Clinicians and sponsors want the US FDA to open up antibacterial labeling to include more data on efficacy against resistant pathogens and in other body sites, but regulatory restrictions may require a workaround in the form of rapid, peer-to-peer communications about the data on new products.

Rigel Pharmaceuticals and Jazz Pharmaceuticals are among the companies that could find out this week whether their new drug applications at the European Medicines Agency are likely to be approved for marketing across the EU. The EMA's key scientific committee, the CHMP, will also consider applications from Roche and Novartis.

Long-time deputy John Farley becomes acting director of the Office of Antimicrobial Products. Cox, who served as the director of the office for more than a decade, joins Regeneron to serve as vice president of regulatory affairs.