FDA Policy/General

Panel to Discuss Cardiac Device Infections

Federal Register Notice: FDA will hold a meeting of the Circulatory System Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee 6/2-3, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hilton Washington DC North/Gaithersburg, Grand Ballroom, 620 Perry Pkwy., Gaithersburg, MD. The committee will discuss recent reports and epidemiologic investigations of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections associated with the use of heater-cooler devices during cardiac surgical procedures. FDA will seek expert scientific and clinical opinion related to contamination of heater-cooler devices, associated patient infections, and mitigation strategies based on available scientific information. The committee will make recommendations on: (1) The effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection methods for heater-cooler devices; (2) the amount and type of premarket data and information needed to demonstrate validation of cleaning and disinfection of heater-cooler devices in support of labeling claims and technical instructions; (3) appropriate risk mitigations to be implemented by manufacturers of heater-cooler devices and/or hospital facilities to ensure patient safety during surgical procedures where these devices are used; and (4) appropriate guidelines and/or criteria based on a risk stratification schema for notifying patients who may have already been exposed to NTM during prior cardiac surgeries. Contact Evella Washington, (301) 796-5290, Evella.Washington@fda.hhs.gov. To view this notice, click here.

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