Michael McCaughan

Latest From Michael McCaughan
US FDA’s Long Wait For Diagnostics Reform Legislation Continues
FDA is hoping Congress might take up proposed legislation governing the regulation of diagnostic tests produced in laboratories in 2023. That will make it a full decade of stalemate since FDA outlined a framework to address the new reality of personalized medicine.
What Exactly Is A ‘Small Biotech’? US Medicare Agency Will Try To Spell It Out
CMS’s new price negotiation authority has an exemption for ‘small biotech’ companies. The agency’s implementation plan suggests that will be a tricky concept to define.
Closing The Books On Aduhelm: Congressional Report Leaves US FDA To Move Forward
A Congressional report on the US FDA approval of Biogen/Eisai’s Aduhelm generated another round of negative headlines for the agency – and rubbed salt in the wounds of a commercial disaster for the sponsors. But it probably could not have turned out better for FDA and the drug review climate overall.
Will US FDA Advisory Committees Rebound In 2023?
The US FDA’s use of outside expert advisory committees rebounded from historic lows in 2022 – but just barely. Will Commissioner Califf’s ‘update’ of the process finally mean more committee meetings in 2023?
Sen. Burr’s Parting Gifts For US FDA Include ‘Platform’ Pathway
The year-end package of US FDA reforms reflects the impact of one now-retired US Senator: North Carolina’s Richard Burr’s objections helped take out a number of ‘anti-innovation’ provisions – while still securing inclusion of a ‘Platform Technologies’ pathway that might otherwise not have been enacted.
Pregnancy Safety Could Transform US FDA Sentinel Role In Post-Marketing Studies
As part of the new user fee agreement, FDA will develop its active surveillance safety network into a reliable tool for post-marketing pregnancy safety studies. A review of the opportunities to use the Sentinel system more broadly shows that could be an important enhancement for industry.