Welcome to the Goodwin’s Life Sciences Perspectives Blog, a resource specifically aimed at addressing your most frequent and pressing issues and providing insights on current developments.

The challenges across the life sciences industry are as abundant as the opportunities. From tightening federal regulations and market forces to revolutionary innovations, the headwinds are stiff and shifting but they are navigable. We will be tracking emerging issues and developments on private and public company matters, licensing deals and collaborations, patent and IP matters, FDA and healthcare regulatory compliance, and European and Asian developments for life sciences companies. Sign up to receive postings from Goodwin’s Life Sciences Perspectives blog by clicking here.

 

Master(ing) Protocols for Randomized Umbrella and Platform Trials

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a draft guidance, “Master Protocols for Drug and Biological Product Development”, that echoes and builds on principles that the Agency previously set forth in guidance for COVID-19 master protocols (2019), master protocols in oncology (2022) and clinical trials for multiple versions…

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A Look Ahead in Life Sciences: What We Are Tracking in Q1 2024 and Beyond

As the life sciences, medtech, and diagnostic industries continue to expand and grow increasingly complex, so does the legal, regulatory, and compliance landscape. To help companies and investors navigate the many evolving and emerging laws and regulations across pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, diagnostics, and laboratory testing, our Life Sciences Regulatory…

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FDA Targets April 2024 for Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) Final Rule

On December 6, 2023, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (“OIRA”) released the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (the “Agenda”), a semiannual compilation of information regarding regulations under development by federal agencies. In its preamble, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) notes that…

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Significant 340B Drug Pricing Program Litigation May Impact 340B Scope

Two recent federal court cases signal new significant developments with respect to the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Specifically: (1) new federal district court litigation challenging a recent HRSA Notice involving 340B Program “child site” registration and eligibility; and (2) a court decision in other litigation that implicates the scope of…

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United States: Trends of Agency Scrutiny on Pharmaceutical Transactions Expected to Shift Amid Rise in Deal Activity (GCR)

Despite the threatening rhetoric, the early years of the Biden Administration largely followed previous regimes with respect to antitrust enforcement in the life sciences space. Pharmaceutical transactions in particular encounters the expected amount of agency scrutiny, with most proceeding without an extended investigation and, in contrast to deals in the…

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Newly Launched: Goodwin’s Laboratory Developed Tests Resource Page

Our Life Sciences Regulatory & Compliance team has launched a new resource page, keeping you up-to-date on the latest regulatory developments affecting laboratory developed tests (LDTs). Our dedicated LDT page provides foundational materials, legislative and regulatory history, and updates and analyses regarding initiatives to increase oversight over LDTs, including FDA’s…

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How to Get Your SIUU Out: FDA Provides Long-Awaited Update for Industry on Communicating Off-Label Information

On October 23, 2023, FDA announced the availability of a revised draft guidance titled “Communications From Firms to Health Care Providers Regarding Scientific Information on Unapproved Uses of Approved/Cleared Medical Products.” The draft guidance supersedes the agency’s 2014 draft guidance, “Distributing Scientific and Medical Publications on Unapproved New Uses,” and…

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