration’s effectiveness in regulating the manufacture of pharmaceutical products and active pharmaceutical ingredients at foreign facilities was questioned at a Congressional hearing last week. Congress, industry, and government officials weighed in on the issue.

Information technology is the glue that should unify a company while ironically, it enables further fragmentation. Experts talk about the successes and challenges for IT in helping a company function efficiently.

The US Food and Drug Administration launched a new program on Oct. 4 to increase the number and variety of generic drugs available to the public, beginning in fiscal year 2008. The Generic Initiative for Value and Efficiency (GIVE) will use existing resources to help the agency "modernize and streamline the generic drug approval process," according to FDA.

In this study, fault tree analysis applied to a water pretreatment and purification installation exposed cause-and-effect complex interrelations in possible fault events.

Representatives from 17 nations sit down to decide upon standards-setting initiatives.

News and Views

Thin are the lines that separate stability, statistics, and chaos.

New FDA act reshapes drug development and marketing to restore public trust in pharmaceutical regulation.

Mixed-flow impeller systems exhaust laboratory workstation fume hoods, prevent reentrainment into the facility and adjacent facilities, and help companies comply with appropriate pollution-control standards.

The senior director of Oracle's Life Sciences Business Unit tackles some of the technical issues regarding regulatory standardization, software integration, and the trend toward virtualization, among other things. Do you have something to ask Arvindh Balakrishnan? Click here to submit your questions.

Company Notes: Gibraltar expands facilities; Allozyne appoints new president and CEO, more.

The US Food and Drug Administration announced the formation of the Pediatric Review Committee to help ensure quality and consistency across the agency.

Seven Reasons Why Pharmaceutical Makers Are Adopting Mobile Technology

The scope and complexity of GRC requirements are expanding so rapidly that businesses are struggling to fulfill them despite an increased willingness on industry's part to apply additional GRC resources.

The senior director of Oracle's Life Sciences Business Unit tackles some of the technical issues regarding regulatory standardization, software integration, and the trend toward visualization, among other things.

In accordance with the US Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007, FDA is asking companies to notify the agency within 30 days whether they intend to participate in FDA?s direct-to-consumer user-fee program during fiscal year 2008.

After a whirlwind of negative press this fall regarding the safety of cough and cold medications for children under age 6, the US Food and Drug Administration?s Nonprescription Drugs and Pediatric Advisory Committees have recommended such over-the-counter drugs no longer be used for young children.

Company and People Notes: ImClone, BMS, and Merck form agreement; CRI Worldwide names new CEO, more.

Medical students are participating in various activities this week to persuade medical schools to shield their campuses from the influence of pharmaceutical marketing as part of ?National PharmFree Week.?

The US Food and Drug Administration posted its rates for user fees for fiscal year 2008, effective Oct. 1, 2007 through Sept. 30, 2008.

The US Food and Drug Administration sent Med-South Pharmacy a Warning Letter for producing large volumes of betamethasone acetate?betamethasone sodium phosphate without following current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs).