Regulation & Policy

EMA launches clinical trial registry

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency has launched an online registry which, for the first time, gives the public access to information on interventional clinical trials in the European Union that heretofore has only been available to the regulatory authorities in the member states.

EMA reminds former executive director of restrictions

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency’s management board has taken the unusual step of reminding its former executive director, Thomas Lönngren, of restrictions that apply to his professional activities for two years following his departure.

CHMP starts safety reviews of three medicines

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicine Agency’s main scientific committee has started safety reviews of three marketed medicines following reports of adverse events. The medicines are Revlimid, Vivaglobin and pioglitazone-containing drugs.

CHMP gives positive opinions to four medicines

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicine Agency’s main scientific committee has issued positive opinions for three new medicines, including a new oral contraceptive. In addition, it has given a positive assessment to a C1 inhibitor that is similar to a marketed product.

EMA and FDA to collaborate on quality assessments

The European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration have announced plans to increase the efficiency of the drug regulatory process by evaluating, in parallel, the quality components of certain new drug applications.

FDA takes action against McNeil-PPC on GMP violations

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration announced that it has taken action against the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, McNeil-PPC, for failing to comply with current good manufacturing practice requirements at three sites.

FDA approves Benlysta for lupus

Country
United States

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced the approval of Benlysta (belimumab) to treat patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. It is the first new drug to be approved for this disease since 1955. The developers are GSK and Human Genome Sciences.

FDA panel recommends Novartis’s bronchodilator

Country
United States

An advisory panel of the US Food and Drug Administration has recommended approval of Novartis’s indacaterol as the first once-daily, long-term maintenance bronchodilator treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ECJ strikes down proposed patent court

Country
Belgium

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has struck down a proposal from member states of the European Union to create a new, unified jurisdiction for the litigation of patent disputes saying the proposal is incompatible with the EU treaties.

AZ and BMS get label update for diabetes drug

Country
United Kingdom

AstraZeneca Plc and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co have won a label update in Europe and the US for their Type 2 diabetes drug, Onglyza (saxagliptin), for adults with Type 2 diabetes who have moderate or severe renal impairment.