1. Pink Sheet
  2. >>Drug Safety

Asleep At The Switch? FDA’s TIRF REMS May Not Be A Model After All

 
• By Michael McCaughan

The recent US advisory committee review of the Transmucosal Immediate-Release Fentanyl REMS program is important as another marker of the fraught climate around prescription opioid abuse. But it may have broader implications for the future of drug safety regulation and the REMS model.

The unusual level of attention around an FDA advisory committee review of the “TIRF REMS” – the drug safety program for transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl formulations – reflects the ongoing political peril for the agency when it comes to issues of prescription drug abuse.

But for most biopharma companies, the more important message may be in watching whether the concerns about the program undo efforts to make Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies more user-friendly...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Drug Safety

MAHA Commission Outlines Enhanced Research On Drug Safety In Children

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Research would include initiatives on reproducing industry-sponsored studies, postmarket surveillance, and studies of long-term neurodevelopmental and metabolic outcomes for commonly prescribed pediatric drugs.

US FDA Will Help States Apply To Import Cheaper Drugs From Canada

 
• By Cathy Kelly

The FDA is not currently signaling that stringent rules for the process will be relaxed, but the agency's change in approach is notable.

International Group Aims To Shape The Inevitable Future Of AI In Pharmacovigilance

 
• By Urtė Fultinavičiūtė

Pharmacovigilance is a perfect rule-based and manual work-intensive playground for experimenting with AI. While some off-patent drug firms are already exploring new automation tools, regulation is lagging behind, leaving a gap for uncertainty.

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.

More from Pink Sheet

Non-User Fee Dollars Increased In US FDA’s Updated FY 2026 Budget Request

 
• By Derrick Gingery

The budget authority total, which is significantly higher than the amount floated in an April OMB draft document, suggests there may have been successful lobbying to increase FDA funding.

US ‘Most Favored Nation’ Pricing Could be Game Changer for Drug Access In Germany

 
• By Francesca Bruce

In this first in a series of articles looking at the potential impact of the MFN drug pricing policy on European pharmaceutical markets, EUCOPE’s Alexander Natz tells the Pink Sheet why the US policy underscores the importance of confidential net pricing.

ICH Targets RWE, Rare Diseases, Biosimilars, ATMPs In New Guideline Push

 
• By Vibha Sharma

The International Council for Harmonisation has identified four new topics that can benefit from global regulatory alignment, with timelines for initiating work to be determined later.