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Benjamin M. Zegarelli

Of Counsel

[email protected]

+1.212.692.6261

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Benjamin provides regulatory compliance counsel to global clients developing and marketing FDA-regulated products with the goal of mitigating compliance concerns and obstacles facing product candidates or commercialized products while helping clients achieve commercial success. With a clear focus on medical device compliance matters, Benjamin advises life science and health care industry clients, on the federal and state laws governing the design, production, quality, and commercialization of a breadth of devices, including traditional hardware devices, in vitro diagnostics, and software as a medical device (SaMD). He has extensive experience guiding medical device companies through the FDA regulatory process to identify the optimal marketing authorization pathway, assisting with FDA communications and requests, ensuring that submissions to FDA meet regulatory requirements, and helping to establish robust post-market quality systems and compliance controls.

In particular, Benjamin has counseled numerous SaMD developers and software as a service (SaaS) companies, especially those designing software that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) functionalities, on FDA regulatory strategy, including preparing for pre-submission meetings with FDA, submitting applications for marketing authorization, and responding to agency requests for additional information. He also regularly advises clinical laboratory clients on navigating regulations governing in vitro diagnostic tests, and specifically, the development, distribution, and marketing of laboratory developed tests and home-use specimen collection kits. In addition, Benjamin assists life sciences clients with medical product distribution, advertising, promotion, and labeling compliance, as well as negotiating contractual relationships with suppliers and other contractors.

Benjamin has substantial experience representing medical device companies in responding to significant unfavorable observations from FDA investigators, including regulatory violations cited in Untitled Letters or Warning Letters. He helps companies take strategic actions in navigating the communications process with FDA and implementing appropriate corrective actions to address compliance issues.

In his practice, Benjamin coordinates and performs diligence reviews as part of corporate transactions and securities offerings involving life science and health care companies. He is well versed in the process of developing policy positions for life sciences clients and advocating such positions before FDA and other governmental bodies through written comments and in-person meetings. His practice also includes representing both clinical trial sponsors and clinical sites on regulatory issues in clinical research studies, including compliance with government grant regulations, as well as drafting and negotiating the agreements necessary to perform clinical trials.

Benjamin has co-authored books including Promotion of FDA-Regulated Medical Products and Introduction to the Due Diligence Process, Second Edition, both published by the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society. He has given numerous presentations on current health care industry topics, with titles such as “Digital Health in the Metaverse: Navigating the Interplay Between Healthcare Delivery and Healthcare Laws” and “Clarifying the Clinical Trials Process for Drugs and Biologics.” He has a master of science degree in organic chemistry, and he worked as a research chemist in the discovery group of a major research-based pharmaceutical company.

Experience

  • Worked with several Mintz clients operating in non-FDA regulated industries to determine how to manufacture and distribute face masks and alcohol-based hand sanitizers in compliance with FDA's enforcement discretion policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, including by providing promotion and labeling advice.
  • Counseled multiple Mintz clients developing in vitro diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 on compliance with FDA’s enforcement discretion and EUA policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, including assistance with promotion and clinical testing activities.
  • Assisted a pharmacogenetics software company with drafting a pre-submission meeting briefing documents, attended the pre-submission meeting with the client and FDA, and counseled the client on drafting a marketing authorization application that addressed the issues discussed at the pre-submission meeting.
  • Advised numerous Mintz clients developing SaMD or other digital health technologies on selecting the most appropriate regulatory strategy for their products in light of contemporary FDA policies and guidance and avoiding potential regulatory pitfalls relating to software design, quality controls, and pre-market submissions.
  • Counseled multiple Mintz clinical laboratory clients on the regulatory framework governing in vitro diagnostic tests and restrictions on the development, distribution, and commercialization of laboratory developed tests (LDTs) and home-use specimen collections kits.
  • Assisted a clinical laboratory with responding to multiple regulatory inquiries from FDA and developing a comprehensive corrective action plan addressing noncompliance allegations relating to home-use specimen collection kits and diagnostic assays.
  • Participates in the Medical, Legal, and Regulatory (MLR) Committees that are engaged in promotional review activities on behalf of multiple clients with recently approved new drugs and biologics.
  • Provided extensive assistance to a major medical device manufacturer in responding to regulatory observations from multiple FDA inspections and enforcement actions, including a Warning Letter and a regulatory meeting, including development of a corrective action plan, assisting with the implementation and effectiveness evaluation of corrective and preventive actions, and auditing the company’s complaint handling and MDR reporting systems.
  • Collaborated with ML Strategies to develop a comprehensive strategy to advocate FDA and Congress for development and implementation of regulatory oversight for third-party servicers of medical devices on behalf of a major medical device manufacturer.
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viewpoints

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FDA in Flux — October 2026 Newsletter

October 19, 2026 | Article | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli, Madison Castle, Grace Wang

The October 2026 edition of FDA in Flux highlights the latest developments shaping the regulatory landscape for medical, life sciences, and consumer product sectors.

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A Discussion on What's Shaping the Future of FemTech

Key Takeaways on Policy, FDA Oversight, Privacy, and Investment

October 9, 2026 | Webinar | By Traci L. Vitek, Daniel Cody, Benjamin Zegarelli

Explore key FemTech trends shaping the industry, from FDA oversight and privacy laws to policy shifts, investment readiness, and innovation.

