The FDA has fast-tracked Purdue Pharma’s opioid-overdose treatment. Purdue has said that its experimental overdose drug has a longer effect than naloxone, the current overdose-reversal drug on the market. Purdue is facing dozens of lawsuits across the U.S. for deceptive marketing of OxyContin. (CNN)
India’s health ministry is trying to block Juul from entering the country. The e-cigarette company planned to launch products in India by late 2019 and hired executives there. However, an Indian health official said in a letter that Juul could “potentially undermine our tobacco-control efforts.” (Reuters)
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb chided the pharma industry for failing to keep up with the FDA’s modernization of R&D. Gottlieb said in a statement that he’s seen reluctance among pharma and clinical-research organizations to adopting new approaches to clinical trials. (Endpoints)
Some fear that the tobacco industry could use Gottlieb’s departure to halt the FDA’s e-cigarette crackdown. With Gottlieb set to step down in weeks, some tobacco companies and retailers could maneuver to reverse his efforts on vaping, nicotine levels, and age verification. (New York Times)
The CEO of Novartis generic subsidiary Sandoz is stepping down as the company refocuses. CEO Richard Francis will exit his role at the end of March. Novartis, meanwhile, is doubling down on biosimilars and hard-to-make generics. (BioPharma Dive)
