On April 7, 2020, FDA released a Q&A on manufacturing and supply change requests related to COVID-19 and drug shortages. In this Q&A, FDA provided the following guidance: Manufacturing site changes because of supply chain disruptions related to COVID-19 – If the site change is for treatment of patients with COVID-19 or for drugs […]
The COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the world and companies and regulators are working hard to keep up with the increased demand for drugs and devices to treat the disease. Certain products used to treat COVID-19 patients are at risk of shortage due to this increased demand. Most notably, in the EU (which is a few […]
Oftentimes, we hear startling statistics that make us shiver and can cause a knee jerk reaction. Much has been written about the quantity of drugs that come from overseas, and the push for moving manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and finished dosage forms (FDF) back into the U.S. While bringing jobs back to the […]
The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) issued a revised guidance describing its policy on enforcement strategy for public personal use and filtered healthcare professional face masks titled Enforcement Policy for Face Masks and Respirators During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (here). The CDRH says the relaxed policy will remain in effect […]
My eyes almost popped out of my head when I read this article (here) concerning FDA’s move to place hydroxychloroquine in Category 1 for use by compounders based on a potential drug shortage created mostly by the administration’s hope that the drug may have some effect on COVID 19. It is one thing to use […]
March 2020 has got to go down in the history books as one of the most disruptive months of the last forty-four years (that is how long I have been in the pharmaceutical arena). COVID-19 is running rampant across the country. Many states are in lockdown and social distancing seems to be the new norm. […]
On Tuesday March 24, 2020, Prime Minister Narenda Modi of India ordered an extensive lockdown of all of its 1.3 billion residents. “There will be a total ban of coming out of your homes,’’ Mr. Modi said. “Every district, every lane, every village will be under lockdown,’’ he said. “If you can’t handle these 21 […]
Remember the days when the biggest concern that both consumers and the pharmaceutical industry had was about potential contamination of medications by nitrosamines? Just a few weeks ago, rumors were flying around fast and furiously among patient groups on social media, firms were issuing recalls of numerous medications, and regulators were involved in issuing policies […]
Another FDA Guidance entitled Policy for Certain REMS Requirements During the COVID19 Public Health Emergency (here) provides another look into the complexity of the questions and the situations that arise when we are in the throes of a public health emergency (PHE) and the interplay of existing FDA requirements in addressing urgent need during the […]
The guidances related to this COVID 19 pandemic (and I guess in preparation for the next one) are flying off the printers at the Agency. The FDA issued this Guidance directly with no public comment on March 20, 2020. It takes into consideration the potential impact of the pandemic on staffing level that may interfere […]
