Drugs

Advisors Recommend KemPharm’s Apadaz

Members of the FDA Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee voted 16-4 to recommend the safety and efficacy of KemPharm’s Apadaz (benzhydrocodone/acetaminophen oral tablets) for an indication of short-term (up to 14 days) management of acute pain. During the committee meeting, FDA asked the advisors to vote on whether data submitted by the company support a labeling claim that Apadaz is an abuse-deterrent product. On an 18-2 vote, committee members said Apadaz should not be labeled as abuse-deterrent. They acknowledged that the available data suggest the potential for a marginal benefit in preventing abuse via the intranasal route and encouraged the company to continue studying the drug’s abuse-deterrent properties to acquire data that in the future could reach the standards needed for a labeling claim.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

Read more

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome