Those who believe that they are exclusively in the right are generally those who achieve something. -- Aldous Huxley
Rather than speculating as to where the FDA may go in a post-PDUFA V world, it's important to focus on where it has already gone. Without much attention or fanfare, the agency has established a new review board within the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research – the CDER Exclusivity Board. Its goal is to help the agency make consistent findings on whether products should be granted periods of marketing exclusivity.
The board began meeting in November 2011. It is comprised of agency employees from the Office of Regulatory Policy, the Office of Medical Policy, the Office of New Drugs, the Office of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Office of Executive Programs in CDER and the Office of the Chief Counsel.
The focus is on five-year new chemical entity exclusivity, three-year new clinical trial exclusivity, and exclusivity for biological products, according to a brief description posted on the agency’s website.
“The board will not review or make recommendations with respect to all exclusivity determinations in these areas, but will assist the center in resolving certain matters, including issues that arise in the context of specific requests for exclusivity,” the web page states.
The board generally meets once or twice a month. Members review written submissions from sponsors and board members participate in meetings with sponsors regarding exclusivity determinations for their products.
Some exclusivity matters fall outside the board’s purview: The body generally will not make recommendations for 180-day generic drug exclusivity, seven-year orphan drug exclusivity, or six-month pediatric exclusivity. But it will work with other offices and groups within FDA that are responsible for dealing with these exclusivity determinations as needed.
Your PDUFA dollars at work.