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FDA in Flux — September 2026 Newsletter

September 17, 2026 | Article | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli, Madison Castle, Grace Wang

Key FDA updates on generative AI, medical product user fees, SEC coordination, GLP-1 drug shortages, and the future of diagnostic testing.

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FDA in Flux — August 2026 Newsletter

August 13, 2026 | Article | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli, Madison Castle, Grace Wang

The August 2026 edition of FDA in Flux highlights significant developments shaping the regulatory landscape for the medical, life sciences, and consumer product sectors.

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FDA in Flux — June 2026 Newsletter

June 17, 2026 | Article | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli

The June 2026 edition of FDA in Flux highlights significant developments shaping the regulatory landscape for medical, life sciences, and consumer product sectors.

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FDA in Flux — May 2026 Newsletter

May 19, 2026 | Article | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli, Raymond Vanderhyden

The May 2026 edition of FDA in Flux highlights significant developments shaping the regulatory landscape for medical, life sciences, and consumer product sectors.

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FDA in Flux — April 2026 Newsletter

April 16, 2026 | Article | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli

The April 2026 edition of FDA in Flux highlights significant developments shaping the regulatory landscape for medical, life sciences, and consumer product sectors.

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FDA in Flux — March 2026 Newsletter

March 18, 2026 | Article | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli

The March 2026 edition of FDA in Flux highlights significant developments shaping the regulatory landscape for medical, life sciences, and consumer product sectors.

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FDA in Flux — February 2026 Newsletter

February 23, 2026 | Article | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli

The February 2026 edition of FDA in Flux highlights significant developments shaping the regulatory landscape for medical, life sciences, and consumer product sectors.

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FDA in Flux — January 2026 Newsletter

January 22, 2026 | Article | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli

The January 2026 edition of FDA in Flux highlights significant developments shaping the regulatory landscape for medical, life sciences, and consumer product sectors.

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News & Press

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podcasts

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Health Law Diagnosed – Best Practices for Communicating with the FDA

July 9, 2025 | Podcast | By Bridgette Keller, Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli

Of Counsel Bridgette Keller is joined by Joanne Hawana, Ben Zegarelli, and John Daley, as they offer advice for navigating communications with the FDA.

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Health Law Diagnosed – A Discussion on the Regulatory Requirements for LDTs

March 7, 2024 | Podcast | By Bridgette Keller, Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli

In this episode of Health Law Diagnosed, host Bridgette Keller is joined by Mintz Health Law attorneys Joanne Hawana and Benjamin Zegarelli to discuss the FDA’s long-awaited proposed rules that actively regulate laboratory developed tests (LDTs).

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Mintz Health Law: What We Are Grateful For

January 11, 2023 | Podcast | By Bridgette Keller

Bridgette Keller speaks with the Mintz Health Law team about what they are grateful for as they look back on a year of client service, mentorship, and working together as a team.

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In this episode of the Health Law Diagnosed podcast, members of the Mintz Health Law team discuss their health law–focused 2022 New Year’s resolutions and how they’re helping clients and colleagues navigate the continued challenges and opportunities of the current era.
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Health Law Diagnosed — Hot Topics in FDA Regulation and Enforcement

May 12, 2021 | Podcast | By Joanne Hawana , Benjamin Zegarelli

This past year has been a busy one for the FDA, but it hasn’t all been about the pandemic.
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MintzEdge 101: FDA for Start-Ups

January 14, 2020 | Podcast | By Samuel Asher Effron, Benjamin Zegarelli

In this episode of MintzEdge’s From the Edge podcast, Sam Effron speaks with Ben Zegarelli of Mintz about considerations for new medical device, pharmaceutical, or other health regulated start-ups and strategies for how to prepare for FDA oversight.
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Events & Speaking

Speaker
Feb
27
2026
Speaker
Oct
28
2025

Roche Custom Biotech 2025 Virtual Roundtable

LDT Regulation Post-FDA Final Rule: What’s Next for Labs and RUO Manufacturers?

Virtual

Mar
5
2025

Life Sciences Conference Roundtables

Association of Corporate Counsel

San Francisco Bay Area

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Speaker
Jan
11
2024
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Speaker
Sep
20
2023
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Speaker
Mar
22
2023

Clarifying the Clinical Trials Process for Drugs and Biologics

ACI's 40th FDA Boot Camp

Virtual Conference

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Panelist
Dec
13
2022

IP Considerations for Medical Device Companies

Boston Bar Association

Online Event

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Speaker
Nov
10
2022

Regulation of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs

Food and Drug Law Institute

Online Event

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Speaker
Jan
26
2022
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Aug
19
2021

Law Over Lunch

Food and Drug Law Institute

Online Event

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Apr
21
2020
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Apr
14
2020

FDA in the Time of COVID-19

View the Webinar Recording

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Speaker
Apr
24
2019

16th Annual Medical Device Quality Congress

Servicing & Remanufacturing

Bethesda, MD

Speaker
Mar
26
2019

Mount Sinai Innovation Partners Lecture

Protecting and Commercializing Your Innovation – FDA Regulation

New York, NY

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Recognition & Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch – Administrative / Regulatory Law (2021 – 2022); Health Care Law (2021 – 2025)

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