Oct 15 U.S. Requires New Warning on Antidepressants for Children Antidepressants must now have a "black box" warning after researchers linked the drugs to increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday. Continue reading
May 07 FDA Blocks Over-the-Counter Sales of Morning-After Pill The FDA, citing concerns about the morning-after-pill's use by young teenagers, rejected over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraception late Thursday, a move that contradicted the recommendation of the agency's advisory panel. Continue reading
Mar 22 FDA Backs Stronger Warnings for Some Antidepressants People on certain popular antidepressants should be monitored for signs of suicidal thoughts, the government warned Monday as it asked pharmaceutical companies to highlight a suicide warning on the labels of ten drugs. Continue reading
Mar 12 Senate Approves McClellan As New Medicare Chief The Senate approved FDA chief Mark McClellan's nomination to head Medicare on Friday, after the vote was delayed over concerns about his opposition to legalizing the importation of prescription drugs. Continue reading
Mar 11 FDA Chief McClellan Testifies on Drug Importation Concerns The Food and Drug Administration commissioner and White House nominee to run Medicare, Mark McClellan, reiterated his concerns about drug importation during a contentious Senate hearing Thursday. Continue reading
Feb 26 FDA Approves New Cancer Treatment Drug By PBS News Hour The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the first drug that attacks cancer by choking off its blood supply -- a treatment for advanced colon cancer called Avastin. Continue reading
Feb 26 Illinois Residents Sue FDA As Debate Over Drug Importation Heats Up The governor of Illinois Thursday backed a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to overturn the ban on buying prescription drugs from Canada. Continue reading
Feb 12 FDA Approves New Colon Cancer Drug By PBS News Hour The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the cancer drug Erbitux, which is at the center of the ImClone insider-trading scandal, for the treatment of colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Continue reading
Jan 08 FDA Maintains Ban on Silicone Breast Implants By PBS News Hour The Food and Drug Administration Thursday said it needed more evidence demonstrating the safety of silicone breast implants before it would reverse a 1992 ban on routine sales of the devices. Continue reading
Dec 16 Morning-After Pill Should Be Sold on Drug Store Shelves, FDA Panel Says The emergency contraception commonly referred to as the morning-after pill should be available on drug store shelves without the prescription that women currently need, a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended Tuesday. Continue reading