[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 178 (Thursday, September 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56647-56649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22604]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2012-N-0356]


Lisa Jean Sharp: Debarment Order

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an order 
under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) 
permanently debarring Lisa Jean Sharp from providing services in any 
capacity to a person that has an approved or pending drug product 
application. We base this order on a finding that Lisa Jean Sharp was 
convicted of a felony under Federal law for conduct relating to the 
development or approval, including the process for development or 
approval, of a drug product under the

[[Page 56648]]

FD&C Act. Ms. Sharp was given notice of the proposed permanent 
debarment and an opportunity to request a hearing within the timeframe 
prescribed by regulation, but failed to respond. Ms. Sharp's failure to 
respond constitutes a waiver of her right to a hearing concerning this 
action.

DATES: This order is effective September 13, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit applications for special termination of debarment to 
the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenny Shade, Division of Compliance 
Policy (HFC-230), Office of Enforcement, Office of Regulatory Affairs, 
Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, MD 20857, 
301-796-4640.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 306(a)(2)(A) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335a(a)(2)(A)) 
requires debarment of an individual if FDA finds that the individual 
has been convicted of a felony under Federal law for conduct relating 
to the development or approval, including the process for development 
or approval, of a drug product under the FD&C Act.
    On March 26, 2012, the U.S. District Court for the District of 
Kansas entered judgment against Ms. Sharp after she entered a guilty 
plea to, among others, a felony count of failing to prepare and 
maintain records required under section 505(i) of the FD&C Act, with 
the intent to defraud and mislead, in violation of sections 301(e) and 
303(a)(2) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 331(e), 333(a)(2), and 18 U.S.C. 
2).
    FDA's finding that debarment is appropriate is based on the felony 
conviction referenced herein for conduct relating to the development or 
approval, including the process for development or approval, of a drug 
product under the FD&C Act.
    The factual basis for this conviction is as follows: Ms. Sharp was 
the Director of Clinical Trials for Lee Research Institute. Schering/
Plough was a pharmaceutical company engaged in developing and marketing 
pharmaceutical products. In or about July 2009, Schering/Plough chose 
Lee Research Institute, Ms. Sharp's employer, to perform a clinical 
study known as ``A 28-Day Study Evaluating the Safety of Ragweed 
Sublingual Tablet in Adult Subjects 50 Years of Age and Older with 
Ragweed-Induced Rhino conjunctivitis.'' Ms. Sharp was the Lead Clinical 
Research Coordinator for the clinical study.
    Before beginning the clinical study, FDA required Schering/Plough 
to provide the Agency with a study protocol. The study protocol 
contained information about how the clinical study would be conducted, 
where studies would be done and by whom, how the drug's safety would be 
evaluated, and what findings would require the study to be changed or 
halted. According to the study protocol, each subject had to be 50 
years of age or older. Additionally, the study protocol excluded 
subjects who were a member or a family member of the personnel of the 
investigational or sponsor staff directly involved with the clinical 
trial. Under section 505(i) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)) and 21 
CFR 312.62(b), Ms. Sharp was required to maintain adequate and accurate 
case histories on each individual who was administered Schering/
Plough's investigational drug.
    Beginning in or about January 2010, and continuing through in or 
about May 2010, Ms. Sharp, with the intent to defraud and mislead, 
failed to prepare and maintain the required records described above. 
Specifically, Ms. Sharp falsified the birth dates of two participants 
such that they appeared to be older than 50 years of age; falsely 
indicated that physical examinations had been performed when they had 
not been performed; and indicated on required forms that two 
participants met the inclusion criteria and had no reasons for 
exclusion, when she knew that the participants did not meet the 
inclusion criteria of age and should have been excluded as employees of 
Lee Research Institute.
    As a result of her conviction, on June 20, 2012, FDA sent Ms. Sharp 
a notice by certified mail proposing to permanently debar her from 
providing services in any capacity to a person that has an approved or 
pending drug product application. The proposal was based on a finding, 
under section 306(a)(2)(A) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335a(a)(2)(A)), 
that Ms. Sharp was convicted of a felony under Federal law for conduct 
relating to the development or approval, including the process for 
development or approval, of a drug product under the FD&C Act.
    The proposal also offered Ms. Sharp an opportunity to request a 
hearing, providing her 30 days from the date of receipt of the letter 
in which to file the request, and advised her that failure to request a 
hearing constituted a waiver of the opportunity for a hearing and of 
any contentions concerning this action. Ms. Sharp received the proposal 
on June 25, 2012. She failed to respond and has, therefore, waived her 
opportunity for a hearing and has waived any contentions concerning her 
debarment (21 CFR part 12).

II. Findings and Order

    Therefore, the Director, Office of Enforcement, Office of 
Regulatory Affairs, under section 306(a)(2)(A) of the FD&C Act (21 
U.S.C. 335a(a)(2)(A)), under authority delegated to the Director (Staff 
Manual Guide 1410.35), finds that Lisa Jean Sharp has been convicted of 
a felony under federal law for conduct relating to the development or 
approval, including the process for development or approval, of a drug 
product under the FD&C Act.
    As a result of the foregoing finding, Lisa Jean Sharp is 
permanently debarred from providing services in any capacity to a 
person with an approved or pending drug product application under 
sections 505, 512, or 802 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 355, 360b, or 
382), or under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
262), effective (see DATES), (see section 306(c)(1)(B), (c)(2)(A)(ii), 
and 201(dd) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335a(c)(1)(B), (c)(2)(A)(ii), 
and 321(dd))). Any person with an approved or pending drug product 
application who knowingly employs or retains as a consultant or 
contractor, or otherwise uses the services of Ms. Sharp, in any 
capacity during Ms. Sharp's debarment, will be subject to civil money 
penalties (section 307(a)(6) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335b(a)(6))). 
If Ms. Sharp provides services in any capacity to a person with an 
approved or pending drug product application during her period of 
debarment she will be subject to civil money penalties (section 
307(a)(7) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335b(a)(7)). In addition, FDA will 
not accept or review any abbreviated new drug applications submitted by 
or with the assistance of Ms. Sharp during her period of debarment 
(section 306(c)(1)(A) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335a(c)(1)(A)).
    Any application by Ms. Sharp for special termination of debarment 
under section 306(d)(4) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335a(d)(4)) should 
be identified with Docket No. FDA-2012-N-0356 and sent to the Division 
of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). All such submissions are to be 
filed in four copies. The public availability of information in these 
submissions is governed by 21 CFR 10.20(j).
    Publicly available submissions may be seen in the Division of 
Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.


[[Page 56649]]


    Dated: September 4, 2012.
Armando Zamora,
Acting Director, Office of Enforcement, Office of Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-22604 Filed 9-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-P