Drugs

API Deviations Found at India’s Sal Pharma

A 6/27-7/1/16 FDA inspection at Sal Pharma, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, found significant deviations from current good manufacturing practices for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), according to a 4/30 Warning Letter. Specific deviations included:

failing to transfer all quality or regulatory information received from the API manufacturer to the company’s customers; and
failing to relabel and hold API under appropriate CGMP controls.

The agency strongly recommends that the company engage a consultant qualified to evaluate its operations and assist it in meeting CGMP requirements. It also notes that the firm’s itraconazole and iansoprazole API labels identify Sal Pharma but do not designate the firm’s role and thus falsely represent that Sal Pharma is the sole drug manufacturer. Thus, the two products are misbranded because the labels are false and misleading.

FDA placed Sal on import alert 2/15/17. The company was told to respond with a list of specific steps taken since the inspection to correct the deviations and prevent their recurrence.

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

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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