[Federal Register: November 29, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 230)]
[Notices]               
[Page 59595-59596]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29no01-58]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

 
Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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    This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory 
committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At least one 
portion of the meeting will be closed to the public.
    Name of Committee: Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee.
    General Function of the Meeting: To provide advice and 
recommendations to the agency on FDA's regulatory issues.
    Date and Time: The meeting will be held on December 12, 2001, from 
8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
    Location: Holiday Inn, Versailles Ballroom, 8120 Wisconsin Ave., 
Bethesda, MD.
    Contact: Tara P. Turner, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research 
(HFD-21), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane (for express 
delivery 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1093), Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-
7001, e-mail: TurnerT@cder.fda.gov, or FDA Advisory Committee 
Information Line, 1-800-741-8138 (301-443-0572 in the Washington, DC 
area), code 12531. Please call the Information Line for up-to-date 
information on this meeting.
    Agenda: The committee will be updated on the approval of biologics 
license application supplement 103949/5002, PEG-INTRON (peginterferon 
alfa-2b) powder for injection, Schering Corp., indicated for use alone 
or in combination with Rebetol (ribavirin, USP), for the treatment of 
chronic hepatitis C in patients with compensated liver disease who have 
not been previously treated with interferon alpha and are at least 18 
years of age.
    Procedure: On December 12, 2001, from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., the 
meeting is open to the public. Interested persons may present data, 
information, or views, orally or in writing, on issues pending before 
the committee. Written submissions may be made to the contact person by 
December 5, 2001. Oral presentations from the public will be scheduled 
between approximately 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Time allotted for each 
presentation may be limited. Those desiring to make formal oral 
presentations should notify the contact person before December 5, 2001, 
and submit a brief statement of the general nature of the evidence or 
arguments

[[Page 59596]]

they wish to present, the names and addresses of proposed participants, 
and an indication of the approximate time requested to make their 
presentation.
    Closed Committee Deliberations: On December 12, 2001, from 1:15 
p.m. to 5:15 p.m., the meeting will be closed to permit discussion and 
review of trade secret and/or confidential information (5 U.S.C. 
552b(c)(4)).
    FDA regrets that it was unable to publish this notice 15 days prior 
to the December 12, 2001, Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee meeting. 
Because the agency believes there is some urgency to bring this issue 
to public discussion and qualified members of the Antiviral Drugs 
Advisory Committee were available at this time, the Commissioner of 
Food and Drugs concluded that it was in the public interest to hold 
this meeting even if there was not sufficient time for the customary 
15-day public notice.
    Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app. 2).

    Dated: November 21, 2001.
Bonnie H. Malkin,
Acting Senior Associate Commissioner for Communications and Constituent 
Relations.
[FR Doc. 01-29738 Filed 11-27-01; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S