Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said today that the FDA approved its investigational device exemption application for a study to evaluate its In.Pact Admiral drug-coated balloon in patients with end-stage renal disease. The Fridley, Minn.-based company said that its study will compare its DCB to plain balloon angioplasty as a treatment for failing arteriovenous fistulas. The primary efficacy endpoint […]
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
FDA delays final guidance plans for laboratory developed tests
By Stewart Eisenhart, Emergo Group US medical device regulators at the Food and Drug Administration have put on hold plans to publish final guidance regarding laboratory developed tests (LDTs) in order to develop a more appropriate oversight approach, according to the agency. The opinions expressed in this blog post are the author’s only and do […]
FDA approves 2mg Narcan nasal spray for opioid overdose treatment
Adapt Pharma said today that the FDA approved the 2mg formulation of its Narcan nasal spray for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. The 2mg dose is intended for opioid-dependent patients that are at risk for severe withdrawal, but are not at a high risk for continued opioid exposure. The approval comes 1 year after […]
Vectura wins IND for drug-device combo for pediatric asthma
Vectura said yesterday that the FDA approved an Investigational New Device application for its drug-device combination to treat asthma in children 12 months to 8 years old. The UK-based company’s device, VR647, uses the Akita Jet nebulizer for the delivery of nebulized budesonide. Vectura’s drug-device combination product provides faster delivery time and better lung deposition of budesonide, […]
Statement from FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D. announcing FDA Oncology Center of Excellence launch
Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is establishing the Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) and appointing Dr. Richard Pazdur as its director. This will make oncology the first disease area to have a coordinated clinical review of drugs, biologics and devices across the agency’s three medical product centers. The FDA is taking important steps to formalize […]
NantKwest launches clinical trial for natural killer cells
NantKwest Inc. (NSDQ:NK) said yesterday that the FDA approved an Investigational New Drug Application for its natural killer cell therapy phase I clinical study. The company is evaluating its genetically engineered, allogenic natural killer cell therapy in patients with cancer. The study, which NantKwest touts as the 1st of its kind, will determine the safety […]
Ocular Therapeutix resubmits NDA for Dextenza
Ocular Therapeutix (NSDQ:OCUL) said today that it resubmitted a New Drug Application to the FDA for its post-surgical ocular pain reliever. The hydrogel plug, inserted into a patient’s tear duct, is designed to deliver a sustained dose of dexamethasone over 4 weeks following opthalmic surgery. The Bedford, Mass.-based company has had trouble gaining regulatory approval for the […]
FDA Advisory Committees: Independent, Informed, Essential, and Evolving
By: Robert M. Califf, M.D. One of the most common concerns raised when I meet with medical leaders is the need to improve the function of FDA’s Advisory Committees (ACs). ACs play a key role in FDA’s decision-making process by providing independent expert advice on extraordinarily complex issues. Just as importantly, they offer a forum […]
Introducing IMEDS, a public-private resource for evidence generation
By: Robert M. Califf, M.D. FDA has been working to establish a national resource for FDA-approved medical products that can be used by public and private-sector entities, including regulated industry, to conduct large scale evaluations of safety issues in an environment that is secure and protects patient privacy. These evaluations include epidemiologic studies of medical […]
Pulmatrix shares soar after winning FDA designation
Pulmatrix (NSDQ:PULM) shares were up 159% to $1.79 apiece in mid-afternoon trading today after the company announced that its drug candidate for treating fungal infections in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients was designated as a ‘qualified infectious disease product’ by the FDA. With the designation, the Lexington, Mass.-based company will receive 5 years of […]
