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FDA Regulatory & Compliance Symposium Special Pre-Conference Workshop August 24, 2005

FDA Regulatory & Compliance Symposium Special Pre-Conference Workshop August 24, 2005. Legal Issues and Trends in Corporate Compliance Programs. John T. Bentivoglio jbentivoglio@kslaw.com 202-626-5591. Overview. Corporate Compliance Programs (CCPs) – What’s Required?

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FDA Regulatory & Compliance Symposium Special Pre-Conference Workshop August 24, 2005

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  1. FDA Regulatory & Compliance SymposiumSpecial Pre-Conference WorkshopAugust 24, 2005 Legal Issues and Trends in Corporate Compliance Programs John T. Bentivoglio jbentivoglio@kslaw.com 202-626-5591

  2. Overview • Corporate Compliance Programs (CCPs) – What’s Required? • CCPs -- What’s Expected? • Current Status of CCPs in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry • Thoughts on What Makes CCPs Effective

  3. CCPs – What’s Required? • As a general rule, companies are not obligated by law to establish a CCP • US Sentencing Guidelines, widely recognized and accepted as establishing standards for CCPs, are not mandatory; rather, companies following guidelines may receive “credit” in sentencing for a criminal conviction. • HHS OIG Guidance explicitly provides that it is voluntary and not a binding set of requirements.

  4. CCPs – What’s Required? • What is required? Key compliance requirements: • Sarbanes-Oxley compliance initiatives (mostly around financial reporting) • FDA requirements (GCPs, GMPs, promotion, etc.) • Obligations imposed by Corporate Integrity Agreements • Other function-specific requirements (EH&S, OSHA, etc.) • New California law requires pharmaceutical companies (and possibly some medical device companies) to establish a CCP in accordance with HHS OIG Guidance • Upshot: Until recently, most companies had some latitude on whether and, if so, how to implement a CCP – and programs have varied widely

  5. CCPs – What’s Expected? • Companies under scrutiny frequently seek to receive “credit” for their compliance programs • What do prosecutors look for in evaluating whether to give such credit? Some key factors: • Evidence of commitment of senior management • Widespread awareness and support throughout organization • Robust efforts to monitor and audit • Prompt follow-up to reports of misconduct (including disciplinary action and efforts to prevent repeat violations) • Paper programs won’t suffice; experienced prosecutors know where and how to look

  6. What’s Expected – Factors Affecting Prosecutorial Decision-Making • Knowledge and intent – considered even under FDCA, which is a strict liability statute • The extent and seriousness of the wrongdoing • Extent (length of time, number of violations – e.g., rogue employee, system breakdown, or intentional misconduct) • Financial or physical harm to individuals • Lack of controls contributing to misconduct • What did the company do when it learned • Response of management to detected violations • Investigation • Corrective/preventive action • Disciplinary action (including holding managers accountable)

  7. What’s Expected – Factors Affecting Prosecutorial Decision-Making • Documentation • Documents provide the most powerful evidence, particularly of knowledge and intent • E-mails are providing powerful evidence in civil and criminal litigation (e.g., Anderson, Vioxx) • Contrary to common perceptions, most prosecutors: • Don’t want to prosecute honest mistakes or negligence • Will consider a company’s compliance efforts • But … • Prosecutors are skeptical (sometimes cynical) and will want proof • Prosecutors won’t accept “everybody’s doing it” as a defense (indeed, if everybody’s doing it, it may be a more attractive case)

  8. State of CCPs in the Pharma and Device Industries • Most mid- and large-size companies have established basic compliance programs that are organized around the HHS OIG Guidance, USSC Guidelines, and CIA requirements • Companies are farthest along in the first four “elements” of a compliance program: • Designation of senior-level compliance officer • Establishment of written policies and procedures • Implementation of compliance training • Establishment of a hotline and/or other internal reporting mechanism

  9. State of the Industry (cont’d) • Companies are not as far along in the “back end” of compliance programs: • Auditing and monitoring • Establishment of compliance-focused performance and disciplinary standards • Procedures for responding to potential violations and/or implementation of corrective action plans • Periodic risk assessments to identify emerging risk areas • And even in the first four areas, some programs have significant deficiencies. Examples: • Policies cover only basic areas (e.g., AdvaMed Code areas) – and not other risk areas (e.g., grants) • Education is simplistic and not tailored to personnel in high-risk areas

  10. State of the Industry (cont’d) • Auditing • Most companies don’t have solid auditing programs • Obstacles include concern about detecting problems that could expose the company to future liability • Few companies audit obvious areas – (e.g., call notes for sales/marketing compliance) • Companies operating under CIAs (with Reportable Events provisions) face particular challenges • Performance and Disciplinary Standards • Some companies still do not have good policies/procedures that provide consistent discipline • Few companies have responded to government’s concern regarding incentive compensation and other measures of performance

  11. Thoughts for RA/QA Professionals • RA/QA issues are important – but they are not the only (or even the most important) compliance issues confronting management • Many companies are moving toward a broad, enterprise-wide risk management approach • Recognizes the wide variety of compliance requirements and challenges confronting pharma/device companies • Allows management to allocate resources (money, attention) based on risk • Leverages compliance infrastructure across functional areas (e.g., hotlines, web-based training platforms, incorporation of compliance in performance measures)

  12. Thoughts for RA/QA Professionals • Many senior managers recognize the importance of compliance issues generally, but are concerned that: • Additional compliance measures will lead to more bureaucracy – and not more compliance • Compliance professionals raise “concerns” but do not provide clear suggestions on solutions • Compliance programs are not dynamic and fail to identify and address future risks • There are few metrics to judge performance – every other function is measured and evaluated, but there are few agreed-upon metrics for compliance and legal activities

  13. Thoughts for RA/QA Professionals • What are some senior compliance professionals doing to address these issues? • Developing compliance metrics • Spend more time on internal communications • Branding the program • Communicating the importance of compliance (testimonials) • Leveraging internal communications resources • Aligning and communicating more closely with the business to identify and solve problems earlier and at lowest-possible level (while maintaining integrity of compliance function)

  14. Fine Print The views expressed in these slides and accompanying discussion do not necessarily reflect the views of King & Spalding LLP and/or any of the firm’s clients. These slides and accompanying discussion provide a general summary of the law. They are not, and should not be relied upon, as legal advice.

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