80 FR 22204 - Generic Drug User Fees; Public Meeting; Request for Comments

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 76 (April 21, 2015)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a public meeting on the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2012 (GDUFA). The legislative authority for GDUFA expires at the end of September 2017. At that time, new legislation will be required for FDA to continue to collect generic drug user fees for future fiscal years. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) requires that before FDA begins negotiations with the regulated industry on GDUFA reauthorization; we publish a notice in the Federal Register requesting public input on the reauthorization, hold a public meeting at which the public may present its views on the reauthorization, including specific suggestions for changes to the goals referred to in the Generic Drug User Fee Act Program Performance Goals and Procedures (i.e., the Commitment Letter), provide a period of 30 days after the public meeting to obtain written comments from the public, and publish the comments on FDA's Web site. FDA invites public comment on the GDUFA program and suggestions regarding the features FDA should propose for the next GDUFA program.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22204-22205]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09091]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2012-N-0882]


Generic Drug User Fees; Public Meeting; Request for Comments

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a public 
meeting on the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2012 (GDUFA). The 
legislative authority for GDUFA expires at the end of September 2017. 
At that time, new legislation will be required for FDA to continue to 
collect generic drug user fees for future fiscal years. The Federal 
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) requires that before FDA 
begins negotiations with the regulated industry on GDUFA 
reauthorization; we publish a notice in the Federal Register requesting 
public input on the reauthorization, hold a public meeting at which the 
public may present its views on the reauthorization, including specific 
suggestions for changes to the goals referred to in the Generic Drug 
User Fee Act Program Performance Goals and Procedures (i.e., the 
Commitment Letter), provide a period of 30 days after the public 
meeting to obtain written comments from the public, and publish the 
comments on FDA's Web site. FDA invites public comment on the GDUFA 
program and suggestions regarding the features FDA should propose for 
the next GDUFA program.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on June 15, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 
5 p.m. The public meeting may be extended or may end early depending on 
the level of public participation.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the FDA White Oak Campus, 
10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 31 Conference Center, the Great Room 
(Rm. 1503), Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Entrance for the public 
meeting participants (non-FDA employees) is through Building 1, where 
routine security check procedures will be performed. For parking and 
security information, refer to http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WorkingatFDA/BuildingsandFacilities/WhiteOakCampusInformation/ucm241740.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Connie Wisner, Center for Drug 
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New 
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 75, Rm. 1718, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 240-402-
7946, [email protected]; or Kimberly Giordano, Center for Drug 
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New 
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 75, Rm. 1611, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 301-796-
1071, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On July 9, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and 
Innovation Act, which included GDUFA (Pub. L. 112-144, title III), was 
signed into law by the President. GDUFA authorizes FDA to collect fees 
from drug companies that submit marketing applications for certain 
generic human drug applications, certain drug master files, and certain 
facilities. Designed to speed access to safe and effective generic 
drugs to the public, GDUFA requires that generic drug manufacturers pay 
user fees to finance critical and measurable generic drug program 
enhancements. GDUFA also requires that generic drug facilities around 
the world provide identification information annually to FDA.
    Additional information concerning GDUFA, including the text of the 
law, the Commitment Letter, key Federal Register documents, GDUFA-
related guidances, performance reports, and financial reports may be 
found on the FDA Web site at http://www.fda.gov/gdufa.

