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OTC Monograph Legislation Clears Another Hurdle Despite Exclusivity Concerns

 
• By Malcolm Spicer

Democrats' opposition to the length of the exclusivity allowed for some new monograph products didn't stop them from voting to send US OTC monograph overhaul legislation on for a vote by the full House. House/Senate differences and some members' questions on whether new exclusivity is needed could make it harder for reforms to pass this year.

House Energy and Commerce Committee support for legislation to overhaul FDA's OTC monograph drug process is unanimous even though the same can't be said for the bill's proposed 18-month exclusivity period for some products approved under the revised program.

Some Democratic members of the committee question the length of the proposed exclusivity period while others oppose any new exclusivity at all. Nonetheless, they joined with committee Republicans in a May 9 vote in favor of the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act of 2018, H.R. 5333, sending it on to the House floor for a vote. The Senate version of monograph reform – proposing a two-year exclusivity period – is pending for a full Senate vote

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EU Wants Industry To Define ‘Trade Secrets’ Under Health Data Sharing Regulation

 
• By Eliza Slawther

The European Health Data Space Regulation is deliberately “vague” when it comes to defining trade secrets because the EU wants the pharma industry to make recommendations on safeguarding intellectual property, a policy officer for the European Commission says.

EU Pharma Reform: Exclusivity Vouchers Alone Are Insufficient Incentive For Antimicrobials, Industry Says

 
• By Eliza Slawther

European pharma trade associations EFPIA and EUCOPE outline their respective views on how the EU’s pharma legislation overhaul should tackle antimicrobial resistance, and why transferable exclusivity vouchers alone will not suffice as incentives.

Switzerland Simplifies Imports Of Unauthorized Drugs To Tackle Drug Shortages

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Swiss authorities have introduced temporary measures that will make it easier for health care professionals to import medicines that are either not authorized or not available in Switzerland, which will particularly benefit pediatric drugs, in light of ongoing shortages.

EU ‘Can’t Expect Industry To Give Up Proprietary Insights’ Under Health Data & Clinical Trials Regulations

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Both the EU Clinical Trials Regulation and the European Health Data Space Regulation have the potential to improve harmonization and be highly valuable for industry – but the importance of protecting company data will be paramount, a life sciences consultant says.

More from Pink Sheet

EU Wants Industry To Define ‘Trade Secrets’ Under Health Data Sharing Regulation

 
• By Eliza Slawther

The European Health Data Space Regulation is deliberately “vague” when it comes to defining trade secrets because the EU wants the pharma industry to make recommendations on safeguarding intellectual property, a policy officer for the European Commission says.

Safety Review Prompts EMA to Suspend Ixchiq Chikungunya Vaccine For Seniors

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

The European Medicines Agency is investigating whether Valneva’s Ixchiq is safe to use in the elderly, following reports of 17 serious adverse events, including two cases resulting in death, in people aged 62 to 89 years who received the vaccine. This follows actions by US and French authorities last month regarding Ixchiq’s use in people over 65.

US FDA’s Expanded Surprise Foreign Inspections: Impact And Enforcement Hoops

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

As the US FDA expands unannounced foreign inspections building on pilots in India and China, experts expect higher scrutiny of overseas sites and perhaps even an industry shakeout in the longer term, though staffing and enforcement challenges could slow things down.