2015-23571. Product-Specific Bioequivalence Recommendations; Draft and Revised Draft Guidances for Industry; Availability

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of additional draft and revised draft product-specific bioequivalence (BE) recommendations. The recommendations provide product-specific guidance on the design of BE studies to support abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs). In the Federal Register of June 11, 2010, FDA announced the availability of a guidance for industry entitled “Bioequivalence Recommendations for Specific Products” that explained the process that would be used to make product-specific BE recommendations available to the public on FDA's Web site. The BE recommendations identified in this notice were developed using the process described in that guidance.

DATES:

Although you can comment on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)), to ensure that the Agency considers your comments on these draft and revised draft guidances before it begins work on the final versions of the guidances, submit either electronic or written comments on the draft and revised draft product-specific BE recommendations listed in this notice by November 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written requests for single copies of the individual BE guidances to the Division of Drug Information, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10001 New Hampshire Ave., Hillandale Bldg., 4th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your requests. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access to the draft guidance recommendations.

Submit electronic comments on the draft product-specific BE recommendations 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Xiaoqiu Tang, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 75, Rm. 4730, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-5850.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

In the Federal Register of June 11, 2010 (75 FR 33311), FDA announced the availability of a guidance for industry entitled “Bioequivalence Recommendations for Specific Products” that explained the process that would be used to make product-specific BE recommendations available to the public on FDA's Web site at http://www.fda.gov/​Drugs/​GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/​Guidances/​default.htm.

As described in that guidance, FDA adopted this process as a means to develop and disseminate product-specific BE recommendations and provide a meaningful opportunity for the public to consider and comment on those recommendations. Under that process, draft recommendations are posted on FDA's Web site and announced periodically in the Federal Register. The public is encouraged to submit comments on those recommendations within 60 days of their announcement in the Federal Register. FDA considers any comments received and either publishes final recommendations or publishes revised draft recommendations for comment. Recommendations were last announced in the Federal Register on June 30, 2015 (80 FR 37273). This notice announces draft product-specific recommendations, either new or revised, that are posted on FDA's Web site.

II. Drug Products for Which New Draft Product-Specific BE Recommendations are Available

FDA is announcing the availability of a new draft guidance for industry on product-specific BE recommendations for drug products containing the following active ingredients:

Aclidinium bromide

Acyclovir

Aminocaproic acid

Apremilast

Benazepril hydrochloride; Hydrochlorothiazide

Brimonidine tartrate

Carbidopa; Levodopa

Ceritinib

Clobetasol propionate

Clomipramine hydrochloride

Clonidine hydrochloride

Cobicistat

Cysteamine bitartrate

Dapagliflozin propanediol; Metformin hydrochloride

Dasabuvir sodium; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir

Desvenlafaxine fumarate

Eslicarbazepine acetate

Esomeprazole magnesium

Ferric citrate

Fluticasone propionate (multiple reference listed drugs)

Formoterol fumarate

Idelalisib

Ledipasvir; Sofosbuvir

Levocarnitine

Loperamide hydrochloride; Simethicone

Mometasone furoate monohydrate

Naltrexone HCL; Bupropion HCL

Netupitant; Palonosetron hydrochloride

Nintedanib esylate

Nortriptyline hydrochloride

Pirfenidone

Pomalidomide

Ponatinib hydrochloride

Rivaroxaban

Ruxolitinib phosphate

Suvorexant

Tasimelteon

Tedizolid phosphate

Tramadol hydrochloride

Trimipramine maleate

III. Drug Products for Which Revised Draft Product-Specific BE Recommendations are Available

FDA is announcing the availability of a revised draft guidance for industry on product-specific BE recommendations for drug products containing the following active ingredients:

Acitretin

Amantadine hydrochloride

Benzonatate

Carbamazepine

Colesevelam hydrochloride

Cyclophosphamide

Dabigatran etexilate mesylate

Dasatinib

Desvenlafaxine succinate

Esomeprazole magnesium

Estradiol

Ethinyl estradiol; Norethindrone

Gabapentin

Isotretinoin

Minocycline hydrochloride

Naltrexone

Sevelamer carbonate

Sirolimus

For a complete history of previously published Federal Register notices related to product-specific BE recommendations, go to http://www.regulations.gov and enter Docket No. FDA-2007-D-0369.

These draft and revised draft guidances are being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). These guidances represent the Agency's current thinking on product-specific design of BE studies to support ANDAs. They do not establish any rights for anyone and are not binding on FDA or the public. You may use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.

IV. Comments

Interested persons may submit either electronic comments on any of the specific BE recommendations posted on FDA's Web site to http://www.regulations.gov or written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It is only necessary to send one set of comments. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. The guidances, notices, and received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and will be posted to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov.

V. Electronic Access

Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the document at either http://www.fda.gov/​Drugs/​GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/​Guidances/​default.htm or http://www.regulations.gov.

Dated: September 15, 2015.

Leslie Kux,

Associate Commissioner for Policy.