Drugs

Public Citizen Wants Gabapentin Scheduled

Public Citizen is petitioning FDA and the Drug Enforcement Administration to open proceedings to place gabapentin (Almatica Pharma’s Gralise and Pfizer’s Neurontin) and gabapentin enacarbil (Arbor’s Horizant) into Schedule V of the Controlled Substances Act. The petition says scheduling the drugs is necessary because they have a “marked potential for abuse with serious consequences that include psychological effects, physical dependence, seizures, suicide, and overdose death.”

The petition says FDA has approved gabapentin to treat specific forms of epilepsy and neuropathic pain. Gabapentin enacarbil is approved for the treatment of primary restless legs syndrome and postherpetic neuralgia.

“There is now extensive evidence documenting the abuse potential of gabapentin and increasing misuse, abuse, and dependence of the drug,” Public Citizen says.

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