The European Union has been a leader in recent years when it comes to regulatory reform intended to protect individuals’ privacy, safety, and health. As Europe leads the way, regulators in the United States often follow suit on the federal or state level. The EU’s passage of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), intended to protect personal data, is a prime example. Several years after GDPR enactment, California adopted a privacy rights statute of its own, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Other states have since passed comprehensive consumer privacy laws, with similar proposals under consideration in many state legislatures. This progression should serve as a reminder for those in the United States to keep a watchful eye on European regulatory activity as a potential harbinger of things to come in the U.S.

Medical device researchers, designers, and manufacturers may want to pay close attention in particular to new EU legislation concerning medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic devices. Originally passed in May 2017, Regulation 2017/745 on Medical Devices (MDR) became effective in May 2021 and Regulation 2017/746 on In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices (IVDR) becomes effective in May 2022. Both regulations are intended to enhance public health and ensure access to safe and effective medical devices.

The regulations achieve health and safety improvements in a variety of ways. The MDR and IVDR aim to provide more clarity regarding what data must be collected during clinical studies and how they must be submitted to regulatory bodies. Likewise, the MDR and IVDR place special focus on “high risk” devices, which will now be subject to additional scrutiny by an independent regulatory panel. The regulations also aim to increase transparency by making much of the newly required information available to the public. Further, the MDR and IVDR require manufacturers to take an active role in post-market surveillance of their products, including a heightened vigilance requirement to monitor, assess, and report adverse events.

While substantial overlap exists between the two regulations, only IVDR includes specific changes for in-vitro devices (IVDs). Under the current regime, a medical device is self-declared to be an IVD by the developer or manufacturer. Under IVDR, regulatory bodies will now determine whether a medical device meets the parameters of an IVD, and whether the IVD presents a low or high risk. That risk classification may subject the device to heightened regulatory requirements and scrutiny from regulatory bodies.

Similar regulations for medical devices have not yet been proposed in the United States, but they may not be far away. Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) took steps to increase cybersecurity for medical devices and to prepare for the increased use of artificial intelligence and machine learning-based medical software. It would not be a stretch for the FDA to follow up with requests for more robust data in the vein of MDR and IVDR.

Medical device researchers, developers, and manufacturers in the United States may want to lay the groundwork for compliance with MDR and IVDR, to the extent they have not already done so, to prepare for expansion into the EU market and in anticipation of potential future regulatory action from the FDA.

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Photo of James Anderson James Anderson

Jim Anderson is a litigator and trial lawyer. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation involving leading technology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as private equity, private credit, and venture funds. Jim leverages his technological background and expertise to represent clients in high-stakes…

Jim Anderson is a litigator and trial lawyer. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation involving leading technology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as private equity, private credit, and venture funds. Jim leverages his technological background and expertise to represent clients in high-stakes business and intellectual property disputes.

Jim has experience litigating cases for clients in the life sciences, biotech, software, consumer electronics, and financial services industries.  Jim has also handled lawsuits for venture and hedge funds, and real estate clients.   He has litigated cases in courts throughout the United States, as well as before the International Trade Commission and Patent Trial and Appeal Board.  He has also represented foreign and domestic companies in disputes before international arbitration tribunals under ICC and CPR Rules.

In addition to his commercial litigation practice, Jim counsels and advises private equity and private credit clients in fund-fund, lender-sponsor, and portfolio company disputes.  Jim leverages his courtroom experience to help these clients navigate regulatory and litigation risks.

Jim also advises clients on intellectual property strategy spanning the full range of patent, trademark, and trade secret protections. He has developed and maintained intellectual property portfolios in a broad range of industries, including consumer products, medical devices, machining and fabrication equipment, and semiconductor devices. Jim is registered to practice before the USPTO.

Jim also maintains an active pro bono practice. He has received awards for his work on behalf of victims of domestic violence and abuse.

Jim has a background in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on energy, power, and fuel cell technologies. Prior to his career at Proskauer, Jim served as a judicial intern in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and represented clients with the UConn Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Law Clinic.

Photo of Colin G. Cabral Colin G. Cabral

Colin Cabral is the co-head of Proskauer’s Patent Litigation Group. Colin is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer specializing in complex intellectual property and contract disputes.

Colin represents pharmaceutical, private equity, biotech, and medical device companies in high-stakes commercial litigation in the life…

Colin Cabral is the co-head of Proskauer’s Patent Litigation Group. Colin is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer specializing in complex intellectual property and contract disputes.

Colin represents pharmaceutical, private equity, biotech, and medical device companies in high-stakes commercial litigation in the life sciences industry. He also serves as lead counsel in patent and trade secret matters involving a wide range of technologies, including computer software, electronic devices, and consumer products.

Recently, Colin has tried multiple cases for pharmaceutical companies and investors in contract disputes arising out of unsuccessful drug development programs and the exercise of “commercially reasonable efforts.”

In 2017, Colin was named to Benchmark Litigation’s Under 40 Hotlist, which recognizes attorneys under the age of 40 who “have been deemed the most promising emerging talent in their respective litigation communities . . . by peers and clients.”

Previously, Colin served as in-house litigation counsel for a global life sciences company. He also served as a Special Assistant District Attorney in Dorchester, MA.

Colin volunteers as regular faculty for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the firm’s trial advocacy training program. He is Board Chairman of FreeFrom, a charitable organization that helps survivors of domestic violence achieve financial independence. He is also a former board member of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA).