Updated FDA review clock guidance: Agency issues June 30 1guidance detailing the different actions FDA may take on pre-market approval applications and clarifying FDA's timeline goals for applications filed from FY 2008-2012 versus those filed from FY 2003-2007. The 2007 FDA Amendments Act removed interim cycle goals, which often stopped the "review clock" and inadvertently prolonged the review process, maintaining FDA decision goals only. FDA will follow the review goals proposed as part of the new user fee legislation (2"The Gray Sheet" April 23, 2007, p. 7). Cycle goals are also abolished for applications filed in FY 2007. Performance goals will no longer vary from year to year, and FDA now has the option of issuing major deficiency letters for 180-day supplements, as well as for PMAs and panel-track supplements, the guidance points out. The document replaces October 2003 guidance based on the review clock in the 2002 user fee legislation (3"The Gray Sheet" Oct. 13, 2003, p. 22)

Nutritional product business had 5.1% Q1 sales growth and is like Abbott’s other segments, “super well-aligned to the global demographics and trends in health care,” says CEO Ford. But as it defends complaints of damages from powder formulas made at facility found with unsafe levels of bacterial contaminants, Abbott’s also targeted in litigation alleging failure to warn about risk of infants born prematurely developing necrotizing enterocolitis if fed cow’s milk-based formula.

The US FDA has issued a pair of reports focused on device safety and innovation. The reports describe recent steps the agency has taken to improve in the two areas, and what it plans to do next.