Welcome to the podcast series, "Pharma: The last word," hosted by Partner Phil Katz. This series aims to dive into the intricate world of pharmaceuticals and biotech regulatory and legal landscapes, exploring new innovations, trends, and their practical impacts. Each episode will focus on specific areas of the law, such as drug development, clinical trials, FDA compliance, and more, providing listeners with a detailed look at the complexities of pharmaceutical regulations and practical strategies for navigating them. Subscribe and listen to the podcast.

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In this episode of Pharma – The Last Word, host Phil Katz sits down with Deborah Cho, to discuss the evolving landscape of biosimilarity and interchangeability. They dive into the FDA's changing approach, highlighting the shift towards treating biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars as a single category. Deborah explains how advancements in technology and experience have reduced the need for additional studies, and why the FDA is pushing for a statutory change to streamline approvals. Tune in for a deep dive into the business and legal implications of these regulatory updates.

In this episode, Phil Katz and Hein van den Bos discuss early access programs in the EU, exploring the various types of programs, their practical implications, and the regulatory challenges. They delve into compassionate use programs, named patient supply, and the nuances of implementing these programs across different EU countries. The conversation also touches on the benefits and risks of early access, including potential ethical and reputational concerns.

In this episode of “Pharma – The last word,” host Phil Katz, discusses regulatory and legal trends in the pharma and biotech industries with Komal Karnik Nigam. They delve into the FDA’s evolving approach to data packages required for drug approval, highlighting the increased flexibility in accepting alternative forms of evidence. Komal explains how FDA’s guidance has shifted from demanding large, multicenter trials to considering confirmatory evidence such as natural history studies, mechanistic data, and data from other products in the same class. The episode emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and early consideration of data presentation in regulatory interactions.

Join Phil and his first guest, Lynn Mehler, co-head of the Life Sciences and Health Care industry sector, and Lead of the Pharmaceuticals and Biotech Regulatory Practice, as they discuss the unique insights and deep expertise their team brings to the table, the largest of its kind outside the FDA. They will share the inner workings of their practice, how they stay ahead of industry trends, and their passion for the field.