II. Purpose of Public Meeting

    FDA is announcing a public meeting on GDUFA. The authority for 
GDUFA expires at the end of September 2017. Without new legislation, 
FDA will no longer be able to collect user fees to fund the human 
generic drug review process. Section 744(C)(d)(2) (21 U.S.C. 379j-
43(d)(2)) of the FD&C Act requires that before FDA begins negotiations 
with the regulated industry on GDUFA reauthorization, we do the 
following: (1) Publish a notice in the Federal Register requesting 
public input on the reauthorization, (2) hold a public meeting at which 
the public may present its views on the reauthorization, including 
specific suggestions for changes to the goals referred to in the 
Commitment Letter, (3) provide a period of 30 days after the public 
meeting to obtain written comments from the public, and (4) publish the 
comments on the FDA Web site. This notice, the public meeting, the 30-
day comment period after the meeting, and the posting of the comments 
on the FDA Web site will satisfy these requirements. The purpose of the 
public meeting is to receive public input on the reauthorization of 
GDUFA, including specific suggestions for changes to the goals referred 
to in the Commitment Letter. FDA is interested in responses to the 
following two general questions and welcomes any other relevant 
information the public would like to share:
     What is your assessment of the overall performance of the 
GDUFA program to date?
     What aspects of GDUFA should be retained, changed, or 
discontinued to further strengthen and improve the program?
    In general, the meeting format will include presentations by FDA, 
scientific and academic experts, health care professionals, 
representatives of patient and consumer advocacy groups, the generic 
drug industry, and the general public. The amount of time available for 
public testimony will be determined by the number of persons who 
register to present at the meeting. A draft agenda and other background 
information for the public meeting will be posted at http://www.fda.gov/gdufa by June 8, 2015.

 III. Meeting Attendance and Participation

    FDA is seeking participation (i.e., attendance and oral 
presentations) at the public meeting by all interested parties, 
including but not limited to scientific and academic experts, health 
care professionals, representatives of patient and consumer advocacy 
groups, the generic drug industry, and the general public. If you wish 
to attend the meeting, please email your registration information to 
[email protected] by June 1, 2015. Your email should 
contain complete contact information for each attendee, including name, 
title, affiliation, address, email address, and telephone number. 
Registration is free and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Early 
registration is recommended because seating is limited. Registrants 
will receive confirmation once they have been accepted. If registration 
becomes full prior to the meeting, FDA will place a notice on http://www.fda.gov/gdufa. Onsite registration on the day of the

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meeting will be based on space availability.
    If you wish to present at the meeting, please include your 
presentation materials along with your registration information to 
[email protected] by June 1, 2015. Early requests for oral 
presentations are recommended due to possible space and time 
limitations. FDA will accommodate as many requests for oral 
presentations as possible and will do so on a first-come, first-served 
basis. The time allotted for presentations may depend on the number of 
persons who wish to speak. Those requesting to present will receive 
confirmation once they have been accepted. If presentations exceed time 
and space limitations prior to the meeting, FDA will place a notice on 
http://www.fda.gov/gdufa. Onsite requests for oral presentations on the 
day of the meeting will be based on time and space availability. If the 
entire meeting time is not needed, FDA may end the public meeting 
early.
    If you need special accommodations because of a disability, please 
contact Connie Wisner or Kimberly Giordano (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) by June 8, 2015.
    For those unable to attend in person, FDA will provide a live Adobe 
Connect Webcast of the meeting. In order to connect to the Webcast, you 
must have Adobe Connect. To join the meeting via the Adobe Connect 
Webcast, please go to: https://collaboration.fda.gov/gdufaii.

IV. Comments

    Regardless of participation at the public meeting, interested 
persons may submit either electronic or written comments regarding this 
document. To ensure consideration, all comments should be received by 
July 15, 2015. Submission of comments prior to the meeting is strongly 
encouraged.
    Submit electronic comments to http://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food 
and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 
20852. Identify all comments with the docket number found in the 
brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen 
in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

V. Transcripts

    Please be advised that as soon as a transcript is available, it 
will be accessible at http://www.regulations.gov and http://www.fda.gov/gdufa. It may be viewed at the Division of Dockets 
Management (see section IV). A transcript also will be available in 
either hard copy or on CD-ROM upon submission of a Freedom of 
Information request. Send written requests to the Division of Freedom 
of Information (ELEM-1029), Food and Drug Administration, 12420 
Parklawn Dr., Element Bldg., Rockville, MD 20857.

    Dated: April 15, 2015.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2015-09091 Filed 4-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4164-01-P