food & drug law institute conference on products liability for fda regulated products january...
TRANSCRIPT
Food & Drug Law InstituteConference on Products Liability
For FDA Regulated Products
January 26, 2005
Recalls: The First Smoke of A Mass Tort
Overview of a Recall of an FDA-Regulated Product
Michael A. Swit, Esq.Vice President, Life Sciences
My Objectives Today• Review key rules or requirements that
apply to recalls– What is a recall and what is not– What FDA’s authority is relative to recalls – e.g.,
can it order a recall?– How FDA deals with recalls and how industry
interacts with the agency, including • information FDA expects from a recalling firm • How FDA expects public notification to be handled• Classifying recalls by health hazard profile
– Handling the recall logistically• Understand how recall handling can set
the tone for potential products liability exposure post-recall
Defining “Recall”
• Recall means a firm`s removal or correction of a marketed product that the Food and Drug Administration considers to be in violation of the laws it administers and against which the agency would initiate legal action, e.g., seizure. Recall does not include a market withdrawal or a stock recovery. 21 CFR 7.3(g)
Defining …“Correction”
• Correction means repair, modification, adjustment, relabeling, destruction, or inspection (including patient monitoring) of a product without its physical removal to some other location. 21 CFR 7.3(h)
Defining … “Market Withdrawal”
• Market withdrawal means a firm`s removal or correction of a distributed product which involves a minor violation that would not be subject to legal action by the Food and Drug Administration or which involves no violation, e.g., normal stock rotation practices, routine equipment adjustments and repairs, etc. 21 CFR 7.3(j)
Defining … “Stock Recovery”
• Stock Recovery – a firm’s removal or corrections of a product that has not been marketed or that has not left the direct control of the firm, i.e., the product is located on the premises owned by or under the control of the firms and no portion of the lot has been released for sale or use.
Defining … “Recall Strategy”
• A planned specific course of action to be take in conducting a specific recall, which addresses the depth of the recall, need for public warnings, and extent of effectiveness checks for the recall. 21 CFR 7.3(l)
Defining … “Recall Classification”
• The numerical (Roman) designation, i.e., I, II, or III, assigned by FDA to a particular product recall to indicate the relative degree of health hazard presented by the product being recalled.
• Class I – a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
Defining … “Recall Classification” …
• Class II – a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
• Class III – a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse consequences.
Classification – Evaluating Health Hazard – 21 CFR 7.41
• You must do it; and FDA also will do it and its decision will govern; rarely reversed
• Factors addressed in a Health Hazard Evaluation (“HHE”)– Has disease or injury occurred due to use of
(violative) product?– Could existing conditions contribute to a
clinical situation that could expose humans (or animals) to a health hazard?
– How will the hazard impact (e.g., differently) various population segments?
Classification – Evaluating Health Hazard …
• Factors addressed in HHE…– Degree of seriousness of HH to which at
risk populations would be exposed– Assessment of likelihood hazard will
occur– Assessment of consequences –
immediate or long-term – if hazard occurs
Can FDA Make You Recall?
• General rule: No. But, FDA: “if we request, we will seize if you don’t”– FDA Regulatory Procedures Manual (RPM) – if
FDA requests, it is usually a Class I scenario
• Statutory and regulatory exceptions:– Infant formula – Medical Device recall/notification authority –
§518(e)– Biological products under the National
Childhood Vaccine Safety Act of 1986– Human tissue – 21 CFR 1270.43
Do You Have to Tell FDA You’re Doing A Recall?
• Technically – not always– “Exceptions” involving notice that will trigger
recall as an issue for you and FDA• Field Alert – 21 CFR 314.81(b)(1) – 3 working days
notice to your local FDA district office any time NDA holder learns:
– Info that its drug or labeling could be mistaken for, or applied to another article (e.g., label mix-ups)
– Info about:» Any bacteriological contamination» Any significant chemical, physical or other change or
deterioration in distributed drug; or» Any failure of a batch to meet its specification
• ANDA Stability Commitment – signed part of ANDA that you will recall any batch that falls out of specification.
Do You Have to Tell FDA You’re Doing A Recall …
– “Exceptions” …• PMA Conditions of Approval – must report to FDA within
10 days after the applicant receives or has knowledge of information concerning:
– A mix-up of the device or its labeling with another article. – Any adverse reaction, side effect, injury, toxicity, or
sensitivity reaction attributable to the device and: » not addressed by the device's labeling; or » addressed by device labeling but occurring with
unexpected severity or frequency. – Any significant chemical, physical or other change or
deterioration in the device, or any failure of the device to meet the specifications established in the approved PMA that could not cause or contribute to death or serious injury but are not correctable by adjustments or other maintenance procedures described in the approved labeling
• Practically – yes; FDA expects it
Information FDA Expects On a Recall That Could Come Back
to Haunt You • Sources:
– GUIDANCE FOR INDUSTRY – Product Recalls, Including Removals and Corrections. http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/recalls/ggp_recall.htm
– Regulatory Procedures Manual. March 2004. Chapter 7. Recall Procedures. http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/rpm/pdf/ch7.pdf
• Be very careful – this information will be discoverable
Information FDA Wants in a Recall Submission …
• Reason for Recall (Guidance Item #A-6)– How product is defective or violative– How defect affects performance or safety– How the problem occurred and when– How discovered and when– Complaints associated with product/problem
• Health Hazard Evaluation – (Guidance Item #A-7) -- your assessment of health risk associated with “deficiency”
Information FDA Wants in a Recall Submission …
• Recall Strategy (Recall Guidance #A-10) – – Depth of recall – wholesaler, retail, consumer– Notification process– Effectiveness check strategy
• Public Notification (Recall Guidance, Part B)– Press release – “usually appropriate” if a
significant health hazard and recalled product in hands of consumers• Consult with district office recall coordinator before
issuing “whenever possible”
Recall Effectiveness Checks
• Level A – 100% of consignees• Level B – between 10% and <100%
of consignees• Level C – 10%• Level D – 2%• Level E – no checks
Evaluation of Recall
• Per Recall Guidance (Item C), FDA expects you to take two additional key steps after your recall:– Root Cause Analysis– Corrective Action Plan to prevent future
occurrences
Timing Rules
• FDA– Field Alerts – 3 “working” days– PMA Reports – 10 days
• SEC – 8-K’s – for certain specified and “other events”
– supposed to implement SOX "real time issuer disclosure" requirement – within 4 business days of the event
• General good sense – correlate to health hazard
Vioxx – Recall, Correction or Withdrawal?
• Not a correction – did not remain on market• Not a recall – no allegation to date by FDA
or recalling firm that legal violation occurred
• Market Withdrawal– Based on (publicly available) knowledge at time
Merck acted, this is the closest definition– Consistent with FDA contemporaneous
descriptions at the time, which did not use “recall”
Questions?Call, e-mail, fax or write:
Michael A. Swit, Esq.Vice President, Life SciencesTHE WEINBERG GROUP INC.336 North Pacific Coast Hwy. 101
Suite CEncinitas, CA 92024
Phone 760.633.3343Fax 760.633.3501Cell 760.815.4762
D.C. Office [email protected]
www.weinberggroup.com
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