FDA Needs Radical Reform

The nomination of Dr. Scott Gottlieb for FDA commissioner, a political appointee, has created the usual bipartisan furor. He is called unqualified, a renegade, not committed enough to FDA orthodoxy, an industry darling by some and a maverick by others. All Continue reading FDA Needs Radical Reform

Omissions – Commissions – Errors – Blunders – Solithromycin

Cempra received a complete response letter (CRL) as a X-mas present from FDA, and the news was pretty bad for company investors. Bad, but not totally unexpected after the AMDAC meeting last November, which taught us a few new things Continue reading Omissions – Commissions – Errors – Blunders – Solithromycin

Profiling Solithromycin: FDA AMDAC on Solithera

Police profiling based on race, sex or gender is a highly controversial practice. FDA doing the same, not so much. Profiling based on similarities to other drugs in the same category is nothing new. Class labeling can be expected for Continue reading Profiling Solithromycin: FDA AMDAC on Solithera

Progress Report: New Antibacterials In the Fight against MDR Bacteria

Since the beginning of this millennium we have seen antibiotic R&D dwindle year after year. There are many reasons for this; while economics are often cited for this decline, the FDA and the ‘Guideline Wars’, i.e., those never ending discussions Continue reading Progress Report: New Antibacterials In the Fight against MDR Bacteria

AZD-0914: A New Broad-Spectrum Narrow-Development Path Drug

At first glance, the list of features that distinguish AZD-0914 from other FQ seems impressive: broad Gram-positive and Gram-negative activity, MRSA and MSSA activity, potency against fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant isolates, low frequency for S. aureus resistance, and impressive activity against C. Continue reading AZD-0914: A New Broad-Spectrum Narrow-Development Path Drug