The software company Model N (NYSE:MODN) has released its fifth annual State of Revenue report that found many pharma companies are grappling with staffing and economic challenges. In particular, 92% of pharmaceutical firms reported difficulties hiring qualified personnel. A number of pharma companies are cutting staff this year. Almost half, 47%, of pharma execs believed…
FDA ordered to ramp up unannounced foreign inspections
The omnibus spending bill recently signed by President Joe Biden directs the FDA to expand unannounced foreign facility inspections and evaluate them through a new pilot program. The legislation includes $10 million for the program and a mandate to increase unannounced surveillance inspections of foreign drug establishments, Regulatory Focus reports. The legislation also directs the…
Fresenius Kabi launches gadoterate meglumine injection
Fresenius Kabi has begun selling gadoterate meglumine injection, USP, a bioequivalent and therapeutic equivalent substitute for Guerbet’s contrast agent Dotarem. The product launch is the second contrast agent Fresenius Kabi has introduced in the U.S. this year. The Kale Zurich, Illinois–based company launched iodixanol injection, USP, in July during a nationwide shortage. Radiologists use contrast agents…
What’s behind the dip in pharma recalls in Q2 2022
In Q2 2022, the number of recalled units in the U.S. pharma industry dropped sharply. In the first quarter of the year, drug makers recalled more than 435 million units. However, the number of recalled units in Q2 2022 was 20.5 million, according to the Sedgwick Brand Protection Q2 2022 recall index. “It was definitely a…
Ultra Supplement announces recall for undeclared tadalafil
The FDA continues to pressure manufacturers and distributors for selling products with undeclared sildenafil and tadalafil. The agency recently announced that Wilmington Delaware–based Ultra Supplement LLC is voluntarily recalling lot number DAP272109 of Sustango capsules over the presence of tadalafil (Cialis). The company markets the product as a supplement for men. Sustango was available for…
Expert answers to nitrosamine impurity questions
The presence of toxic nitrosamine impurities in drug substances and drug products has become a significant focus for the pharmaceutical industry following their identification above permitted limits in common drug products prescribed for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heartburn. To learn more about the situation, we interviewed David Elder – CMC consultant –…
Cardinal Health announces $124M settlement of investors’ opioid suit
Cardinal Health directors’ insurers will pay the company $124 million to settle a stockholder derivative action related to the opioid crisis. The company (NYSE: CAH) on July 22 issued a court-authorized notice to alert investors to a settlement hearing to be held on Oct. 4 in U.S. District Court in Southern Ohio. If the settlement…
FDA warns four companies over selling honey tainted with prescription drugs
FDA has sent warning letters to four companies for illegally marketing honey-based products with unlisted active drug ingredients found in the erectile dysfunction drugs Cialis (tadalafil) and Viagra (sildenafil). The agency said it confirmed the presence of contaminants in the products through laboratory testing. The agency sent the warning letters to the following companies: Thirstyrun…
HHS and DOD order 3 million doses of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
Novavax (Nasdaq:NVAX) announced that its protein-based NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 vaccine could be the first of its type to be available in the U.S., assuming it wins backing from the FDA and CDC. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have secured 3.2 million doses of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine.…
FDA prevented 317 drug shortages in 2021
FDA worked with pharma companies to avert a record number of drug shortages in 2021 based on a recent report to Congress that tracked data starting in 2012 when the FDA Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) was passed. In 2021, 115 manufacturers notified the FDA of 777 potential drug and biologic shortages. Ultimately, the agency worked to…