98-9824. Schedules of Controlled Substances: Proposed Placement of Modafinil Into Schedule IV  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 18170-18172]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-9824]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
    
    Drug Enforcement Administration
    
    21 CFR Part 1308
    
    [DEA-174P]
    
    
    Schedules of Controlled Substances: Proposed Placement of 
    Modafinil Into Schedule IV
    
    AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice.
    
    ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
    
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    SUMMARY: This proposed rule is issued by the Acting Deputy 
    Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to place the 
    substance modafinil, including its salts, isomers and salts of isomers, 
    into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This proposed 
    action is based on a recommendation from the Acting Assistant Secretary 
    for Health of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that 
    modafinil be added to Schedule IV and on an evaluation of the relevant 
    data by the DEA. The scheduling of modafinil in Schedule IV will not be 
    finalized until the New Drug Application (NDA) for modafinil is 
    approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If finalized, this 
    action will impose the regulatory controls and criminal sanctions of 
    Schedule IV on those who handle modafinil and products containing 
    modafinil.
    
    DATES: Comments, objections and requests for a hearing must be received 
    on or before May 14, 1998.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments, objections and requests for a hearing should be 
    submitted in quintuplicate to the Acting Deputy Administrator, Drug 
    Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537; Attention: DEA 
    Federal Register Representative/CCR.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Frank Sapienza, Chief, Drug and Chemical Evaluation Section, Drug 
    Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537, 202-307-7183.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Modafinil is a central nervous system (CNS) 
    stimulant that is being considered for marketing approval by the FDA, 
    under the trade name Provigil. If approved, modafinil will 
    be marketed as a prescription drug product for the treatment of 
    excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. Modafinil 
    produces many of the same pharmacological effects and adverse reactions 
    as, but is up to 50 to 100 times less potent than, classic psychomotor 
    stimulants, such as amphetamine, methamphetamine and methylphenidate, 
    all in Schedule II of the CSA.
        Modafinil is a racemic mixture of levo- and dextro-isomers. 
    Modafinil is structurally different from other CNS stimulants, such as 
    cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and methylphenidate. Modafinil 
    binds at dopamine receptors and is active at central dopamine binding 
    sites. It has a quick onset and short duration of action. Modafinil is 
    reinforcing in animals, and produces euphoria, alterations in mood, 
    perception, thinking and subjective effects typical of other classic 
    Schedule II psychomotor stimulants. The levo-isomer, dextro-isomer and 
    racemate are equipotent and produce similar behavioral effects.
        Despite its classic CNS stimulant-like pharmacological profile, 
    modafinil appears to have chemical properties that may limit its abuse 
    (i.e., not water
    
    [[Page 18171]]
    
