United States

Green Pharmaceuticals’ SnoreStop Nasal Spray, previously marketed as “NasoSpray,” still is available even though agency officials on multiple occasions for a month recommended a recall after an April inspection found “gross microbial contamination” in one lot.

Avoiding disaster at the beginning of the pandemic and offering a pro-active supply chain blueprint should position the generics industry well for an onshoring debate in Congress, but a look back at March 2020 is a reminder that even small policy shifts can have a big impact.

Teva and Biocon Biologics have become the latest firms to sign up to the Biosimilars Forum industry association in the US.

Amneal has marked its entry into China after receiving its first product approval in the market. Meanwhile, the firm has also outlined US approvals for two generics currently suffering from shortages.

After US President Joe Biden launched a review of the country’s API supply chain, the task force has reported back with key vulnerabilities that contribute to drug shortages and supply risks during a global public health emergency. According to the report, the lack of geographic diversity and dependence on foreign nations and anti-competitive actions by foreign nations are key areas of concern.

Biocon Biologics has announced the latest milestone in its integration of former partner Viatris’s biosimilars business, completing the move in the US and Canada “ahead of schedule.”

Formycon and partner Bioeq have offered further details on timing for the submission of their FYB201 proposed ranibizumab biosimilar version of Lucentis in Europe, the US and elsewhere.

 To increase transparency and affordability, American billionaire and businessman Mark Cuban has launched a US generics venture under the name ‘the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs Company.’ Cuban’s new company is hoping to introduce over 100 drugs by the end of 2021 and build a pharmaceutical factory of its own by 2022. 

Teva has launched the first US generic version of Absorica (isotretinoin), expanding its dermatological portfolio. The company has also launched generic erythromycin tablets in the US. Meanwhile, in its recent environmental, social and governance progress report, Teva has launched a plan to increase access to medicines globally by 2025.

A fresh executive order from US president Joe Biden calls for short-term and long-term study, broad consultation, and co-ordination with allies on the domestic supply chain.

The generics firm essentially paid the brand to keep its product off the market, FTC alleges in case about Opana ER litigation. Endo considered bringing back its original formulation of oxymorphone but instead reached agreement with Impax to share profits of its generic, antitrust suit claims.

A draft guidance document opened for comment by the FDA offers additional Q&As on issues around biosimilar applications and interchangeability.

US off-patent industry association the AAM has welcomed the prospect of working with the incoming Biden-Harris administration, emphasizing that there is “more to be done” to improve generic and biosimilar utilization and uptake.

In what could amount to a de facto enforcement mechanism, the new draft guidance also “strongly encourages” sponsors to share details about their diversity action plan and enrollment goals with the public.

With the deadline for comments on the US FDA’s draft guidance less than a month away, the Pink Sheet offers an infographic outlining what the agency is expecting in diversity action plans and when that might be implemented.

Stay up to date on regulatory guidelines from around the world with the Pink Sheet's Guidance Tracker. The complete Global Pharma Guidance Tracker, with sortable and searchable listings going back to 2014, is available online.

Stay current on regulatory guidelines from around the world with Medtech Insight's Guidance Tracker. Over 40 documents have been posted on the tracker since its last update.

US FDA has greenlighted Senseonics’ Eversense 365 continuous glucose monitor, which must be replaced just once a year. Capable of being integrated with compatible insulin pumps as part of an automated insulin delivery system, the fully implantable device lasts 185 days longer than the Eversense E3 sensor and far outstrips competing CGMs, which last only for 10-14 days.

The Pink Sheet Drug Review Profile explores the US FDA’s approval of vadadustat to treat anemia in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis. A complete response letter cited the risk of drug-induced liver injury, but postmarketing data from Japan reassured reviewers.

An effort to change the US Food and Drug Administration’s conclusion that its obesity treatment candidate retatrutide is a drug and not a biologic could give the product more time with unrestricted pricing in Medicare, among other benefits.