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GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

Reformulating Drug Products That Contain Carbomers Manufactured With Benzene December 2023

Final Level 1 Guidance
Docket Number:
FDA-2023-D-5408
Issued by:
Guidance Issuing Office
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

The purpose of this guidance is to provide recommendations for applicants and manufacturers on what tests should be performed and what documentation should be submitted or available to FDA to support the reformulation of drug products that use carbomers manufactured with benzene. Certain United States Pharmacopeia (USP) carbomer monographs currently allow for unacceptable levels of benzene, which raises safety concerns. FDA has requested that the USP omit (or remove) these monographs, and applicants and manufacturers may need to reformulate their drug products to avoid using these carbomers. This guidance provides recommendations for testing and documentation related to reformulation, taking into consideration the various routes of administration and dosage forms of affected drug products. For application holders, this guidance also recommends appropriate submission types to notify the Agency of such changes.


Submit Comments

You can submit online or written comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))

If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:

Dockets Management
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

All written comments should be identified with this document's docket number: FDA-2023-D-5408.

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