FDA approves new device for prevention of recurrent strokes in certain patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the Amplatzer PFO Occluder device. The PFO Occluder reduces the risk of a stroke in patients who previously had a stroke believed to be caused by a blood clot that passed through a small hole in the heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO), and then traveled to the brain.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

Food regulators seize adulterated milk products for food safety violations
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that the U.S. Marshals Service seized more than 4 million pounds of product produced by Valley Milk Products LLC (Valley Milk) of Strasburg, Virginia.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA research to help speed development of Zika virus vaccines and therapeutics
A new mouse model developed by scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may help in exploring the potential activity of Zika virus vaccines and therapeutics. Published today in PLoS Pathogens, is the description of a neonatal mouse model that provides a platform for potentially improving and expediting studies to understand the causes and effects (pathology) of the Zika virus.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA approves Intrarosa for postmenopausal women experiencing pain during sex
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Intrarosa (prasterone) to treat women experiencing moderate to severe pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), a symptom of vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA), due to menopause. Intrarosa is the first FDA approved product containing the active ingredient prasterone, which is also known as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA approves first drug for spinal muscular atrophy
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Spinraza (nusinersen), the first drug approved to treat children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare and often fatal genetic disease affecting muscle strength and movement. Spinraza is an injection administered into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA permits marketing of new tissue expander for women undergoing breast reconstruction following mastectomy
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today allowed marketing of a new tissue expander system for soft tissue expansion in two-stage breast reconstruction following mastectomy and in the treatment of underdeveloped breasts and soft tissue deformities. A patient uses a dose controller to independently inflate the expander.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA expands indication for continuous glucose monitoring system, first to replace fingerstick testing for diabetes treatment decisions
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today expanded the approved use of Dexcom’s G5 Mobile Continuous Glucose Monitoring System to allow for replacement of fingerstick blood glucose (sugar) testing for diabetes treatment decisions in people 2 years of age and older with diabetes.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA grants accelerated approval to new treatment for advanced ovarian cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted accelerated approval to Rubraca (rucaparib) to treat women with a certain type of ovarian cancer.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA approves Eucrisa for eczema
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Eucrisa (crisaborole) ointment to treat mild to moderate eczema (atopic dermatitis) in patients two years of age and older.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA Statement from Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, on new safety information on anesthesia use in young children and pregnant women
The health of our nation’s children is a responsibility that the FDA takes very seriously. Parents and caregivers are often concerned when their young child requires a medical procedure for which anesthesia or sedation drugs are necessary. Understandably, there are many questions, including whether the drugs are safe for their child. Pregnant women who must undergo medical procedures that require anesthesia or sedation drugs have similar concerns.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA takes action on applications seeking to market modified risk tobacco products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today took action on the first applications reviewed through the modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) pathway for eight Swedish Match North America Inc. snus smokeless tobacco products sold under the General brand name. The agency denied the company’s request to remove a currently required warning stating that the products can cause gum disease and tooth loss. With respect to the company’s other requests to remove or revise two additional currently required warnings, the agency deferred final action and issued a response that offers the company an option to amend its applications.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA approves first autologous cellularized scaffold for the repair of cartilage defects of the knee
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Maci (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) for the repair of symptomatic, full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee in adult patients. Maci is the first FDA-approved product that applies the process of tissue engineering to grow cells on scaffolds using healthy cartilage tissue from the patient’s own knee.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA takes action against four tobacco manufacturers for illegal sales of flavored cigarettes labeled as little cigars or cigars
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued warning letters to four tobacco manufacturers — Swisher International Inc., Cheyenne International LLC, Prime Time International Co. and Southern Cross Tobacco Company Inc. — for selling flavored cigarettes that are labeled as little cigars or cigars, which is a violation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The companies received warning letters for products under the “Swisher Sweets,” Cheyenne,” “Prime Time” and “Criss-Cross” brands in a variety of youth-appealing flavors, including grape, cherry, wild cherry and strawberry.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA takes steps to improve hearing aid accessibility
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced important steps to better support consumer access to hearing aids. The agency issued a guidance document explaining that it does not intend to enforce the requirement that individuals 18 and up receive a medical evaluation or sign a waiver prior to purchasing most hearing aids. This guidance is effective immediately. Today, the FDA is also announcing its commitment to consider creating a category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids that could deliver new, innovative and lower-cost products to millions of consumers.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA approves Jardiance to reduce cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new indication for Jardiance (empagliflozin) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.
Source: Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases