[Federal Register: November 18, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 222)]
[Notices]
[Page 64093-64094]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18no98-103]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. 98D-0813]
Guidance for Industry on Fast Track Drug Development Programs:
Designation, Development, and Application Review; Availability;
Collection of Information
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the
availability of a guidance for industry entitled ``Fast Track Drug
Development Programs: Designation, Development,
[[Page 64094]]
and Application Review.'' This document provides guidance to industry
on FDA's fast track program, which seeks to facilitate the development
and expedite the review of new drugs that are intended to treat serious
or life-threatening conditions and that have the potential to address
unmet medical needs for such conditions. The guidance document is also
intended to meet the requirement of section 112(b) of the Food and Drug
Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (the Modernization Act).
DATES: Written comments on the guidance document may be submitted by
February 16, 1999. General comments on the agency guidance documents
are welcome at any time.
ADDRESSES: Copies of this guidance for industry are available on the
Internet at ``http://www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/index.htm'' or ``http://
www.fda.gov/cber/guidelines.htm''. Submit written requests for single
copies to the Drug Information Branch (HFD-210), Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers
Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, or the Office of Communication, Training,
and Manufacturers Assistance (HFM-540), Center for Biologics Evaluation
and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 1401 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, MD 20852. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist
that office in processing your requests. Submit written comments on
this guidance document to the Dockets Management Branch (HFD-305), Food
and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD
20852. After the comment period, comments may be submitted to one of
the centers at the address below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea C. Masciale, Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research (HFD-7), Food and Drug Administration, 5600
Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-594-2041; or Bette A. Goldman,
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (HFM-500), 1401 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-1448, 301-827-5098.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FDA is announcing the availability of a guidance for industry
entitled ``Fast Track Drug Development Programs: Designation,
Development, and Application Review.'' This guidance document is
intended to meet the requirement of section 112(b) of the Modernization
Act (Pub. L. 105-115), which amends the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (the act) by adding new section 506 (21 U.S.C. 356) and
directs FDA to issue guidance describing its policies and procedures
pertaining to fast track products.
FDA's fast track programs are designed to facilitate the
development and expedite the review of new drugs that are intended to
treat serious or life-threatening conditions and that demonstrate the
potential to address unmet medical needs (fast track products). In this
guidance document, FDA discusses the regulations, policies, and
procedures of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)
and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) that are related
to fast track products. This guidance document describes and clarifies
the criteria and processes for designating a new drug as a product in a
fast track drug development program and describes the diverse
activities and programs that can facilitate the development and
expedite the review of drugs that demonstrate the potential to advance
the treatment of serious and life-threatening illnesses.
This guidance document is being issued as a Level 1 guidance
consistent with FDA's Good Guidance Practices (62 FR 8961, February 27,
1997). It is being implemented without prior public comment because the
guidance document is needed to implement the Modernization Act. The
agency understands the need for this document to be available
immediately in order for there to be clear guidance to industry, the
public, and agency reviewers about this very significant program.
However, FDA also understands that many interested persons may wish to
provide comments and suggest revisions to this guidance. FDA is,
therefore, emphasizing that it is soliciting comment from all
interested persons and is providing a 90-day comment period and
establishing a docket for receipt of comments. The agency will give
full consideration to all comments received and make any appropriate
changes to the guidance in a timely manner.
This guidance document represents the agency's current thinking on
its policies and procedures relating to products in fast track drug
development programs. It does not create or confer any rights for or on
any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An
alternative approach may be used if such approach satisfies the
requirements of the applicable statute, regulations, or both.
This guidance document contains collections of information that
require clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under
the Paperwork Reduction of 1995. In a notice published in the Federal
Register of October 21, 1998 (63 FR 56195), FDA announced that this
collection of information has been submitted to OMB for emergency
processing. The notice also solicited comments on the collection of
information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of information unless a currently
valid OMB control number has been displayed.
Interested persons may, at any time, submit to the Dockets
Management Branch (address above) written comments on the guidance
document. Two copies of any comments are to be submitted, except that
individuals may submit one copy. Comments are to be identified with the
docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. The
guidance document and received comments are available for public
examination in the Dockets Management Branch between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
Dated: November 11, 1998.
William B. Schultz,
Deputy Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 98-30811 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F