    soluble, decomposes in heat). In addition, relative potency differences 
    between modafinil and other CNS stimulants in Schedule II are 
    significant. These properties reduce the likelihood that modafinil 
    could be abused by the parenteral, intranasal or inhalation route, as 
    are cocaine, methylphenidate, and amphetamine. Thus, its abuse 
    potential appears to be lower than that of Schedule II stimulants and 
    similar to that of Schedule IV stimulants. The DEA is unaware of any 
    reports of modafinil abuse.
        On December 22, 1997, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health 
    sent the Acting Deputy Administrator of DEA a letter recommending that 
    modafinil, and its salts, be placed in Schedule IV of the CSA (21 
    U.S.C. 801 et seq.). Enclosed with the December 22, 1997 letter was a 
    document prepared by the FDA entitled ``Basis for the Recommendation 
    for Control of Modafinil in Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances 
    Act (CSA).'' The document contained a review of the factors which the 
    CSA requires the Secretary to consider [21 U.S.C. 811(b)].
        Subsequent correspondence from the FDA's Associate Commissioner for 
    Health Affairs dated February 24, 1998, confirmed that FDA continues to 
    evaluate the pending New Drug Application for modafinil. The FDA has 
    determined that the NDA is ``approvable'' and has issued an approvable 
    letter to the NDA sponsor on December 29, 1997. According to the 
    February 24, 1998 letter from FDA, ``upon full approval of the NDA, 
    modafinil `will have a currently accepted medical use in the United 
    States.' ''
        The factors considered by the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health 
    and the DEA with respect to modafinil were:
        (1) Its actual or relative potential for abuse;
        (2) Scientific evidence of its pharmacological effect;
        (3) The state of current scientific knowledge regarding the drug;
        (4) Its history and current pattern of abuse;
        (5) The scope, duration, and significance of abuse;
        (6) What, if any, risk there is to the public health;
        (7) Its psychic or physiological dependence liability; and
        (8) Whether the substance is an immediate precursor of a substance 
    already controlled under this subchapter.
        Relying on the scientific and medical evaluation, the 
    recommendation of the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health, the letter 
    from the FDA Associate Commissioner for Health received in accordance 
    with section 201(b) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 811(b)], and the independent 
    review of the DEA, the Acting Deputy Administer of the DEA, pursuant to 
    sections 201(a) and 201(b) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 811(a) and 811(b)], 
    find that:
        (1) Based on information now available, modafinil has a low 
    potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in 
    Schedule III;
        (2) Modafinil will, upon approval of a NDA by the FDA, have a 
    currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States; and
        (3) Abuse of modafinil may be lead to limited physical dependence 
    or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances 
    in Schedule III.
        Based on these findings, the Acting Deputy Administrator of the DEA 
    concludes that modafinil, including its salts, isomers, and salts of 
    isomers, warrant control in Schedule IV of the CSA, if and when the 
    modafinil NDA is approved by the FDA.
        Interested persons are invited to submit their comments, objections 
    or requests for a hearing, in writing, with regard to this proposal. 
    Requests for a hearing should state, with particularity, the issues 
    concerning which the person desires to be heard. All correspondence 
    regarding this matter should be submitted to the Acting Deputy 
    Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, D.C. 20537, 
    Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative/CCR. In the event that 
    comments, objections, or requests for a hearing raise one or more 
    issues which the Acting Deputy Administrator finds warrants a hearing, 
    the Acting Deputy Administrator shall order a public hearing by notice 
    in the Federal Register, summarizing the issues to be heard and setting 
    the time for the hearing.
        In accordance with the provisions of the CSA [21 U.S.C. 811(a)], 
    this action is a formal rulemaking ``on the record after opportunity 
    for a hearing.'' Such proceedings are conducted pursuant to the 
    provisions of 5 U.S.C. 556 and 557 and, as such, are exempt from review 
    by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to Executive Order 
    (E.O.) 12866, section 3(d)(1). The Acting Deputy Administrator, in 
    accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act [5 U.S.C. 605(b)], has 
    reviewed this proposed rule, and by approving it, certifies that it 
    will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
    small entities. Modafinil products will be prescription drugs used to 
    treat narcolepsy. Handlers of modafinil also handle other controlled 
    substances used to treat narcolepsy which are already subject to the 
    regulatory requirements of the CSA.
        This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local and 
    tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of 
    $100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or 
    uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed 
    necessary under provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
        This rule is not a major rule as defined by section 804 of the 
    Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This rule 
    will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or 
    more; a major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse 
    effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, 
    innovation, or on the ability of the United States-based companies to 
    compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and export markets.
        This rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, 
    on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
    on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
    levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with E.O. 12612, it is 
    determined that this rule, if finalized, will not have sufficient 
    federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism 
    Assessment.
    
    List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 1308
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Drug traffic control, 
    Narcotics, Prescription drugs.
        Under the authority vested in the Attorney General by section 
    201(a) of the CSA [21 U.S.C. 811(a)], and delegated to the 
    Administrator of the DEA by the Department of Justice regulations (28 
    CFR 0.100), and redelegated to the Deputy Administrator pursuant to 28 
    CFR 0.104, the Acting Deputy Administrator hereby proposes that 21 CFR 
    part 1308 be amended as follows:
    
    PART 1308--[AMENDED]
    
        1. The authority citation for 21 CFR part 1308 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 21 U.S.C. 811, 812, 871(b) unless otherwise noted.
    
        2. Section 1308.14 is proposed to be amended by redesignating the 
    existing paragraphs (e)(7) through (e)(11) as (e)(8) through (e)(12) 
    and by adding a new paragraph (e)(7) to read as follows:
    
    [[Page 18172]]
    
    Sec. 1308.14  Schedule IV.
    
    * * * * *
        (e) * * *
    
    (7) Modafinil......................................................1680
    
    * * * * *
        Dated: April 6, 1998.
    Donnie R. Marshall,
    Acting Deputy Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration.
    [FR Doc. 98-9824 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4410-09-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
04/14/1998
Department:
Drug Enforcement Administration
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Notice of proposed rulemaking.
Document Number:
98-9824
Dates:
Comments, objections and requests for a hearing must be received on or before May 14, 1998.
Pages:
18170-18172 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
DEA-174P
PDF File:
98-9824.pdf
CFR: (1)
21 CFR 1308.14