Tag Archives: Food and Drug Administration
Mass Gift Ban Repeal Efforts Fizzle
An effort in the Massachusetts legislature to repeal the state’s ban on many gifts to healthcare providers has failed. The year-old ban is considered one of the most restrictive in the country, banning restaurant meals, various gifts and requiring reporting on transfers of value above $50.
“This repeal effort was started by legislators concerned that the [...]
Posted in Legal Also tagged business, Health care, health insurance, Law, Massachusetts, Prescription drug, United States 1 Comment
Merck KGaA MS Drug on the Fast Track
Merck KGaA received word July 25 that its application for the multiple sclerosis treatment Cladribine had received priority review status by FDA, decreasing the evaluation period from 10 months to six months, and closing the gap between Merck and the competition.
“This is a critical milestone on the path to potential approval for short-course therapy with [...]
Posted in Strategy Also tagged Cladribine, EMD Serono, Fereydoun Firouz, Gilenia, Merck KGaA, Merck Serono, Multiple Sclerosis, Novartis Leave a comment
Advisory Panel Rejects Avastin For Breast Cancer Treatment
An FDA advisory panel on Tuesday voted 12–1 to discontinue Avastin (bevacizumab) as a treatment for advanced breast cancer due to post-market studies stating that the treatment does not to increase patient lifespan by any significant length of time.
This is a huge problem for Roche who purchased the treatment as part of its merger with [...]
Posted in FDA, Safety Also tagged Avastin, Bevacizumab, Breast cancer, Cancer, Chemotherapy, Clinical trial, Genentech, Roche 1 Comment
Weight-Loss Drug Qnexa Loses in FDA Committee Ruling
Vivus’ Qnexa may help in weight loss, but it also now risks losing its place in the market following FDA’s Advisory Committee’s ruling July 15. The panel of medical experts did not question the effectiveness of the drug, but rather voiced its concerns over safety of the medication.
The FDA’s Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee [...]
Posted in FDA, Safety Also tagged Anti-obesity medication, Drug, FDA, Fen-phen, Health, Qnexa, Weight loss 3 Comments

Feds Threaten to Pull ProAmatine for Lack of Postmarket Data (Updated 8/18)