Regulatory Oversight and Compliance

FDA issued a public statement and press release, along with a sharp warning letter rebuking AcelRx Pharmaceuticals for its messaging on painkiller Dsuvia.

The European Medicines Agency announced it has started a review of drugs that contain amfepramone due to concerns that include heart problems and high blood pressure in the lungs.

FDA published recommendations on the use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma or investigational convalescent plasma during the pandemic.

The EC has granted marketing authorization to Celltrion Healthcare for its adalimumab biosimilar, Yuflyma (CT-P17).

The company has pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by failing to provide certain records to FDA investigators and will pay a criminal fine of $30 million, and forfeit an additional $20 million.

Scientists and policy makers are looking more sharply at the lag in identifying and producing medicines to moderate early infections and to treat seriously ill patients.

The EC has granted Vico Therapeutics with orphan drug designation for its investigational antisense oligonucleotide therapy for the treatment of SCA.

The EUA is based on positive results from a Phase III trial that showed bamlanivimab and etesevimab together reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations and death by 70%.

EMA has clarified its position on the European approval process of the Sputnik V vaccine.

Pharma companies find ways to maintain quality standards, despite pandemic-related restrictions.

The cell therapy will be manufactured for each individual patient at BMS’ immunotherapy manufacturing facility in Bothell, WA, and will be launched across a network of treatment centers.

The selection of a new FDA commissioner has become a contentious issue in Washington, as the White House delays a decision and interest groups line up behind competing candidates.

FDA sent a warning letter to Allay Pharmaceuticals for inadequate written procedures; inadequate out-of-specification testing; inadequate stability testing; and inadequate quality control oversight.

Representatives of industry organizations discuss crucial business, regulatory, science-based issues facing the industry.

The agency is developing guidance to help manufacturers make changes to existing COVID-19 vaccines to treat new variants in the coronavirus.

FDA considers regulatory flexibility to allow the agency and sponsors to adapt and pivot to changes in coronavirus.

FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet on Feb. 26, 2021 to discuss the request for emergency use authorization for Janssen Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

This article provides an overview of the key risks that can be associated with the use of secondary reference standards (RS) and illustrates scientific challenges associated with transitioning from pharmacopeial RS to secondary RS.

Accelerated drug development timelines must accommodate all crucial elements of nonclinical safety studies.

FDA puts applications on hold as the agency limits alternative oversight methods.

The EC intends to get tougher on issues such as reliability of drug supplies, particularly essential medicines.

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 regulatory inspections, although many of the concepts can be applied to internal and supplier audits as well.

With appropriate planning and the proper use of technology, remote auditing can be as effective and informative as in-person auditing.

With Democrats controlling Congress and the White House, expectations are high that policy makers will revise certain coverage and payment policies.

The European Medicines Agency has recommended granting conditional marketing authorization for AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine.

FDA published guidance that includes risk-based recommendations for minimizing the potential transmission of COVID-19.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued the first safety update on a COVID-19 vaccine—Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine).

Clinical material for a Theratechnologies product in development will be produced at PPS’ manufacturing facility in Lexington, KY.

Woodcock will serve as acting commissioner of FDA, taking over for Stephen Hahn, FDA’s previous acting commissioner.

Verquvo is a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator for the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization in adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure.