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  1. Generic Drug User Fee Amendments

Drug Master File Fee


Q1. What are the FY 2016 DMF fees?

The FY 2016 DMF fee is $42,170.

Q2. Which DMFs incur fees?

Only DMFs that cover the manufacture of an API (Type II API DMFs) for use in a generic drug application incur fees. Specifically, each person that owns a Type II API DMF (DMF holder) that is referenced on or after October 1, 2012, in a generic drug submission by any initial letter of authorization shall be subject to a DMF fee.

Q3. What is a generic drug submission?

The phrase generic drug submission refers to an ANDA, an amendment to an ANDA, or a PAS to an ANDA.

Q4. When is a DMF fee incurred?

The owner of a DMF incurs the fee the first time that a generic drug submission references that DMF by an initial letter of authorization on or after October 1, 2012.

Q5. What is an "initial letter of authorization" as that term is used in this context?

An initial letter of authorization is one that an ANDA applicant has not previously relied on. This means that the DMF fee would be triggered the first time that a DMF is referenced by an ANDA applicant that has not previously relied on a letter of authorization for that DMF. For example, if ANDA applicant X submitted its ANDA (for Drug A) in September, 2012 and relied on a letter of authorization for DMF 11111, it would not trigger a fee for the DMF. If after October 1, 2012, ANDA applicant X amended or supplemented its application, it would not trigger a fee for the DMF. If, however, after October 1, 2012, ANDA applicant X submitted a new ANDA (for Drug B) with a letter of authorization to DMF 11111, it would trigger a fee for DMF 11111.

Furthermore, if a different ANDA applicant submitted a letter of authorization to DMF 11111 after October 1, 2012, it would trigger a fee for the DMF, if the fee had not already been paid for DMF 11111. Once a fee is paid for DMF 11111, no additional fee for this DMF will be assessed, regardless of how many letters of authorization subsequently reference that DMF.

Q6. Do holders of DMFs submitted and reviewed by FDA before October 1, 2012, have to pay a DMF fee?

GDUFA does not make a distinction between DMFs submitted before or after October 1, 2012. Holders of DMFs reviewed prior to GDUFA implementation must pay the one-time DMF fee if their DMF is referenced in a new generic drug submission on or after October 1, 2012.

Q7. Will DMF holders be charged each time their DMF is referenced?

No. The DMF fee is a one-time fee, incurred on first reference of the DMF on or after October 1, 2012. This fee is not incurred every time a DMF is referenced.

Q8. How much is the DMF fee?

The DMF fee for fiscal year (FY) 2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017) is $51,140.  Additional information, including the methodology for calculating the fee, is available in the Federal Register: Generic Drug User Fee—Abbreviated New Drug Application, Prior Approval Supplement, Drug Master File, Final Dosage Form Facility, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Facility Fee Rates for Fiscal Year 2017.

Q9. When will the DMF fee be due?

DMF fees will be incurred at the time of submission of a generic drug submission for all Type II API DMFs referenced for the first time by an initial letter of authorization on or after October 1, 2012. In general, fees will be due on the date the first generic drug submission is submitted that references the associated type II API DMF.

Fees for FYs 2015-2017 will be due no later than the date on which the first generic drug submission that references the associated type II API DMF.

DMF holders may also pay the fee in advance of a first reference in order to have their DMF subjected to an initial completeness assessment by the Agency.  This would allow their DMF to be included on a publicly-available list of DMFs that have paid their fee and not failed the initial completeness assessment. 

Q10. Do DMF holders need to wait for a new ANDA applicant to request a letter of authorization before the DMF is assessed to be available for reference?

No. DMF holders can pay the fee before a letter of authorization is requested. The DMF will then undergo an initial completeness assessment, using factors outlined in Draft Guidance for Industry: Initial Completeness Assessments for Type II API DMFs Under GDUFA. If the DMF passes the completeness assessment, it will be placed on a publicly available list of type II DMFs available for reference.

Q11. What are the criteria for a DMF completeness assessment?

Please see Draft Guidance for Industry: Initial Completeness Assessments for Type II API DMFs Under GDUFA.

Q12. Can an ANDA applicant pay the DMF fee for a type II API DMF referenced in its submission?

Yes.  Anyone or any entity can pay the DMF fee.

Q13. What is the penalty for failure to pay the DMF fee?

The DMF will be deemed not available for reference. Once the DMF fee becomes due, no generic drug submission submitted on or after October 1, 2012, referencing the DMF will be received unless the fee is paid and the DMF is deemed available for reference.

Note: The DMF fee does not become due until FDA announces the amount of the fee. Please note that this is a change resulting from the recent enactment of the FDA User Fee Corrections Act of 2012 which enables collection of FY 2012 GDUFA user fees without enactment of an appropriations act.
ANDA applicants that reference a DMF for which a fee is due but has not been paid will be provided notification of the DMF holder’s failure to pay. If the DMF fee is not paid within 20 calendar days after notification, the ANDA referencing the DMF will not be received.

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