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Food And Drug Control

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In January 2006, the FDA issued a Direct Final Rule, which proposed a change in the cGMP rules, to exempt investigational drugs and biologics from certain cGMP regulations in Phase 1 human clinical trials. The purpose of the proposed change was to “help streamline and promote the drug development process,” and to reduce the burden on companies researching new drugs (Federal Register). Under the changes, drugs and biologics undergoing Phase 1 trials would no longer be subject to some of the GMP regulations outlined in 21 CRF 211, from the Code of Federal Regulations, and the manufacturing of drugs used in Phase 1 trials would largely be governed by the more general The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, instead of the cGMP regulations …show more content…

The incident resulted in the FDA revising manufacturing and Quality Control standards, which would later become the GMPs. In the 1960s, Thalidomide was widely distributed throughout Europe, and was used as a sleeping pill, a treatment for Morning Sickness, and other health issues. However, the drug also had Teratogenic effects and resulted in severe, sometimes fatal, deformities (Immel). Thousands of victims were children. However, the drug never made it onto markets in the US, because it was blocked by Dr. Frances Kelsey, who was the FDA’s drug reviewer for Thalidomide at the time. This helped avert a major health crisis in the US, and Dr. Kelsey was awarded the President’s Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Award, for her vigilance (Immel). The horrifying side effects of Thalidomide galvanized the public into action. Congressmen Kefauver and Harris were able to pass more stringent regulations in Congress, which required all companies to properly test their products, and prove that they are safe and effective for their intended purposes, before being sold on the market. The FDA was given the power to regulate advertising for prescription drugs, and in 1963, the first GMPs were finalized (Immel). In the 1970s, the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) were greatly expanded, through Federal 21 CRF Parts 210 and 211 (Immel). In 1979, the Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs)

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