FDA Policy Shift on Homeopathic Drugs Stays Put After Appeal

MediNatura Inc. lost its bid for a preliminary injunction blocking the Food and Drug Administration from withdrawing a 30-year-old policy exempting the homeopathic drug industry from heavy regulation, when the D.C. Circuit ruled Friday that the agency reasonably explained why expansion of the industry and growing safety concerns justify the change.

MediNatura didn’t show that the FDA’s actions failed to properly consider industry reliance on the prior standard or address possible alternatives, the court said. The agency’s response to a citizen petition identified four considerations it said outweighed the alleged reliance interest, including the recent growth of safety concerns associated ...