The U.S. FDA’s authority to require cybersecurity measures in premarket submissions is a radical change for industry, but firms must document that they have erected solid cybersecurity measures.
Staffing cuts at the FDA’s device center led to speculation that the current user fee program may be fatally damaged, but Mark Leahey, president and CEO of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association, said in a meeting in Columbus, Ohio that there are too many resources for FDA at stake for the user fee program to be ended.
The Advanced Medical Technology Association released a policy proposal for AI in medical devices that took the U.S, FDA to task for its guidance for predetermined change control protocols for AI, stating that the guidance is “inconsistent with the statutory authority” for PCCPs.
The European Association of Medical Device Notified Bodies inked a position paper on the EU Artificial Intelligence Act which recites some standing concerns. Perhaps the most interesting passage in the paper is that there is a need for a “well-coordinated approach between member states that are in charge of notified body oversight.”
The U.S. FDA’s January 2025 draft guidance for AI-enabled device software functions has not fared well in terms of industry response. Two major trade associations argue that the draft is at least somewhat redundant with existing agency guidance.
U.S. FDA warning letters typically have a noticeable effect on device manufacturing operations, but in the case of Q’Apel Medical Inc., a warning letter led to the withdrawal of a product for which the company made changes that were not cleared by the agency.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decided to peel back a series of local coverage determinations for skin substitute grafts that provoked a vigorous response from stakeholders.
The U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) gave the nod to a total of 11 robotic surgical systems for use in the U.K.’s trusts, but this is no free pass as the agency expects the manufacturers of these systems to gather data under this conditional coverage framework.
The recent staff cuts at the U.S. FDA’s device center caught the attention of outsiders but also caught the attention of those who work on premarket applications for 510(k) and PMA filings.
