[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 148 (Monday, August 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46015-46019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18915]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA-2015-N-0007]
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
2016
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the rates
for abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs), prior approval
supplements to an approved ANDA (PASs), drug master files (DMFs),
[[Page 46016]]
generic drug active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) facilities, and
finished dosage form (FDF) facilities user fees related to the Generic
Drug User Fee Program for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act), as amended by the Generic Drug
User Fee Amendments of 2012 (GDUFA), authorizes FDA to assess and
collect user fees for certain applications and supplements for human
generic drug products, on applications in the backlog as of October 1,
2012 (only applicable to FY 2013), on FDF and API facilities, and on
type II active pharmaceutical ingredient DMFs to be made available for
reference. This document establishes the fee rates for FY 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Richter, Office of Financial
Management, Food and Drug Administration, 8455 Colesville Rd., COLE-
14216, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-7111.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Sections 744A and 744B of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 379j-41 and 379j-
42) establish fees associated with human generic drug products. Fees
are assessed on: (1) Certain applications in the backlog as of October
1, 2012 (only applicable to FY 2013); (2) certain types of applications
and supplements for human generic drug products; (3) certain facilities
where APIs and FDFs are produced; and (4) certain DMFs associated with
human generic drug products (see section 744B(a)(1)-(4) of the FD&C
Act).
For FY 2016, the generic drug fee rates are: ANDA ($76,030), PAS
($38,020), DMF ($42,170), domestic API facility ($40,867), foreign API
facility ($55,867), domestic FDF facility ($243,905), and foreign FDF
facility ($258,905). These fees are effective on October 1, 2015, and
will remain in effect through September 30, 2016.
Fees for ANDA, PAS, and DMF will increase in FY 2016 over the
corresponding fees in FY 2015 due to a drop in the number of
submissions in each of those three categories over the course of FY
2015. The fees for all types of facilities will decrease in FY 2016
over the corresponding fees in FY 2015 due to an increase in the number
of facilities that self-identified for FY 2016.
II. Fee Revenue Amount for FY 2016
The base revenue amount for FY 2016 is $299 million, as set in the
statute prior to the inflation adjustment. GDUFA directs FDA to use the
yearly revenue amount as a starting point to set the fee rates for each
fee type. For more information about GDUFA, please refer to the FDA Web
site (http://www.fda.gov/gdufa). The ANDA, PAS, DMF, API facility, and
FDF facility fee calculations for FY 2016 are described in this
document.
Inflation Adjustment
GDUFA specifies that the $299 million is to be adjusted for
inflation increases for FY 2016 using two separate adjustments--one for
personnel compensation and benefits (PC&B) and one for non-PC&B costs
(see section 744B(c)(1) of the FD&C Act).
The component of the inflation adjustment for PC&B costs shall be
one plus the average annual percent change in the cost of all PC&B paid
per full-time equivalent position (FTE) at FDA for the first three of
the four preceding fiscal years, multiplied by the proportion of PC&B
costs to total FDA costs of the review of human generic drug activities
for the first three of the preceding four fiscal years (see section
744B(c)(1)(A)-(B) of the FD&C Act).
Table 1 summarizes the actual cost and total FTE for the specified
fiscal years, and provides the percent change from the previous fiscal
year and the average percent change over the first three of the four
fiscal years preceding FY 2016. The 3-year average is 2.2328 percent.
Table 1--FDA Personnel Compensation and Benefits (PC&B) Each Year and Percent Change
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Fiscal year 2012 2013 2014 3-Year average
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Total PC&B.......................................... $1,824,703,000 $1,927,703,000 $2,054,937,000
Total FTE........................................... 13,382 13,974 14,555
PC&B per FTE........................................ $136,355 $137,949 $141,184
% Change from Previous Year......................... 3.1843% 1.1690% 2.3451% 2.2328%
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The statute specifies that this 2.2328 percent should be multiplied
by the proportion of PC&B expended for human generic drug activities
for the first three of the preceding four fiscal years. When FDA set
fees in FY 2014, the 3-year average of PC&B costs for the entire Agency
was used because information for GDUFA was not available. Now that the
first 2 years of GDUFA have been completed, FDA will use the data from
FY 2013 and FY 2014 to calculate the PC&B and non-PC&B proportions.
Table 2 shows the amount of PC&B and the total amount obligated for
human generic drug activities in FY 2013 and FY 2014.
Table 2--PC&B as a Percent of Fee Revenues Spent on the Process of Human Generic Drug Applications Over the Last 3 Years
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Fiscal year 2012 2013 2014 3-Year Average
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PC&B........................................ NA............................. $117,576,760 $171,612,147
Non-PC&B.................................... NA............................. $149,307,336 $215,469,133
Total Costs................................. NA............................. $266,884,096 $387,081,279
PC&B percent................................ ............................... 44.0554% 44.3349% 44.1952%
Non-PC&B percent............................ ............................... 55.9446% 55.6651% 55.8048%
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The payroll adjustment is 2.2328 percent multiplied by 44.1952
percent (or 0.9868 percent).
