United States

US FDA’s Review Performance Held Steady Despite Stormy First Quarter

 

Organizational turmoil has not yet affected reviews of novel agent applications, with Q1 2025 approvals coming in low, but the first quarter share of the entire year is variable.

US FDA Advisory Committee Meetings In Jeopardy After Layoffs, But Some Employees Called Back

 
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Most, if not all, adcomm support staff in the drug and biologic centers who handled meeting-specific tasks have been laid off, although sponsors still are preparing for the public reviews. Meanwhile, some cut FDA employees are being called back to work for "continuity of operations activities."

All US FDA Product Centers May Merge Under Planned Agency Reorganization

 

Product reviews for drugs, biologics, devices, tobacco and foods could be consolidated into one office at the FDA, as part of a restructuring plan circulating that was obtained by Pink Sheet.

Pink Sheet Podcast: Understanding The US FDA Reduction-In-Force And Its Long-Term Impact

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss how the massive layoffs will reshape the FDA and its impact on the drug and biologics industries.


Trump’s Tariffs Will Lead To ‘Instability’ And ‘Less Investment’ In UK

 

While the pharma industry appears to be exempt from US tariffs imposed by President Trump, a member of the UK House of Lords says the details are unknown and warned that uncertainty “leads to less investment” in business as a whole.

‘Highly Problematic’: Acting FDA Commissioner Paused Planned OK Of Novavax Shot

 

Former Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner is said to have asked Tracy Beth Høeg, new special assistant to the commissioner, to help reexamine the application. Høeg’s position at the agency is raising concerns about the FDA's ongoing approach to vaccine regulation.

Trump Tariffs: Indian Pharma Dodges Bullet, But Sword May Remain

 
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Trump announced a 26% reciprocal tariff on India, but a country-agnostic exemption of pharmaceuticals implies that the interests of Indian firms are protected for now. What is Indian pharma’s business exposure and what is domestic industry saying?

Dr. Oz Takes Over CMS Amid Major Transformation Of Medicare Part D

 
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As CMS administrator, Mehmet Oz will oversee the second cycle of Medicare drug price negotiations and Part D redesign issues, but will have experienced deputies to help.


US FDA Restructuring May Be Next After Drugs Center Loses More Than 1,000 People

 

The departure data emerged along with a Health and Human Services Department memo describing conceptual plans to consolidate and restructure offices at the FDA and other agencies.

Pharma Exhales, Dodges Financial Blow With Tariff Exemption

 

Industry lobbing for pharmaceuticals to be exempt from President Trump’s sweeping US tariffs appears to have paid off.

Dramatic HHS Layoffs A Response To ‘Existential Crisis,’ Kennedy Advisor Argues

 
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Calley Means defended reductions in force at the Health and Human Services Department that shocked and outraged federal workers and stakeholders.

Makary Pledges To Uphold Gold Standard Science, But First Address Confuses Some US FDA Staff

 

Some employees were not impressed with FDA Commissioner Martin Makary's first speech to the agency staff, saying he did not seem to understand the agency's mission.


Are Bigger Ad Policy Changes Coming After US FDA’s Drug Promotion Office Hit Hard By Layoffs?

 
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The loss of policy analyst, legal, project manager and social scientist positions has experts wondering if the Trump Administration is eyeing a broader effort to limit DTC advertising. The OPDP layoffs are expected to result in delayed reviews of promotional pieces.

Will They Or Won’t They? Tariff Questions Loom For Drugmakers

 

Pharma executives and investors are waiting with bated breath to find out if President Trump will include drugs in a new round of tariffs to be announced on 2 April.

CDRH Staff Cuts Focus On Administrative Workers, Spare Reviewers

 

One CDRH employee said the cuts already are having a major effect on morale.

Updated: US Likely To Lose Its First Approver Advantage After FDA Layoffs

Mass FDA layoffs on 1 April were designed to spare product reviewers, but still touched many who are critical to the application review process or drug development, which could mean fewer treatments are brought to the US market first.


PBMs Must Prepare For Revival Of Drug Price Transparency Requirements

 

Experts say PBMs should become familiar with transparency rules and prepare to release data, although more legal wrangling could occur.

Is Optum Rx Payment Remodel To Favor Generics A Peace Offering For US FTC?

 

Optum Rx, one of the largest PBMs in the US, declared it was the “first comprehensive, transparent pharmacy services company” after announcing several consumer-friendly changes.

Updated: US FDA Commissioner Makary Was Sworn In, Knew Of Plan to Push Out Marks, Sources Say

 

FDA Commissioner Martin Makary was sworn in Friday and knew of the plan that ultimately lead to CBER director Peter Marks' resignation on 28 March.

Peter Marks Resigns From US FDA, Warns Kennedy Does Not Want Truth On Vaccines

 

In his resignation letter, the CBER director said he was willing to work with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address concerns about vaccine safety, but "it has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary."