FDA Guidance Follows USP Salt Policy & Aims to Make Conversions Between Salt Forms Simpler
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published a draft guidance that outlines the “Naming of Drug Products Containing Salt Drug Substances” in accordance with the recently implemented USP...
Not a Bitter Pill to Swallow: FDA Releases Guidance on Size and Shape of Generic Drugs
In a Federal Register notice to be published on Dec. 10, 2013, FDA announced the release of a new guidance titled “Size, Shape and Other Physical Attributes of Generic Tablets and Capsules.” The...
FDA Proposes Controversial Rule Allowing ANDA Applicants to Change Drug Labels
On Nov. 13, 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register. The title of the Proposed Rule is “Supplemental Applications Proposing Labeling Changes for...
Waivers for Carcinogenicity Studies? Not So Fast!
The recently published request for comments regarding the Proposed Change to Rodent Carcinogenicity Testing of Pharmaceuticals signals intent by regulatory agencies to alter what Sponsors consider in...
FDA Releases New Guidance on Meetings with Sponsors of Biosimilars
On March 29, 2013, the FDA made available a draft guidance for Sponsors of biosimilar products outlining the procedures and processes for meetings with the FDA. Although much of guidance for the...
Generic Drug User Fee Act (GDUFA) Overview
FDA user fees have been a fact of life for regulated industries for nearly two decades. As you continue to comply by paying the fees, you should understand what the revenue does for you....
Extended Review Timeline for Certain Applications under Proposed PDUFA V
The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) is due to be reauthorized by the end of September this year. Along with the usual increases in fees, the latest version of the act (PDUFA V) includes some...
Label Changes Related to the QTc Interval
In a recent FDA Drug Safety Communication, the Agency announced that the Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) label now has revised dosing recommendations based on evaluations of post-marketing reports...
FDA Study Finds Lower Risk of Lung Cancer Among Menthol Smokers
In March 2011, the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee released a report on the impact of menthol on public health. Based on the committee’s review of all available evidence, they...
Cetero FDA Action
If your company has used Cetero Research's Houston facility to conduct bioanalytical studies between April 1, 2005 and June 15, 2010, your marketing applications may need to be repeated or confirmed....
GRAS List Substances: Background and Misconceptions
Although it is widely known that the acronym GRAS stands for “Generally Recognized as Safe”, many individuals believe that GRAS substances have been rigorously reviewed for safety and approved for...
You Do Have a Voice – The FDA Rulemaking Process
Did you know that the FDA Rulemaking Process allows for the public to comment before procedural and scientific requirements go into effect? This is the case for both the debut and amendments to...
FDA Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP)
The FDA’s homepage contains an item in the Public Health Focus section from the Office of Communications entitled “Don’t Use Expired Medicine.” Given this mandate, I recall from many years ago the...
Food and Cosmetic Ingredients that are also Excipients in Drug Products – OGD Policy
In a recent teleconference with senior officials in the Office of Generic Drugs (OGD) at the FDA, it was conveyed that it is the policy of OGD in determining the safety of excipients to rely...
Innovation vs. Safety: Another Definition for the “Chicken or the Egg”
We all know that the FDA’s mission is to promote and protect public health. However, in their effort to protect the public health, it seems that they may be inadvertently harming the industry that...
Citing the IIG as Evidence of Ingredient Safety Comes with Caveats
It has become common practice in developing drug formulations to consult the FDA's Inactive Ingredient Guide (IIG) to obtain information on "acceptable levels" of excipients used in previously...