These have been turbulent times for the FDA. On the one hand, the U.S. regulator has found itself carefully unravelling guidances to bolster COVID-19 testing and treatment – sometimes leading to confusion for companies searching for new ways to combat the global epidemic. On the other, the agency continues to push forward with broader initiatives to remap its processes so that novel software...
Yesterday, Pear Therapeutics announced the regulatory clearance of Somryst, its prescription digital therapeutic for chronic insomnia. And while the product is noteworthy for these patients and Pear's broader business, it also stands as a major milestone for the digital health industry – the first product to be evaluated throught the FDA's Digital Health Software Precertification Program.
Now...
Last week, as part of our Focus on Innovation, HIMSS Media ran a poll about the FDA's Pre-Cert program. The program isn't new, but we thought it would be a good moment to take the public pulse on a program that has seen a variety of reactions from inside the industry. Just under 500 readers responded.
In general, those opposed the program constituted a vocal minority — just 7.1 percent of...
The road to FDA clearance for medical devices may change radically in the next year.
Last summer, initial discussion began around implementing a pre-certification program for medical device companies, which would allow certain companies that the FDA has deemed responsible and safe in their development to build products without each new device undergoing the FDA clearance or approval process....