Philip Desjardins, Former FDA Device Regulator and Johnson & Johnson VP, Rejoins Arnold & Porter’s Life Sciences and Healthcare Regulatory Practice
Washington, D.C., November 6, 2023 — Arnold & Porter announced today that Philip Desjardins, former FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health Associate Director for Policy and Johnson & Johnson Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs, has rejoined the firm’s Life Sciences and Healthcare Regulatory practice as a partner, resident in Washington, D.C.
Dan Kracov, co-chair of the firm’s Life Sciences and Healthcare Regulatory practice and its Life Sciences practice, said: “We are pleased to welcome Phil back to our Life Sciences and Healthcare Regulatory practice. Phil’s experience navigating complex regulatory and policy challenges for global medical device businesses is particularly well suited to our expanding and multidisciplinary medical device practice.”
Before joining the firm, Desjardins served as Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs with Johnson & Johnson, where he held several prominent global regulatory affairs and policy roles related to the company’s medical device and Medtech businesses. During his time at Johnson & Johnson, Desjardins held leadership roles in the company’s Orthopedic, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular and Specialty Solutions groups. Previously, as the CDRH’s Associate Director for Policy, Desjardins helped develop the agency’s policies governing medical devices in relation to legislation, regulations, and enforcement actions. In that role, he also helped develop and implement the CDRH’s policies on issues related to clinical trials, combination products, and audits conducted by the Government Accountability Office and the Office of the Inspector General. Desjardins held a number of other positions at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including as Regulatory Counsel at the Agency’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), where he advised FDA senior management and staff on the legal implications of potential compliance actions, pending litigation, enforcing post-market regulatory requirements, and responses to congressional inquiries, and as Acting Regulatory Counsel in the Center for Tobacco Products.
In rejoining the firm, Desjardins said: “Arnold & Porter’s Life Sciences practice is globally renowned, and I am happy to rejoin my colleagues on this innovative team. I look forward to leveraging my experience to guide our clients through the complex regulatory and policy issues they face in the evolving medical device and biopharmaceutical landscape.”
Desjardins received his J.D. cum laude from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, where he was also founder and co-president of the Health Law Society and Vice Chancellor of the Moot Court Association. He received his B.S. from Loyola College.
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