The statute specifies that the portion of the inflation adjustment
for non-PC&B costs for FY 2016 is the average annual percent change
that occurred in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for urban consumers
(Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV; not seasonally adjusted; all items;
annual
[[Page 46017]]
index) for the first three of the preceding four years of available
data multiplied by the proportion of all costs other than PC&B costs to
total costs of human generic drug activities (see section 744B(c)(1)(C)
of the FD&C Act). Table 3 provides the summary data for the percent
change in the specified CPI for the Baltimore-Washington area. The data
are published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and can be found on
their Web site at http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?cu by checking
the box marked ``Washington-Baltimore All Items, November 1996=100--
CUURA311SA0'' and then clicking on the ``Retrieve Data'' button.
Table 3--Annual and 3-Year Average Percent Change in CPI for Baltimore-Washington Area
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Year 2012 2013 2014 3-Year average
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Annual CPI.......................................... 150.212 152.500 154.847 .......................
Annual Percent Change............................... 2.2024% 1.5232% 1.5390% 1.754867%
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To calculate the inflation adjustment for non-pay costs, we
multiply the 3-year average percent change in the CPI (1.7549 percent)
by the proportion of all costs other than PC&B to total costs of human
generic drug activities obligated. Since 44.1952 percent was obligated
for PC&B as shown in table 2, 55.8048 percent is the portion of costs
other than PC&B. The non-pay adjustment is 1.7549 percent times 55.8048
percent, or 0.9793 percent.
To complete the inflation adjustment for FY 2016, we add the PC&B
component (0.9868 percent) to the non-PC&B component (0.9793 percent)
for a total inflation adjustment of 1.9661 percent (rounded) for FY
2016.
GDUFA provides for this inflation adjustment to be compounded after
FY 2013 (see section 744B(c)(1) of the FD& C Act). This factor for FY
2016 (1.9661 percent) is compounded by adding one to it, and then
multiplying it by the compounded inflation adjustment factor for FY
2015 (1.044228), as published in the Federal Register of August 1, 2014
(79 FR 44797). The result of this multiplication of the inflation
factors for the 3 years since FY 2013 (1.019661 times 1.044228 percent)
becomes the inflation adjustment for FY 2016. For FY 2016, the
inflation adjustment is 6.4759 percent (rounded). We then add one,
making 1.064759. Finally, we multiply the FY 2016 base revenue amount
($299 million) by 1.064759, yielding inflation-adjusted target revenue
of $318,363,000 (rounded to the nearest thousand dollars).
III. ANDA and PAS Fees
Under GDUFA, the FY 2016 ANDA and PAS fees are owed by each
applicant that submits an ANDA or a PAS, on or after October 1, 2015.
These fees are due on the receipt date of the ANDA or PAS. Section
744B(b)(2)(B) specifies that the ANDA and PAS fees will make up 24
percent of the $318,363,000, which is $76,407,000 (rounded to the
nearest thousand dollars), and further specifies that the PAS fee is
equal to half the ANDA fee.
In order to calculate the ANDA fee, FDA estimated the number of
full application equivalents (FAEs) that will be submitted in FY 2016.
This is done by assuming ANDAs count as one FAE and PASs (supplements)
count as one-half an FAE since the fee for a PAS is one half of the fee
for an ANDA. GDUFA also requires, however, that 75 percent of the fee
paid for an ANDA or PAS filing fee be refunded if the ANDA or PAS is
refused due to issues other than failure to pay fees (section
744B(a)(3)(D) of the FD&C Act). Therefore, an ANDA or PAS that is
considered not to have been received by the Secretary due to reasons
other than failure to pay fees counts as one-fourth of an FAE if the
applicant initially paid a full application fee, or one-eighth of an
FAE if the applicant paid the supplement fee (one half of the full
application fee amount).
FDA utilized data from ANDAs and PASs submitted from October 1,
2012, to May 31, 2015, to estimate the number of new original ANDAs and
PASs that will incur filing fees in FY 2016. For FY 2016, the Agency
estimates that approximately 801 new original ANDAs and 421 PASs will
be submitted and incur filing fees. Not all of the new original ANDAs
and PASs will be received by the Agency, and some of those not received
will be resubmitted in the same fiscal year. Therefore, the Agency
expects that the FAE count for ANDAs and PASs will be 1,005 for FY
2016.
The FY 2016 application fee is estimated by dividing the number of
FAEs that will pay the fee in FY 2016 (1,005) into the fee revenue
amount to be derived from application fees in FY 2016 ($76,407,000).
The result, rounded to the nearest $10, is a fee of $76,030 per ANDA.
The PAS fee is one-half that amount, or $38,020, rounded to the nearest
$10.
The statute provides that those ANDAs that include information
about the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients other than by
reference to a DMF will pay an additional fee that is based on the
number of such active pharmaceutical ingredients and the number of
facilities proposed to produce those ingredients (see section
744B(a)(3)(F) of the FD&C Act). FDA considers that this additional fee
is unlikely to be assessed often; therefore, FDA has not included
projections concerning the amount of this fee in calculating the fees
for ANDAs and PASs.
