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
This week’s FDA guidance on the conduct of clinical trials involving cannabis and its derivatives reminds the developers of two critical aspects of the regulation of such products by the FDA and confirms the associated regulatory processes. First, cannabis products containing greater that 0.3 percent delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are still federally regulated as controlled substances … Read more
The FDA recently released an updated clinical protocol template designed for electronic documentation practices. This update provides additional instructions and suggestions for the various elements of clinical protocols to harmonize information needed for electronic information exchanges such as clinical trial registries. The template can be used for all stages of clinical trials for drugs, biologics, … Read more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently updated its guidance for advertisements for dietary supplements to define several terms commonly used for such products and specify compliance expectations for the supporting information for health claims. The guidance formalizes about 25 years of FTC enforcement actions based on these expectations and is a must-read for dietary supplement … Read more
