• where experts go to learn about FDA
  • Miscellaneous

    • It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Super-Lawyer! (Actually, 4 of Them!)March 12th, 2008

      Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. (“HPM”) is happy to announce that 4 of the firm’s attorneys have been named Super Lawyers in the Washington, D.C., area.  The March 2008 edition of Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers identifies 17 Super Lawyers from the Food and Drug Bar.  …

    • President Bush Proposes FY2009 FDA Budget; Follow-On Biologics and New User Fee Legislation on Tap for 2008, as Well as Plans to Resurrect FDAAA DTC TV Ad User Fee ProgramFebruary 5th, 2008

      On February 4, 2008, FDA announced that the Bush Administration is requesting nearly $2.4 billion ($1.77 billion in budget authority and $628 million in user fees) for the Agency as part of the Fiscal Year 2009 budget.  Of particular interest in the proposed FY2009 budget …

    • Hot & Bothered – Congress Sends Out Yet Another Missive Concerning FDAJanuary 31st, 2008

      Over the past few weeks, Congress has taken an acute interest in a broad range of FDA issues and FDA-regulated products, penning several letters and holding or expressing intent to hold hearings and investigations on various matters.  Below is a list of recent congressional activity: On …

    • D.C. Council Passes SafeRx Act; Requires Licensing of Pharma DetailersJanuary 11th, 2008

      On January 8, 2008, the District of Columbia Council passed the SafeRx Act of 2007 (“Act”), which requires pharmaceutical detailers to be licensed by the Board of Pharmacy.  The Act will be presented to Mayor Adrian Fenty for his signature and then to Congress if …

    • HPM Holds Medical Device Seminar in California – Register Today!January 9th, 2008

      On February 8, 2008, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. (“HPM”) is sponsoring a Medical Device Seminar in Newport Beach, California.  The topic of this seminar will be “Striving for Regulatory Success in a Changing Environment.”  Scheduled speakers for the seminar are Jeff Gibbs, Brian Donato, …

    • Seventh Circuit Rules That FTC Act Does Not Require Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Testing for Consumer ProductsJanuary 7th, 2008

      Last week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit concluded that the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC Act”) does not require placebo-controlled, double-blind testing for consumer products.  The ruling, issued in Federal Trade Commission v. QT Inc., upheld a decision by the …

    • The Lighter Side of Food & Drug Law – “I WAS CONVICTED OF VIOLATING THE FDCA”November 1st, 2007

      In our second installment of the “Lighter Side” (our first post is available here) we pass along to you an article from The Birmingham News, which reported on a comical case of a “shaming penalty” the CEO of a medical device company agreed to as …

    • HHS OIG Announces FY 2008 Work Plan; 9 New FDA Studies Identified, Including Clinical Trial Oversight and Off-Label PromotionOctober 30th, 2007

      The Department of Health and Human Services’ (“DHHS”) Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) recently announced its Fiscal Year 2008 Work Plan.  The OIG Work Plan, issued annually, sets forth various projects to be addressed during the coming fiscal year by the Office of Counsel to …

    • HPM Announces New Of CounselAugust 26th, 2007

      Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. is pleased to announce that J.P. Ellison has joined the firm as Of Counsel.  Mr. Ellison joins HPM from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Consumer Litigation (“OCL”).  By regulation, OCL has responsibility for representing the FDA, Federal Trade …

    • House Passes FDA Appropriations Bill With Drug Importation ProvisionAugust 6th, 2007

      Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3161, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008.  The bill, which, among other things, funds FDA’s discretionary spending for the upcoming fiscal year, “fully funds the …

    • Big Steps Ahead for the Nanotech IndustryAugust 1st, 2007

      Last week, FDA announced the publication of a report by the Agency’s Nanotechnology Task Force (“NTF”) that recommends that FDA develop guidance and take other steps to address regulatory and scientific issues related to nanotechnology.  Nanotechnology is an emerging field of applied science and technology …

    • The Lighter Side of Food & Drug LawJuly 30th, 2007

      Every so often something comes across our desk that is so comical that we feel compelled to share it with others in the food and drug community who will also appreciate it.  One such story comes from a case involving Biovail and FDA in the …

    • HPM Attorneys Present on False Claims Act Compliance StrategiesJuly 19th, 2007

      On Tuesday, July 17th, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara attorneys Michelle Butler and Jeff Wasserstein gave a teleconference, titled “False Claims Act Compliance Strategies: Don’t Lose Access to Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement.”  Audio copies of the teleconference, along with a transcript of the witty, yet thoughtful, …

    • Bridging the Transatlantic Divide – FDA Announces Expanded Cooperation With European Food and Drug AuthoritiesJuly 18th, 2007

      Increasing cooperation between U.S. and European food and drug regulatory authorities are creating efficiencies for regulated industries and that benefit the public health.  In two recent press releases, FDA announced that the European Medicines Agency (“EMEA”) has agreed to expand current regulatory cooperation with the …

    • House Passes Omnibus FDA Reform BillJuly 12th, 2007

      Late Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed, by a vote of 403-16, H.R. 2900, “the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007.”  The Senate passed its version of omnibus FDA reform legislation in May 2007 — S. 1082, “the Food and Drug Administration Revitalization …