Health Law Advisor

Where does the line fall between good faith and criminal intent? That was the question that a Massachusetts federal jury faced in July as it deliberated criminal charges against William Facteau and Patrick Fabian, ex-Acclarent executives, who were indicted on multiple charges of fraud and misbranding a medical device. Acclarent's device, the Relieva Stratus Microflow Spacer ("Stratus"), was cleared by the FDA for use as a spacer to maintain an opening in the sinus. Although the FDA expressly rejected Acclarant's request to expand the indicated use of the device to include delivery ...

by Wendy C. Goldstein and Kathleen A. Peterson

On December 27, 2011, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration ("FDA"), Office of Prescription Drug Promotion ("OPDP") (formerly the Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications) released a new draft guidance document titled "Guidance for Industry on Responding to Unsolicited Requests for Off-Label Information About Prescription Drugs and Medical Devices" (the "Draft Guidance"). The OPDP will accept comments on the Draft Guidance through March 29, 2011.

The FDA has a longstanding policy of permitting ...