Changes are afoot in the dietary supplement arena as FDA's supplement program director Bill Frankos prepares to leave the agency, a firm pleads guilty in a steroid supplement case and ingredient supplier Martek Biosciences moves to expand its supplement portfolio with the proposed acquisition of Amerifit. The Jan. 25 issue of "The Tan Sheet" discusses the ramifications of these changes on the supplement industry. We also explore how the latest twist in the health reform bill debate will impact the pharma industry.
FDA To Fill Frankos' Shoes As Major Dietary Supplement Initiatives Pend – FDA's supplement program director Vasilios "Bill" Frankos exits the agency in March. With NDI guidance pending and GMP inspections continuing, potential successors will face a full plate
Martek Pursues Direct Consumer Access With Pending Acquisition Of Amerifit – Martek bids $200 mil. for the health and wellness company, which offers the ingredient developer a substantially expended portfolio with brands including Culturelle, Estroven and AZO. The deal also marks the omega-3 DHA ingredient supplier's first major foray into consumer marketing. Planned launches include a DHA product aimed at seniors
GSK's Quick Warning On Fake Alli Exemplifies Effective Crisis Management – GlaxoSmithKline and FDA warn consumers Jan. 18 of a "small quantity" of counterfeit alli – just over a month after the firm began receiving consumer complaints. The quick turnaround is "the way crisis management should be done," compared to McNeil's handling of complaints of musty-smelling Tylenol, crisis management expert Bernstein says
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Regulatory
- FDA Shift On BPA May Tighten Squeeze On Infant Formula Manufacturers
- Sentinel Will Benefit From Administration's Health IT Push
- "Mini Sentinel" With Harvard Gets FDA Halfway To Health Record Target
Research & Development
- Research & Development In Brief
On The Hill
- Health Reform Bill Downsizing Would Send Pharma Industry Back To Bargaining Table
People
- Herbalife Hires FDA's Frankos For Compliance/Safety Position
- People In Brief
Litigation
- Guilty Plea In VMG Steroid Supplement Case Weighs On Firm, Not DSHEA Critics
In Brief
- Inverness unloads nutritionals
- Senators introduce nanotech bill
- N.Y. floats tax on energy, sports drinks
- N.J. grants nutritional authorities to chiropractors
- Steroid class action certified on appeal
- Quten absorbs NAD critique
- FDA warning letter
- GSK supports smoking cessation campaign
- MuscleMaster recalls steroid-laced supplements
-- Elizabeth Crawford (e.crawford@elsevier.com)
