FDA Policy/General

Panel to Discuss OTC Diagnostic Tests

Federal Register Notice: FDA will hold a meeting of the Microbiology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee 8/16, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at FDA White Oak Campus, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 31 Conference Center, the Great Room (Rm. 1503), Silver Spring, MD. The committee will discuss and make recommendations regarding the appropriateness of clearing or approving of over-the-counter (OTC) diagnostic tests for the detecting pathogens causing infectious diseases, focusing on respiratory and sexually transmitted infections. Currently, there are no OTC diagnostic tests for infectious diseases cleared or approved by CDRH. The committee will evaluate the risks and benefits to individual patients and to public health associated with clearing or approving OTC diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. Serious risks such as false negative results, false positive results, patient loss to medical followup, and the impact on surveillance of reportable infections will be addressed. Potential benefits such as reduction of infection transmission and increased access to testing will be discussed as well. The committee will also make recommendations on clinical study design, analytical study design, and acceptable performance criteria applicable to respiratory and STI diagnostic devices. To view this notice, click here.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

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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

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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