According to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s August 5th ruling in Thaler v. Vidal, No. 2021-2347 (Fed. Cir. 2022), artificial intelligence (“AI”) cannot be named as an inventor on a U.S. patent application. In its opinion, the Federal Circuit considered whether an inventor of a U.S. patent can be anything other … Continue Reading
The Food and Drug Administration on March 4 issued new guidance for voluntary recalls of biologics, drugs, devices, and other products. The guidance finalizes an April 2019 draft that advised how firms in a distribution chain can prepare when conducting a voluntary recall. The guidance includes nonbinding recommendations and explicitly does not establish legally enforceable … Continue Reading
On November 5, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published an interim final rule that requires vaccinations for certain health care workers. The rule is limited to only those entities who are surveyed by CMS and have Conditions of Participation, Conditions for Coverage, or Requirements for Participation in the Medicare and Medicaid … Continue Reading
The German Constitutional Court issued a landmark decision with implications for many companies doing business in Europe on July 9, 2021. For decades, the European Commission and EU member states strived to create a pan-European Unified Patent Court (UPC). After overcoming many hurdles, any sensible commentator will be cautious in making statements about the future … Continue Reading
Germany recently passed a reform bill for the Patent Act (PatG) and its new provisions will likely be coming into force sooner rather than later. The reform is particularly relevant for companies from the life sciences sector, which often litigate in this pro-patentee jurisdiction. The modifications to PatG address: Confidentiality concerns. New section 145a PatG … Continue Reading
A task force, composed of key antitrust enforcement agencies including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Canadian Competition Bureau, is seeking information from the public regarding the effects of pharmaceutical mergers. This information will be used to update the practices for future pharmaceutical mergers by the task force’s constituent agencies. Following concerns within the … Continue Reading
On Friday, April 26, 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) filed a Notice of Enforcement Decision (the “Notice of Enforcement”), confirming the agency’s reconsideration of its prior interpretation of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act’s (the “HITECH Act’s”) penalty structure. In doing so, HHS announced the abandonment … Continue Reading
Just prior to departing the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., and Deputy Commissioner Anna Abram issued a statement (the “Statement”) on the Agency’s 2019 goals to improve the quality of compounded drugs. While the change of leadership at the Agency may affect how these efforts will be managed and implemented, … Continue Reading
The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) – the national industry association of medical technology manufacturers – recently issued an updated Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals (HCPs) (the AdvaMed Code or Code). Last revised in 2009, AdvaMed’s updated Code will go into effect January 1, 2020. The Code speaks to the evolving … Continue Reading
In accordance with the United States Food & Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) 2018 Compounding Policy Priorities Plan, on December 11, 2018, FDA published its revised draft guidance regarding human drug compounding by outsourcing facilities entitled, “Current Good Manufacturing Practice—Guidance for Human Drug Compounding Outsourcing Facilities Under Section 503B of the FD&C Act Guidance for Industry,” (the … Continue Reading
As the life sciences industry continues to undergo significant changes, Reed Smith is committed to offering high quality, free educational opportunities for its pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology clients. We thus are pleased to shared two upcoming opportunities with you. First, because the new import tariffs proposed by the current administration could significantly affect life … Continue Reading
Michael Granston, the Director of the Commercial Litigation Branch within the United States Department of Justice’s Fraud Section, recently issued an internal memorandum affirming his prior statements that the Department of Justice (DOJ) should consider seeking dismissal of meritless False Claims Act (FCA) suits brought by relators in qui tam cases. Under 31 U.S.C. § … Continue Reading
As covered in “Court Overturns $350 Million Judgment in FCA Case: Materiality, Scienter, and Causation Standards Preclude Liability by “’Zaps, Traps, and Zingers’”, Andy Bernasconi discusses a recent case, in which the Middle District of Florida issued a blistering opinion vacating a $350 million judgment in a False Claims Act (FCA) case and granting the … Continue Reading
On December 5, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the final version of its guidance entitled “Technical Considerations for Additive Manufactured Medical Devices; Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff.” As a follow up to the Guidance’s release the FDA held a webinar on January 10, 2017, to present an … Continue Reading
A recent bill introduced by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) is attempting to place heightened security standards on all Internet of Things (IoT) devices procured by any federal agency. Should the legislation be enacted, the expectations it sets forth regarding the security of IoT devices could be interpreted by courts as the minimal floor for any … Continue Reading
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the availability of its guidance entitled “Technical Considerations for Additive Manufactured Medical Devices; Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff,” which was published in the Federal Register. This guidance was previously circulated in May 2016 in a draft form and underwent a comment period, where … Continue Reading
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) announced on November 7, 2017, that it is withdrawing the draft Guidance for Industry #230, “Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Drug Substances.” FDA confirmed that it does not intend to finalize the current draft. Rather, it will issue a new draft in early 2018 for public comment. For … Continue Reading
The Reed Smith life sciences product liability and 3D printing teams will be hosting an upcoming CLE webinar “3D Printing: What Could Happen to Products Liability When Users (and Everyone Else in Between) Become Manufacturers” on May 8, 2017 at 12 p.m. ET. Reed Smith presenters Jim Beck and Matt Jacobson will be discussing 3D … Continue Reading
Companies, including those in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, with multinational operations should expect increasing collaboration between U.S. and foreign competition agencies to investigate and prosecute alleged antitrust violations. In light of recent and ongoing investigations by U.S. and UK competition agencies into generic and sole-source drug pricing, the revised guidelines are expected to … Continue Reading
On January 13, 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a discussion paper concerning an updated proposed framework for oversight of laboratory developed tests (LDTs). According to FDA, the updated proposal is the result of ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders. Under the proposal, the FDA generally stands by its position that a complementary risk-based … Continue Reading
On December 29, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) surprised many in the radiopharmacy industry by issuing a long-awaited draft guidance entitled “Compounding and Repackaging of Radiopharmaceuticals by State-Licensed Nuclear Pharmacies.” The guidance addresses conditions under which the FDA does not intend to take action for violations of 505, 502(f)(1) and 501(a)(2)(B) of … Continue Reading
On December 21, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) posted a Consumer Update and accompanying video on the “The 3Rs of 3D Printing: FDA’s Role,” which reconfirms its position on the importance of 3D printed medical devices. The FDA sums up its role in this “innovative space” as regulate, research, and resource (i.e., … Continue Reading
Following up the success of its first, medical device-focused 3D printing white paper, 3D Printing of Medical Devices: When a Novel Technology Meets Traditional Legal Principles, Reed Smith’s 3D Printing Task Force has now launched a second edition of its 3D printing publication white paper addressing 3D printed products more broadly: 3D Printing of Manufactured Goods: … Continue Reading
FDA issued a final guidance on November 8, 2016, “Medical Device Reporting for Manufacturers”. As with all such guidance documents, it is nonbinding: “It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public.” Nevertheless, for those interested in medical device reporting, the document is required reading as … Continue Reading
