Profile
Amaru counsels domestic and global companies in matters involving products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and relevant state agencies. As a former in-house counsel for a publicly traded company, Amaru is well-positioned to help clients navigate complex legal, regulatory, and business issues.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Advises companies in emerging food categories such as alternative proteins using plant, microbial, and animal cell-based technologies (also known as cultivated meat), as well as organic products and bioengineered ingredients.
- Assists food companies and trade associations in maintaining an active role in the development of domestic and global governmental regulations, policies, and industry guidance by preparing food/food ingredient related filings, organizing agency meetings, and drafting/submitting comments in response to regulatory actions.
- Prepared and submitted the New Drug Application (NDA) for a publicly traded global pharmaceutical company and assisted with ongoing communications with the FDA regarding the same.
- Serves on the Medical Legal Review committee for a global pharmaceutical company.
- Advises clients on FDA requirements for expedited development and review programs such as fast track, breakthrough therapy, and priority review designations, as well as accelerated approval.
- Represents and guides clients in responding to FDA information requests as well as enforcement actions such as Warning Letters, Untitled Letters, Complete Response Letters, recalls, import detentions, and alerts.
- Counsels clients on regulations and policies involving product lifecycle, beginning with product formulation, manufacturing facilities, supply chain, labeling, compliance claims, regulatory marketing strategy, and advertising.
- Assists companies with due diligence involving the sale and acquisition of companies that produce FDA-regulated products, including human and animal food, as well as pharmaceutical drug companies.
Professional Experience
- Executive Director, Legal/Regulatory/Compliance, CorMedix Inc. (2019-2021)
- Associate, Private law practice (2017-2019)
- Project Manager, National Quality Forum (NQF) (2011-2015)
- Health Policy Research Analyst/Advisor, Massachusetts State Legislature (2009-2011)
Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Consumer Health Products Association
- Food and Drug Law Institute (2021-Present)
- Food and Dietary Supplement Safety and Regulation Committee (2023)
- Pathfinder, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) (2023)
- Maryland Tech Council
Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
J.D., Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America
M.P.H., Boston University School of Public Health
B.S., University of Florida
Bar and Court Memberships
- District of Columbia Bar
Languages
- Spanish
Related News & Insights
- EventFuture Regulatory and Legal OutlookPrime Label Consultants 2024 Food Label SeminarsOctober 23, 2024
- PodcastVideo: Food for Thought and Thoughts on Food: Innovating USDA Science with Sanah Baig, Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and EconomicsFood for Thought and Thoughts on FoodAmaru J. SánchezJuly 25, 2024
- EventImmersive Summer Program for Education, Enrichment, and Distinction (ISPEED) in Biomedical Engineering: Careers in STEMJohns Hopkins University Department of Biomedical EngineeringJuly 24, 2024
- ArticleCultivated chaos: How alt-meat could fight state bansFood FixAmaru J. SánchezJuly 9, 2024