FDA News Digest for October 9, 2007

[FDA News Digest <fdanewsdigest@xxxxxxxxxx>]

FDA News Digest

October 9, 2007

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IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE

 

»  News

    --  Initiative Aims to Boost Number, Variety of Generic Drugs

    --  FDA Acts to Ensure That Thyroid Drugs Don't Lose Potency

»  Congressional Testimony

»  Safety Alerts/Recalls

»  Upcoming Public Meetings

»  Consumer Health Information

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NEWS

 

Initiative Aims to Boost Number, Variety of Generic Drugs

FDA has launched the Generic Initiative for Value and Efficiency (GIVE), a program aimed at increasing the number and variety of generic drug products available to consumers and health care providers. Generic drugs generally cost less than brand-name counterparts, and competition among generics has been a key factor in lowering drug prices.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01719.html

 

FDA Acts to Ensure That Thyroid Drugs Don't Lose Potency

In response to concerns that the thyroid drug levothyroxine sodium may lose potency before its expiration date, FDA is tightening the drug's specifications to ensure that it retains full potency over its shelf life. More than 13 million patients use levothyroxine sodium drug products to treat underactive thyroid glands and other thyroid conditions.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01717.html

 

To view an archive of past FDA news releases, go to

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/hpnews.html.

   

To access the RSS feed of FDA news releases, go to

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/rssPress.xml.

[What is an RSS feed? See http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/newsfeeds.html.]

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CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY

 

Oct. 4 -- FDA Deputy Director of Regional Operations Steven M. Solomon, D.V.M., appeared before the House Subcommittee on Trade

    Subject: the safety of FDA-regulated imported products

http://www.fda.gov/ola/2007/importsafety100407.html

 

Oct. 3 -- FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., appeared before the House Subcommittee on Health

    Subject: the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

http://www.fda.gov/ola/2007/tobacco100307.html

 

To view an archive of past testimony by FDA officials, go to

http://www.fda.gov/ola/listing.html

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SAFETY ALERTS/RECALLS

Food Recalls:

 

›  Certain lots of Bakers Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares, 6-oz. size

Reason for recall: possible Salmonella contamination

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/kraft10_07.html 

›   Limited quantity of Campbell's Chunky Baked Potato with Cheddar & Bacon Bits, 18.8-oz. size

Reason for recall: may contain pieces of plastic

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/campbell10_07.html

 

For a list of recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts involving FDA-regulated

products from the past 60 days, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7alerts.html.

 

To access the RSS feed of FDA recalls information, go to

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/rssRecalls.xml

[What is an RSS feed? See http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/newsfeeds.html.]

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UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS

 

Oct. 18-19 -- Joint meeting of the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Advisory Committee

    Under discussion: safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter cough and cold products marketed for pediatric use

    Location: Silver Spring, Md.

http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E7-16169.htm

 

Oct. 19 -- Information Technology Strategic Planning

    Under discussion: how the agency can best use information technology resources to support drug reviews

    Location: Rockville, Md.

http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/07-4692.htm

 

For a complete list of FDA meetings, seminars, and other public events, go to

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/hpmeetings.html.

 

 

CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION

 

FDA's Web site features a page with information for consumers. Each week in FDA News Digest, we will spotlight material from that page by offering links to timely articles about FDA activities and products the agency regulates.

 

Here's what's in the spotlight this week:

 

› Improving Medical Products for Children: Q & A with Dianne Murphy

http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/murphy091407.html

› FDA Launches Drug Safety Newsletter

http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/dns092107.html

› Strengthening Drug Safety

http://www.fda.gov/consumer/features/drugsafety0607.html

 

FDA offers a free e-newsletter for consumers that contains information posted on the consumer health Web page. To subscribe, go to http://www.fda.gov/consumer/consumerenews.html

 

For those who are members of the press or who manage Web sites, we encourage you to link to this information or incorporate it into your online or printed publications. (We'd appreciate a credit to "FDA Consumer Health Information.")

Questions or comments about our consumer stories or the consumer health e-newsletter? Send an e-mail to fdaconsumerlist@xxxxxxxxxx.  

 

 

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