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Policy Archive

FORCE Weighs in on Breast Implant Safety and Informed Consent

Device Safety & Drug Development

December 23, 2019 - Today, FORCE submitted comments on U.S. Food and Drug Administration's proposed labeling and patient communication guidelines for breast implants. These updates follow a device safety hearing and recall of certain textured breast implants earlier this year. If enacted, the guidance will revise those established in 2006 by adding a boxed warning, patient decision checklist, revised rupture screening recommendations, and more.

The proposed changes follow July 2019 action to protect women from breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) by requesting that Allergan, the manufacturer of a specific type of textured implant, recall certain models of its textured breast implants from the U.S. market due to the risk of BIA-ALCL.

Per the agency's request, Allergan recalled its BIOCELL textured breast implant products, including: Natrelle Saline-Filled breast implants, Natrelle Silicone-Filled breast implants, Natrelle Inspira Silicone-Filled breast implants, and Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Filled breast implants. The recall also includes tissue expanders used by patients prior to breast augmentation or reconstruction, including Natrelle 133 Plus Tissue Expander and Natrelle 133 Tissue Expander with Suture Tabs.

Read our XRAY review for a more in-depth analysis of the recall and related issues.

See the "Related Resources" box below for more history behind this new guidance, recall, and FDA meetings that took place earlier this year.

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News Briefs

3/1/2024 - Provided feedback to CMS on the Medicare Advantage Advanced Notice and accompanying Part D Redesign Program provisions aimed at reducing and managing beneficiary out-of-pocket costs in the Medicare Part D program.

2/29/2024 - Wrote sponsors to endorse the BENEFIT Act, which would require the FDA to include in the benefit-risk assessment framework of a new drug application how patient experience data was considered in the review process.

2/28/2024 - Encouraged congressional leadership to support and enact the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries maintain access to essential pharmacist services.

2/22/2024 - Joined over 200 orgs in urging Congress to make important telehealth flexibilities permanent, to provide certainty, and safeguard against this important policy getting left behind among competing priorities at the end of the year.

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