Regulatory Authority Actions

483s and Warning Letters Point to Inadequate Quality Oversight

Data and science must guide FDA in making pressure-filled COVID-19 vaccine and therapy approval decisions.

FDA can better monitor quality production of domestic versus foreign firms.

Phesgo is a fixed-dose-combination subcutaneous injection of Perjeta (pertuzumab) and Herceptin (trastuzumab) for treating HER2-positive breast cancer.

The complete response letter was issued for a biologics license application for Abicipar pegol, an investigational treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, based on FDA’s determination of an unfavorable benefit–risk ratio.

The guidance document provides recommendations regarding data needed for the manufacturing, development, and approval of a COVID-19 vaccine.

FDA is placing emphasis on developing guidance documents more quickly and efficiently, and agency officials expect that such approaches may continue in the future.

Members of the European Commission, EMA, and FDA met in a virtual two-day meeting to discuss ongoing joint initiatives and upcoming priorities.

The agency will be waiving fees for scientific advice for academia developing orphan drugs.

The guidance document provides recommendations for CGMP expectations to prevent contamination of drugs and exclude sick workers from participating in drug manufacturing.

FDA has revoked its Emergency Use Authorization hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, citing new evidence and reanalysis of earlier data confirming that the drugs show no evidence of effectiveness against the coronavirus and raise continued concerns about cardiovascular safety risks.

The guidance provides recommendations on statistical considerations to address the impact of COVID-19 on meeting trial objectives for clinical trials conducted during the pandemic.

The International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities met again on June 12 to discuss policy approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report highlights agency’s accomplishments in 2019, including its relocation to Amsterdam.

Citing clinical trial data that hydroxychloroquine did not show benefits for COVID-19 patients, FDA removes emergency use authorization for the drug as a treatment for the novel coronavirus.

The agency published guidance to clarify its enforcement of distribution of drug samples for drug marketing during COVID-19.

The 120-day pilot program was set up to help reduce the availability of unapproved opioids illegally offered for sale online.

The agency has added a COVID-19 innovation resource page and an education resources page to its website.

The European Commission is pledging EUR 300 million (US$339 million) to Gavi for vaccines for infectious diseases, in addition to an earlier pledge of more than EUR 1.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) made on May 4, 2020.

The protocol on Northern Ireland (NI) once Brexit has been completed has received mixed opinions in industry, according to various press releases.

Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies has received a positive opinion in Europe for its two-dose Ebola vaccine regimen.

FDA and the US Congress support innovation and access to cheaper medicines.

The White House looks to bring in credible experts for its Operation Warp Speed initiative to advance therapies and vaccines to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Biopharmaceutical companies and federal agencies have been working overtime and assuming considerable risk to be able to supply billions of doses of any safe and effective preventive.

The International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities held a virtual meeting of regulators from around the world to discuss policy issues and regulatory requirements to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The EU Executive Steering Group on Shortages of Medicines Caused by Major Events met on May 13, 2020 to discuss measures the European Union is taking to ensure the availability of medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The European Medicines Agency is emphasizing the need for the research community to pool resources to determine which COVID-19 treatments and preventions are safe and effective.

A temporary restraining order was entered against Xephyr LLC, doing business as N-Ergetics requiring the company to immediately stop distributing colloidal silver products.

The CHMP has issued a recommendation that the compassionate use of remdesivir be expanded in the treatment of more patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Some observers fear that political interference in the process may erode confidence in the scientific basis for FDA regulatory decisions.