On April 10, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a new initiative to explore ways to reduce preclinical animal safety studies for human drugs and biological products, beginning with an approach to allowing the use of “New Approach Methodologies” (NAMs) in lieu of animal testing for eligible investigational monoclonal antibodies.[1] The agency’s plan marks a significant departure from decades of agency practice, in which life sciences companies developing novel therapeutic products typically have conducted a number of safety studies, including pharmacological and toxicological studies, in various species before progressing to the clinical phase. Below are six key points for life sciences companies to know about FDA’s plans to incorporate NAMs into preclinical evaluations for human drugs and biologics.
FDA Guidance
FDA to Require Confirmatory Trials Be “Underway” Prior to Accelerated Approval, Per New Draft Guidance
Life sciences companies interested in pursuing accelerated approval should ensure they have a thorough understanding of the complex regulatory landscape and engage in early discussions with FDA regarding their drug development programs.
FDA Issues Overdue Guidance on Diversity Action Plans in Drug and Device Clinical Trials – What You Need to Know
This update provides key takeaways on the new draft guidance and Diversity Action Plan requirements, including when the new requirements will go into effect, the types of clinical studies that require submission of a Diversity Action Plan, whether FDA intends to issue waivers for the requirements, and the consequences of failure to submit a Diversity Action Plan.
False Claims Act Risks for Cyber Device Manufacturers Arising under New Requirements Subject to FDA Enforcement Beginning October 1, 2023
The False Claims Act (FCA) is one of the government’s chief tools to address false claims involving government funds, imposing liability on “any person who… knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment” to the federal government or who “knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim.”[1] Through its qui tam provisions, the FCA also allows private citizens to file suit on behalf of the government for statutory violations.[2]
FDA Publishes Proposed Rule Asserting Medical-Device Jurisdiction over Laboratory-Developed Tests
On September 29, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its highly anticipated proposed rule on laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) (“LDT Proposed Rule”), which was officially published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.[1] In the LDT Proposed Rule, FDA announced plans to formally classify LDTs as medical devices under its regulations, subjecting these tests to extensive premarket review and postmarket compliance requirements. If finalized, the LDT Proposed Rule would result in a significant impact to the growing laboratory testing industry.
FDA Draft Guidance Sheds Light on Agency’s Evaluation of Prescription Drug Use-Related Software
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published a draft guidance document proposing to regulate end-user output of prescription drug use-related software (PDURS) as labeling.[1] The draft guidance sets forth review pathways that could benefit prescription drug application sponsors, including by allowing sponsors to incorporate information about PDURS in the FDA-approved labeling and to seek premarket review for certain PDURS functions that meet the definition of a medical device. But by proposing to regulate PDURS-related information as labeling, the draft guidance poses potential enforcement risks for sponsors under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), the False Claims Act (FCA), and other laws, including through possible off-label promotion claims. Interested parties should consider submitting comments to FDA on the draft guidance. FDA has invited comments through December 18, 2023.