The Pharmaceutical Industry Calls for Expansion of the FDA’s PreCheck Program
Numerous US pharmaceutical industry groups are urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the scope of the recently launched PreCheck Program. Initially focused on accelerating the establishment of new domestic manufacturing facilities, the industry is now advocating for the inclusion of existing factories and the integration of PreCheck with current regulatory initiatives. The main goal is to maximize the program’s impact to rapidly strengthen supply chain resilience and support the generic drug sector.
Building Transparency: FDA Experts Offer Essential Tips for Assembling SBOMs in Medical Devices
The recent discussion among experts at the Medtech conference, highlighted by the FDA, underscores the critical importance of the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) in medical device cybersecurity. Although SBOM generation tools are still in their early stages, the consensus is clear: manufacturers must start working immediately on assembling these documents. The SBOM is now an essential regulatory requirement for “cyber devices” and crucial for managing risks and ensuring patient safety. Experts emphasize the need for simplification, the inclusion of key partners in the process, and attention to the details of the human-readable format, which complements the machine-readable format required by the FDA.
FDA Modernizes Inspections: Alternative Tools Accelerate Drug Approval
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has finalized its guidance on using alternative tools for routine inspections of drug manufacturing facilities. The measure aims to optimize the new product approval process by using remote methods to assess compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
FDA’s Updates on Dietary Supplement Regulation in 2025
The FDA regulates dietary supplements under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).
Unlike pharmaceuticals, supplements do not require FDA approval before being marketed.
However, manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their products and accurate labeling.
In 2025, the FDA announced a major reorganization by establishing the Human Foods Program (HFP), aiming to modernize and strengthen the evaluation of food ingredients and dietary supplements.
IMDRF Releases Key Guidance Documents for Medical Device Software
The International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) has released two key guidance documents to support the regulation of medical device software. These include Good Machine Learning Practice for Medical Device Development: Guiding Principles (IMDRF/AIML WG/N88 FINAL:2025) and Characterization Considerations for Medical Device Software and Software-Specific Risk (IMDRF/SaMD WG/N81 FINAL:2025). These documents aim to enhance global regulatory harmonization and assist medical device manufacturers in navigating compliance requirements for software-based and AI-driven technologies.
EMA Launches Early Scientific Advice Program for High-Risk Medical Devices
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has launched a new Early Scientific Advice (ESA) program aimed at supporting the development of high-risk medical devices. This initiative seeks to provide manufacturers with timely regulatory guidance, ensuring that innovative medical technologies meet the necessary safety and efficacy standards before reaching the market.
Stakeholders Ask FDA to Harmonize Guidelines for Oligonucleotide-Based Therapies
The biopharmaceutical industry and other stakeholders are pressuring the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to harmonize its regulatory guidelines for oligonucleotide-based therapies. The request aims to eliminate discrepancies in the development, manufacturing and approval requirements for these innovative treatments, which have shown great potential in the fight against various genetic and infectious diseases.
Health Canada Makes Clinical Information on Medical Devices Publicly Accessible
Health Canada Makes Clinical Information on Medical Devices Publicly in a significant move toward greater transparency in healthcare, Health Canada (HC), the country’s medical device regulator, has announced that clinical information submitted in support of medical device applications is now publicly available. This development marks a crucial step in empowering healthcare professionals, researchers, and the general public with access to critical data.
FDA Proposes Framework to Bolster Credibility of AI Models in Drug Development
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has unveiled a groundbreaking draft guidance aimed at advancing the credibility of artificial intelligence (AI) models in drug and biological product development. This marks a significant milestone as it is the agency’s first formal guidance on AI in this domain, underscoring its commitment to innovation while maintaining rigorous regulatory standards.
FDA Suggests Collecting data on Ovarian Toxicity in Cancer Drug Trials
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is recommending that sponsors include the collection of data on ovarian toxicity in the development of cancer drugs.
FDA Proposes Removing Oral Phenylephrine as Active Ingredient in OTC Nasal Decongestants After Review
In November 2024 the Food and Drug Administration announced its proposal to remove phenylephrine from the approved list of over-the-counter drugs to treat nasal congestion, citing evidence that the oral version of the drug is ineffective.
Industry Pushback on : Biosimilar, Biological medicines Industry, Food and Drug Administration, Generic Drug
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently proposed issuing biosimilar product-specific guidance to streamline the approval process for biosimilars. While this move aims to make the pathway for biosimilar approvals more predictable and accessible, it has faced pushback from the pharmaceutical industry. Many industry leaders argue that this approach could inadvertently hinder innovation, increase regulatory burdens, and complicate the pathway to biosimilar market entry.