Regulatory Oversight and Compliance

Pending a completed FDA inspection, Emergent BioSolutions halts manufacture of vaccine drug substance at Maryland facility.

The agency revoked EUA status for the monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab to be administered alone to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

The agency will use technology for “voluntary remote interactive evaluations” for pre- and post-approval and other types of inspections.

BMS has announced that the EC has approved Opdivo in combination with Cabometyx for the first-line treatment of adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee is reviewing very rare cases of unusual blood clots in the US, following administration of Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine.

EMA is continuing to monitor the incidences of very rare blood clots with low blood platelets occurring after vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria).

EMA has started its review of monoclonal antibody VIR-7831 (also known as GSK4182136) as a treatment for patients with COVID-19.

Biogen UK has announced that the UK’s MHRA and the EC have granted marketing authorization for the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of Tysabri (natalizumab).

Patrizia Cavazzoni will become the director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and Janet Woodcock remains in limbo as the temporary head of FDA.

This article explores the evolution of FDA’s approach to inspections of drug and biologics manufacturing facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Acting FDA commissioner announces permanent appointment of Patrizia Cavazzoni as CDER director, following year-long acting-director role.

CDC and FDA are reviewing data from reported cases of a rare type of blood clot in people that received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

FDA has accepted Airway’s investigational new drug application for the development of its novel human recombinant protein, AT-100 (rhSP-D), as a treatment for COVID-19.

Even before Emergent disclosed that it had to discard 15 million doses of the J&J vaccine drug substance, FDA inspectors had uncovered multiple deficiencies and quality control issues.

The first revision further clarifies the number of doses per vial for the vials that are already available, while the second revision allows for the availability of an additional multi-dose vial.

Decontamination, automation, and containment are important considerations for aseptic manufacturing in isolators.

After Brexit there is an increased risk of the UK being exposed to counterfeit medicines, but regulations implementing blockchain as infrastructure technology could be the answer.

Concerns over vulnerability in the supply chain has increased pressure on FDA to renew site visits of domestic and foreign facilities.

Experts Steven J. Lynn, executive vice-president, Pharmaceuticals for Regulatory Compliance Associates, Inc., and Susan J. Schniepp, distinguished fellow for Regulatory Compliance Associates, Inc., provide simple answers to frequently asked questions regarding deviation investigations.

The White House’s American Jobs Plan includes investment in new technologies for rapid scale up of vaccine production, in expanded emergency production capacity and enhanced US infrastructure for biopreparedness, and in greater production onshore of APIs.

A slew of solid-dose drug recalls were issued over the course of 2020 and in early 2021 after nitrosamine contamination was found in products.

NICE has issued a positive recommendation for Sobi's Kineret (anakinra) to be used as a first-line biologic therapeutic option for Still’s disease.

EMA's CHMP has issued a positive opinion for Diurnal's second product in Europe, Chronocort (Efmody), to treat CAH.

The EC has approved Roche's treatment for 5q spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Evrysdi (risdiplam).

NICE has recommended carfilzomib in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (KRd) as a treatment for adult patients with multiple myeloma who have already had one previous therapy.

Celltrion Group has revealed that EMA's CHMP has issued a positive scientific opinion for regdanvimab (CT-P59)—an anti-COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment candidate.

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson revealed that EMA's CHMP has issued a positive opinion for Ponvory (ponesimod) for the treatment of RMS.

EMA has approved the manufacturing of drug product for BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2, at BioNTech’s manufacturing site located in Marburg, Germany.

The need for added revenues to fund billion-dollar infrastructure improvements has fueled challenges to industry pricing practices.