Bill Summary
This legislation amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to streamline the approval process for abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) in cases where the first applicant fails to commercialize their approved drug within a specified timeframe.
Key provisions include:
1. **180-Day Exclusivity Period**: The legislation establishes conditions under which a subsequent applicant can receive approval for their drug application even if a first applicant has been granted a 180-day exclusivity period. Specifically, it allows the second applicant to be approved if they certify they can market the drug within 75 days of approval and if 33 months have passed since the first application.
2. **Special Forfeiture Rule**: If the subsequent applicant does not commence commercial marketing within the 75-day period, their application will lose effective approval status. However, if unforeseen circumstances prevent them from marketing within that time, they may still pursue approval by certifying that the issue has been resolved.
3. **Applicability**: The amendments apply only to new applications submitted after this legislation is enacted, specifically for drugs that did not have an earlier certification.
Overall, this legislation aims to enhance the availability of generic drugs by reducing delays in their market entry due to the actions (or inactions) of first applicants.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the legislation described could affect people:
1. **Increased Availability of Generic Drugs**: The legislation aims to facilitate the approval of generic drugs by allowing subsequent applicants to gain approval if the first applicant fails to commence commercial marketing within a specified timeframe. This could lead to a faster introduction of affordable generic alternatives to brand-name medications, benefiting patients by providing them with more options and potentially lower prices for necessary medications.
2. **Encouragement of Competition Among Drug Manufacturers**: By setting a clear path for subsequent applicants to enter the market sooner if the first applicant delays, the legislation encourages competition among drug manufacturers. This increased competition could result in decreased prices for consumers, as multiple manufacturers can offer similar products, ultimately leading to improved access to medications for those who rely on them.
3. **Impact on Drug Approval Processes**: The new provisions could create a more dynamic market environment for pharmaceuticals. If a first applicant is unable to market their drug in a timely manner, the legislation ensures that subsequent applicants can step in, which may incentivize first applicants to expedite their marketing efforts. This could also lead to a more efficient drug approval process overall, potentially reducing waiting times for patients who need new medications.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1051 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1051
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow for the
approval of an abbreviated new drug application submitted by a
subsequent applicant in the case of a failure by a first applicant to
commence commercial marketing within a certain period, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 6, 2025
Ms. Budzinski introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow for the
approval of an abbreviated new drug application submitted by a
subsequent applicant in the case of a failure by a first applicant to
commence commercial marketing within a certain period, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. 180-DAY EXCLUSIVITY PERIOD.
(a) In General.--Section 505(j)(5)(B)(iv) of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)(5)(B)(iv)) is amended--
(1) in subclause (I)--
(A) by inserting ``and subclause (III)'' after
``subparagraph (D)''; and
(B) by inserting before the period at the end the
following: ``or an applicant whose application was
approved pursuant to subclause (III). If an applicant
described in subclause (III) is eligible for effective
approval on the same day a tentatively approved first
applicant who has requested final approval is
determined by the Secretary to be eligible for
effective approval by meeting all the approval
requirements of this subsection, such applicant may not
receive effective approval until 180 days after the
first applicant begins commercial marketing of the
drug''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
``(III) Applicant approval.--The Secretary may
approve an application containing a certification
described in paragraph (2)(A)(vii)(IV) that is for a
drug for which a first applicant has submitted an
application containing such a certification,
notwithstanding the eligibility of a first applicant
for the 180-day exclusivity period described in
subclause (II)(aa), if each of the following conditions
is met:
``(aa) The approval of such application
could be made effective, but for the
eligibility of a first applicant for 180-day
exclusivity under this clause.
``(bb) The applicant of such application
has submitted a certification to the
abbreviated new drug application that there are
no conditions that would prevent the applicant
from commercial marketing within 75 days after
the date of approval and that the applicant
intends to so market the drug.
``(cc) At least 33 months have passed since
the date of submission of an application for
the drug by at least one first applicant.
``(dd) Approval of an application for the
drug submitted by at least one first applicant
is not precluded under clause (iii).
``(ee) No application for the drug
submitted by any first applicant is effectively
approved on the date that the conditions under
items (aa), (bb), (cc), and (dd) are all met
and maintained.''.
(b) Special Forfeiture Rule for Certain Subsequent Applicants.--
Section 505(j)(5)(D) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21
U.S.C. 355 (j)(5)(D)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(v) Special forfeiture rule for certain
subsequent applicants.--
``(I) In general.--Except as
specified in subclause (II), an
application that is approved pursuant
to subclause (III) of subparagraph
(B)(iv) is deemed to be tentatively
approved and to no longer have an
effective approval pursuant to such
subclause (III) beginning on the day
after the end of the 75-day period
specified in item (bb) of such
subclause (III) if the applicant fails
to commence commercial marketing as
required under such item.
``(II) Opportunity to cure.--
``(aa) In general.--If the
applicant of an application
approved pursuant to subclause
(III) of subparagraph (B)(iv)
submits, pursuant to item (bb)
of such subclause, a
notification that it can no
longer commence commercial
marketing within the 75-day
period specified in such item,
such application is deemed to
be tentatively approved and to
no longer be effectively
approved beginning on the date
that such a notification is
received.
``(bb) Ineligibility for
subsequent effective
approval.--If an applicant
described in item (aa) does not
commence commercial marketing
within such 75-day period, the
applicant shall not be eligible
for a subsequent effective
approval for the application
involved under subclause (III)
of subparagraph (B)(iv) unless,
in addition to meeting each of
the conditions in such
subclause (III), the applicant
submits a certification to its
abbreviated new drug
application that--
``(AA) an event
that could not have
been reasonably
foreseen by the
applicant prevented it
from commencing
commercial marketing;
and
``(BB) it has fully
resolved any issues
preventing such
commercial marketing
from commencing as a
result of such event.
``(cc) Timing for
submission.--An applicant
described in item (aa) shall,
not later than one business day
after commencing marketing of
the drug that is the subject of
the application described in
such item, submit a
notification to the abbreviated
new drug application confirming
that such applicant has
commenced commercial marketing
of the drug.''.
(c) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)
shall apply only with respect to an application filed under section
505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j))
after the date of enactment of this Act that identifies a listed drug
for which no certification under paragraph (2)(A)(vii)(IV) of such
section was made before such date of enactment.
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