Medtech Insight is part of Pharma Intelligence UK Limited

This site is operated by Pharma Intelligence UK Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 13787459 whose registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. The Pharma Intelligence group is owned by Caerus Topco S.à r.l. and all copyright resides with the group.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use. For high-quality copies or electronic reprints for distribution to colleagues or customers, please call +44 (0) 20 3377 3183

Printed By

UsernamePublicRestriction

SILICONE-CONTAINING IMPLANTS CONTINUED MARKETING

This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet

Executive Summary

SILICONE-CONTAINING IMPLANTS CONTINUED MARKETING will be allowed by FDA while the agency reviews data demonstrating that substitute silicone materials used in the implants are "not substantially different" from those supplied by Dow Corning, FDA says March 5. The agency's decision is in reaction to Dow Corning's announcement that it will withdraw its "implant grade" silicone elastomers from the market on March 31 ("The Gray Sheet" Dec. 7, I&W-10). The March 5 "strategy for management of devices" affected by the removal of Dow Corning's products states that FDA will allow manufacturers of agency-approved silicone containing devices "to continue to be marketed" while special regulatory applications containing test data on substitute materials are evaluated. The Dow Corning action will remove from supply channels five silicone-based materials (see box for list of materials being withdrawn). In addition, the firm is denying access to its device master file for these materials effective immediately. At least two firms, Nusil and American Silicone, have indicated their interest in supplying silicone materials to implant manufacturers. In its March 5 document, FDA says that its "staff has evaluated the impact of this decision by Dow Corning and is concerned about the continued availability of devices manufactured from silicone elastomer." FDA's silicone strategy is designed to ensure that there is not a shortage of devices while manufacturers switch to new suppliers. According to the strategy, FDA is working with industry to develop a list of tests "which will allow us to define that a silicone elastomer manufactured by a firm other than Dow Corning is not different from the Dow Corning elastomer." The document requires holders of approved 510(k)s and premarket approval applications to evaluate their substitute materials using tests on the list. The firms must then make submissions to the agency referencing the test data to demonstrate that the new materials are "not substantially different" from the ones described in their original applications. FDA says that it "will establish a separate review cycle to expedite the review" of these applications. The strategy requires that firms making the special submissions to the agency retain copies of their materials testing data for inspection by FDA "as part of routine GMP inspections." Based on the special submissions, FDA will determine if certain types of devices also will require 510(k)s and PMA supplements for their new materials. Firms that make these products will submit applications based on completion of "certain physical and chemical characterizations and certain of the biocompatibility testing such as described in the Tripartite Agreement or [International Standards Organization] Biocompatibility Standard on the finished products." FDA will "negotiate" with the firms to determine completion dates for the tests. "If the testing is not completed on time or if the testing demonstrates that the devices are not safe, the firms will withdraw the products," FDA says. The agency also notes that it "is likely to require" discretionary postmarket surveillance studies "for products where the long-term implant safety of the device is not well established with clinical data." FDA says that depending on the success of the strategy it may develop a similar method for managing DuPont's phase-out of its raw materials used in permanently implantable devices. DuPont's withdrawal began Jan. 15 ("The Gray Sheet" Feb. 8, p. 12).

You may also be interested in...



New EU Approvals

The Pink Sheet's list of EU centralized approvals of new active substances has been updated to add two new products, including Ryzneuta, Evive Biotechnology's treatment for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

Pair Of Deaths Linked To Recalled Vyaire Medical Respiratory Devices

The US FDA has labelled a recall of more than 6 million Airlife respiratory support devices class I. The recall covers devices manufactured in 2017 or earlier that can fail to provide adequate ventilation.

Over The Counter 2 Apr 2024: Analyzing The Spin-Out Trend In Consumer Health, With HBW’s Malcolm Spicer And Tom Gallen

In this episode, HBW Insight’s Europe and US editors bring their expertise to bear on the current the trend towards standalone OTC companies in global consumer health. We look at four major players: Haleon, which separated from GSK almost two years ago; Kenvue, soon to celebrate its first anniversary as a new company; Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, which is poised to split from its pharma parent; and Bayer, which has decided to buck the trend, holding on to its consumer health division. We discuss some of the advantages of becoming a standalone company, for example in leaning into a wider concept of self-care.

Latest Headlines
See All
UsernamePublicRestriction

Register

MT000338

Ask The Analyst

Ask the Analyst is free for subscribers.  Submit your question and one of our analysts will be in touch.

Your question has been successfully sent to the email address below and we will get back as soon as possible. my@email.address.

All fields are required.

Please make sure all fields are completed.

Please make sure you have filled out all fields

Please make sure you have filled out all fields

Please enter a valid e-mail address

Please enter a valid Phone Number

Ask your question to our analysts

Cancel