Drugs

Fire CDER, OGD Directors: Members of Congress

Thirteen Republican members of the House are calling on HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to consider laying off CDER director George Tidmarsh, Office of Generic Drugs director Kathleen Uhl, and other agency staffers responsible for the recent approval of a generic form of the medical abortion drug mifepristone. In a 10/3 letter to Kennedy, the 13 say that approval of generic mifepristone was “particularly alarming given that just weeks prior, on 9/19, you publicly announced that FDA would undertake a thorough review of the safety of the abortion pill. Data indicate that the abortion pill poses significant risks to women’s health, and it always ends the life of an unborn child.”

In calling for considering Tidmarsh, Uhl, and others for reduction-in-force actions under the government shutdown, the Congress members said it is “clear that rogue actors within FDA are working to undermine both the sanctity of life and the administration’s commitment to protecting it.”

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