FDA’s Elsa at Eleven Months: AI-Powered Operations and One-Day Inspections Signal a New Oversight Paradigm

Recent United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcements continue to highlight the agency’s increasing development and use of artificial intelligence. Earlier this month, FDA announced the launch of the latest version of Elsa – the internal AI solution it first announced last June. That same day, speaking at the Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) annual conference, the FDA Commissioner at the time, Dr. Martin Makary, announced a new pilot program for “one-day inspections” driven by AI-backed risk analysis for low-risk facilities. Taken together, and against the backdrop of Elsa’s launch less than a year ago, these developments show a continued push from FDA to leverage AI to expedite its operations, including in the enforcement space – a push that could have direct consequences for regulated entities across FDA product categories.

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Navigating the European Health Data Space Regulation: What Life Sciences Companies Need to Know About Secondary Use Implementation (Now) – A Tracking Tool (Part 1)

The European Health Data Space Regulation took effect on March 26, 2025. While its key requirements regarding the secondary use of health data will not apply until March 2029, these provisions are set to bring about substantial changes for life sciences companies operating within the EU. This blog marks the beginning of a dedicated series of blogs exploring the implementation of the EHDS Regulation, with a particular focus on secondary use obligations. Our aim is to keep life sciences organizations informed about the latest EHDS Regulation developments, by offering an overview of relevant publications, consultations, and guidance on emerging best practices.

Beyond Technology: Embracing Blockchain for a Paradigm Shift in Life Sciences

Blockchain is not only the preserve of the fintech industry, but may have multiple uses for life sciences companies, including providing a consent structure for clinical trials to give enhanced patients more control over their own data. Sidley’s Eva von Mühlenen and Daniel Fritz, executive director of the PharmaLedger Association, explain.