FDA NEWS DIGEST -- JULY 8, 2002 COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF FDA AND 1ST AMENDMENT -- FDA will soon publish a Federal Register notice extending the period for public comment on how the agency's regulation of commercial speech can best safeguard public health while complying with First Amendment protections. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2002/NEW00819.html NEW SUGAR SUBSTITUTE APPROVED -- FDA has approved neotame, a new general-purpose sweetener for use in a variety of food products including baked goods, non-alcoholic beverages, chewing gums, and frozen desserts. Neotame is 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01156.html DEVICE USES ENGINEERED PROTEIN TO TREAT BACK DISORDER -- FDA has approved the first device that uses a genetically engineered human protein for use in the lower region of the spine to treat degenerative disc disease, a major cause of back pain for many adults. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01155.html 'NICOTINE WATER' CANNOT BE MARKETED AS DIETARY SUPPLEMENT -- Responding to a citizen's petition, FDA has decided that a product called "Nicotine Water" is an unapproved drug that cannot be sold legally in the United States until the agency approves a new drug application for the product. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2002/NEW00818.html ______________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to the FDA News Digest. Our next posting will be sent July 15. To leave this list at any time, send an e-mail to LISTSERV@LIST.NIH.GOV In the body of the message, write SIGNOFF FDA-NEWSDIGEST-L
