Parallel FDA/CMS Review Is Poised for Prime Time - But Is Anybody Biting?

The device industry has long complained about the lengthy, separate review times required to achieve FDA and CMS clearance. Finally, the two agencies are working together on a pilot program to make this process faster and more efficient. Industry's response: not so fast. Despite the apparent advantages parallel review can offer to product companies, industry has been cautious and slow to respond out of concern for protecting proprietary data and the possible need for more complex clinical studies. Parallel review may represent an example of regulators being ahead of industry in streamlining the regulatory process, and the burden will be on FDA and CMS to demonstrate the true value of this approach.