Regulatory Authority Actions

The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research seeks a more flexible system for assessing biotech product quality.

The industry reacts to the departure of Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

On February 3, 2015, the FDA published a notice in the Federal Register that it is soliciting input on the collection of data to support interchangeability claims in biosimilar applications.

FDA has approved Genetech’s Lucentis to treat retinopathy in patients with diabetic macular edema.

The agency releases guidance documents on Individual Patient Expanded Access Applications and disclosing risk information to patients.

Margaret Hamburg announced on Feb. 5, 2015 that she will step down as FDA Commissioner after serving in the position for almost six years.

FDA releases a Q&A with the Drug Shortage team leader from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

The cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer was approved more than two months ahead of the prescription drug user fee goal date.

The 2016 White House Budget proposes a change to the data exclusivity period for biologics and the authority to influence drug pricing.

FDA says it is “weighing the appropriate regulatory approach” to handle the tasks outlined by President Obama’s new Precision Medicine Initiative.

Manufacturers face new rules for tracing drugs through the supply chain and compounders face stricter standards.

EMA is under pressure to exert even tighter standards on biosimilars being marketed in Europe.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson announced FDA-approval of Evotaz and Prezcobix, combination HIV-1 infection treatments.

Dr. Robert Califf is appointed FDA Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco.

The agency creates an electronic central repository to facilitate drug safety assessment reports.

FDA guidance discusses factors to consider in evaluation of photosafety and describes nonclinical photosafety tests.

New drugs submitted for approval in Europe have 18 months to comply with new elemental impurities guidelines.

FDA’s Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee will meet in February to discuss the list of bulk drug substances that may or may not be compounded.

Cosentyx (secukinumab) is the first IL-17A inhibitor for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients.

FDA aims is to collect data regularly from manufacturers that will indicate the ability of a firm and its facilities to produce high-quality therapies on a continual, error-free basis.

The European Medicines Agency plans on sharing generic-drug assessment reports with regulators outside the European Union.

USP establishes Jan. 1, 2018 as the implementation date for its elemental impurities guidelines for existing drugs.

A guidance document published just before the Jan. 1, 2015 deadline adds a four-month grace period.

An FDA panel unanimously recommended the agency approve EP2006, Sandoz’s biosimilar for filgrastim.

The FDA center released a list of the guidance documents it plans to publish in 2015.