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Dsuvia Gets Warning Letter As US FDA’s Opioid Decisions Complicate Commissioner Race

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

AcelRx oversimplified Dsuvia’s ease of use, Office of Prescription Drug Promotion says. Focus on opioid safety comes as critics of Janet Woodcock have pointed to FDA’s decisions in the space as disqualifying her for FDA commissioner. Letter appears to reflect long-standing FDA concerns: Dsuvia was approved with a REMS related to administration issues, and Xeris received a similar warning letter last year for exaggerating the ease of use of its glucagon pre-filled syringe Gvoke PFS.

The Dsuvia warning letter drew a lot of attention from FDA officials.

The US Food and Drug Administration warned opioid maker AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for false and misleading promotion of Dsuvia on 11 February, just a few weeks after the agency’s acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock became the target of public criticism for her role in FDA decisions that are perceived as contributing to the country’s opioid epidemic.

While there is no indication the AcelRx warning letter, which was publicly announced 16 February, was deliberately sent now...

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More from US FDA

Pink Sheet Podcast: CBER Director’s Political Spin On COVID-19 Vaccines And US FDA RIFs Finalized

 
• By Derrick Gingery, Sarah Karlin-Smith, Sue Sutter, and Nielsen Hobbs

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss CBER Director Vinay Prasad using an unproven theory to help explain his COVID-19 vaccine decisions and the impact of the recently finalized reduction-in-force at the FDA.

Prasad Cites Unproven Theory Defending His COVID-19 Vaccine Decisions

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

In defending his decision to overrule agency staff on three recent COVID-19 vaccine applications, the CBER director questioned the original timing of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine authorization, reviving a long-held, but unproven grievance of President Trump.

Access Risks Loom For All Drugmakers With Fourth Circuit Mifepristone Decision

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The FDA law establishing REMS authority does not preempt a West Virginia law that would restrict mifepristone use in the state, an appeals court said, a decision that could have broader ramifications for the agency’s authority to ensure drug access.

US FDA’s Drugs Center Lost Hundreds Of Staff Through June With 600 RIFs Coming

 
• By Derrick Gingery, Sue Sutter, and Sarah Karlin-Smith

The official separation of those impacted by the reduction-in-force and some others who are leaving the agency are not yet reflected in CDER employee gains and losses data.

More from Agency Leadership

Access Risks Loom For All Drugmakers With Fourth Circuit Mifepristone Decision

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The FDA law establishing REMS authority does not preempt a West Virginia law that would restrict mifepristone use in the state, an appeals court said, a decision that could have broader ramifications for the agency’s authority to ensure drug access.

US FDA’s Drugs Center Lost Hundreds Of Staff Through June With 600 RIFs Coming

 
• By Derrick Gingery, Sue Sutter, and Sarah Karlin-Smith

The official separation of those impacted by the reduction-in-force and some others who are leaving the agency are not yet reflected in CDER employee gains and losses data.

Consumer Groups Have A ‘Radical Transparency’ List For US FDA’s PDUFA VIII

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

Development of the user fee commitment letter largely takes place behind closed doors between industry and FDA. Outside groups see the upcoming negotiation cycle as a chance to change this and other agency information blocks by reminding Commissioner Makary of his commitment to transparency.