Prahsant Kumar

A couple of weeks back Pfizer announced that it is dropping about 3500 patients recruited to its Phase 3 clinical trial for a vaccine for Lyme disease due to GCP compliance issues related to its “clinical trial site operator”, Care Access. This is not normal; rather this is likely the only incidence of its kind … Read more

Under the drug pricing competition provisions of the US regulations, for the last few years FDA has implemented several programs to encourage multiple manufacturers for each generic drug product. However, these efforts are limited to the finished product manufacturers only and not to the ingredient suppliers. Lack of competition for API manufacturing creates a vulnerability … Read more

The review by IRBs of clinical protocols is a well-recognized measure to assure protection of clinical trial participants all over the world. Per the regulations, IRBs hold a very important place in assuring ethical conduct of clinical trials, and act as surrogates to the FDA for oversight of clinical trial conduct. But are the IRBs … Read more

FDA approval of a new drug is often touted as a gold standard for regulatory approval for that drug. However, about 50% of the times, regulators in Canada, Europe, Australia and the United Kingdom, rejected the approval of that same drugs due to insufficient benefit or unreasonable risk. Most of the drugs rejected by other … Read more

A new Guidance released this week describes the clinical testing requirements for products intended for treating neonatal diseases. Specifically, the guidance requires 2 years safety studies for neurologic, sensory, and developmental evaluations of new drugs, biologics or medical devices. While the guidance is obviously well-intentioned, it does raise doubts about the feasibility of such studies … Read more

All submissions made to the FDA by an organization are reviewed and tallied to previous submissions made by the same organization, person, locations and other identifiers. The FDA keeps track of all submissions and any deficiencies identified are tracked as well to assure that non-compliance is addressed. Occasionally events happen that demonstrate this fact. Between … Read more

In its fifth annual report, FDA’s Oncology Center for Excellence (OCE) listed its expectations for modernizing oncology clinical trials. In its sixth year of operations, the OCE wants to move beyond the work it has accomplished so far and focus on patient and physician perspectives for oncology drugs in clinical trials or available currently in … Read more

Last year FDA inspections were down about 20% compared to years prior to 2019, and food facility inspections accounted for more inspections than all other facilities combined. The most common finding at drug and device manufacturing facilities was SOPs not present or not followed. There are a few other important aspects of FDA audits that … Read more

Starting this month, FDA’s staff will return to their offices in White Oak, outside Washington DC, to a hybrid work-schedule reversing earlier indications from FDA leaders that work from home may become permanent. While it may seem like a big change in the post-pandemic world, it is not. FDA staff have maintained hybrid work schedules … Read more

Clinical trial sponsors are required to create and implement trial-specific “Race and Ethnicity Diversity Plan” for patient recruitment intended to promote diversity of the subject populations in all stages of their clinical trials. However, these plans have had limited impact on most clinical trials as shown by review of the patient populations included in clinical … Read more