What is REMS? What is it’s significance?

In 2007, a new law that gave FDA many new authorities and responsibilities to enhance drug safety was enacted. It’s called the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act- sometimes called “FDAAA”- and one of its provisions gave FDA the authority to require a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy-(REMS) from manufacturers to ensure that the benefits of a drug or biological product outweigh its risks.

A REMs may be required by the FDA as part of the approval of a new product, or for an approved product when new safety information arises. Essentially, a REMS is a safety strategy to manage a known or potential serious risk associated with a medicine and to enable patients to have continued access to such medicines by managing their safe use.