FDA takes steps to encourage more informative labeling on prescription drug and biological products' indications and usage
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a draft guidance to provide recommendations for consideration when drafting the Indications and Usage section of human drug and biological product labeling. The FDA regulations require the Indications and Usage section of drug labeling to state that the drug is indicated for the treatment, prevention, mitigation, cure or diagnosis of a disease or condition, or for the relief of the disease or condition’s symptoms.
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FDA approves first drug comprised of an active ingredient derived from marijuana to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Epidiolex (cannabidiol) [CBD] oral solution for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, in patients two years of age and older. This is the first FDA-approved drug that contains a purified drug substance derived from marijuana. It is also the first FDA approval of a drug for the treatment of patients with Dravet syndrome.
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FDA takes steps to foster greater efficiency in biosimilar development by reconsidering draft guidance on evaluating analytical studies
Today, the agency withdrew the draft guidance, "Statistical Approaches to Evaluate Analytical Similarity," issued in September 2017. The draft guidance, if finalized as written, was intended to provide advice for sponsors developing biosimilar products regarding the evaluation of analytical similarity between a proposed biosimilar product and a reference product. After considering public comments that the agency received about the draft guidance, the FDA determined it would withdraw the draft guidance as it gives further consideration to the scientific and regulatory issues involved.
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FDA takes action against 53 websites marketing unapproved opioids as part of a comprehensive effort to target illegal online sales
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that it has warned nine online networks, operating a total of 53 websites, that they must stop illegally marketing potentially dangerous, unapproved and misbranded versions of opioid medications, including tramadol and oxycodone.
Companies who fail to correct the violations, as outlined in the warning letters, may be subject to enforcement action, including product seizure or injunction.
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FDA approves first biosimilar to Neulasta to help reduce the risk of infection during cancer treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Fulphila (pegfilgrastim-jmdb) as the first biosimilar to Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) to decrease the chance of infection as suggested by febrile neutropenia (fever, often with other signs of infection, associated with an abnormally low number of infection-fighting white blood cells), in patients with non-myeloid (non-bone marrow) cancer who are receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy that has a clinically significant incidence of febrile neutropenia.
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FDA takes new steps to advance digital health, opening docket to solicit feedback on software products
Today, the FDA is opening a docket to solicit feedback on important provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act ("Cures Act"). The Cures Act amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to exclude certain medical software functions from the definition of a medical device. Under the Cures Act, Congress excluded specific types of software from FDA regulation, including general wellness software products, electronic patient records and more.
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FDA approves novel preventive treatment for migraine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Aimovig (erenumab-aooe) for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. The treatment is given by once-monthly self-injections. Aimovig is the first FDA-approved preventive migraine treatment in a new class of drugs that work by blocking the activity of calcitonin gene-related peptide, a molecule that is involved in migraine attacks.
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Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a draft guidance to provide recommendations for consideration when drafting the Indications and Usage section of human drug and biological product labeling. The FDA regulations require the Indications and Usage section of drug labeling to state that the drug is indicated for the treatment, prevention, mitigation, cure or diagnosis of a disease or condition, or for the relief of the disease or condition’s symptoms.