IV. DMF Fee
Under GDUFA, the DMF fee is owed by each person that owns a type II
active pharmaceutical ingredient DMF that is referenced, on or after
October 1, 2012, in a generic drug submission by an initial letter of
authorization. This is a one-time fee for each individual DMF. This fee
is due no later than the date on which the first generic drug
submission is submitted that references the associated DMF. Under
section 744B(a)(2)(D)(iii) of the FD&C Act, if a DMF has successfully
undergone an initial completeness assessment and the fee is paid, the
DMF will be placed on a publicly available list documenting DMFs
available for reference. Thus, some DMF holders may choose to pay the
fee prior to the date that it would otherwise be due in order to have
the DMF placed on that list.
In order to calculate the DMF fee, FDA assessed the volume of DMF
submissions over time. The statistical forecasting methodology of power
regression analysis was selected because this model showed a very good
fit to the distribution of DMF submissions over time. Based on data
representing the total paid DMFs from October 2012 to May 2015 and
projecting a 5-year timeline (October 2012 to September 2017), FDA is
estimating 453 fee-paying DMFs for FY 2016.
The FY 2016 DMF fee is determined by dividing the DMF target
revenue by the estimated number of fee-paying DMFs in FY 2016. Section
744B(b)(2)(A) specifies that the DMF fees will make up 6 percent of the
$318,363,000, which is $19,102,000 (rounded up to the
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nearest thousand dollars). Dividing the DMF revenue amount
($19,102,000) by the estimated fee-paying DMFs (453), and rounding to
the nearest $10, yields a DMF fee of $42,170 for FY 2016.
V. Foreign Facility Fee Differential
Under GDUFA, the fee for a facility located outside the United
States and its territories and possessions shall be not less than
$15,000 and not more than $30,000 higher than the amount of the fee for
a facility located in the United States and its territories and
possessions, as determined by the Secretary. The basis for this
differential is the extra cost incurred by conducting an inspection
outside the United States and its territories and possessions. For FY
2016, FDA has determined that the differential for foreign facilities
will be $15,000. The differential may be adjusted in future years.
VI. FDF Facility Fee
Under GDUFA, the annual FDF facility fee is owed by each person
that owns a facility which is identified, or intended to be identified,
in at least one generic drug submission that is pending or approved to
produce one or more finished dosage forms of a human generic drug.
These fees are due no later than the first business day on or after
October 1 of each such year. Section 744B(b)(2)(C) of the FD&C Act
specifies that the FDF facility fee revenue will make up 56 percent of
$318,363,000, which is $178,283,000 (rounded to the nearest thousand
dollars).
In order to calculate the FDF fee, FDA used data submitted by
generic drug facilities through the self-identification process
mandated in the GDUFA statute and specified in a Notice of Requirement
published on October 2, 2012 (77 FR 60125). The total number of FDF
facilities identified through self-identification was 705. Of the total
facilities identified as FDF, there were 283 domestic facilities and
422 foreign facilities. The foreign facility fee differential is
$15,000. In order to calculate the fee for domestic facilities, we must
first subtract the fee revenue that will result from the foreign
facility fee differential. We take the foreign facility differential
($15,000) and multiply it by the number of foreign facilities (422) to
determine the total fees that will result from the foreign facility
differential. As a result of that calculation the foreign fee
differential will make up $6,330,000 of the total FDF fee revenue.
Subtracting the foreign facility differential fee revenue ($6,330,000),
from the total FDF facility target revenue ($178,283,000) results in a
remaining fee revenue balance of $171,953,000. To determine the
domestic FDF facility fee, we divide the $171,953,000 by the total
number of facilities (705) which gives us a domestic FDF facility fee
of $243,905. The foreign FDF facility fee is $15,000 more than the
domestic FDF facility fee, or $258,905.
VII. API Facility Fee
Under GDUFA, the annual API facility fee is owed by each person
that owns a facility which produces, or which is pending review to
produce, one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients identified, or
intended to be identified, in at least one generic drug submission that
is pending or approved or in a Type II active pharmaceutical ingredient
drug master file referenced in such generic drug submission. These fees
are due no later than the first business day on or after October 1 of
each such year. Section 744B(b)(2)(D) of the FD&C Act specifies that
the API facility fee will make up 14 percent of $318,363,000 in fee
revenue, which is $44,571,000 (rounded to the nearest thousand
dollars).
In order to calculate the API fee, FDA used data submitted by
generic drug facilities through the self-identification process
mandated in the GDUFA statute and specified in a Notice of Requirement
published on October 2, 2012. The total number of API facilities
identified through self-identification was 826. Of the total facilities
identified as API facilities, there were 105 domestic facilities and
721 foreign facilities. The foreign facility differential is $15,000.
In order to calculate the fee for domestic facilities, we must first
subtract the fee revenue that will result from the foreign facility fee
differential. We take the foreign facility differential ($15,000) and
multiply it by the number of foreign facilities (721) to determine the
total fees that will result from the foreign facility differential. As
a result of that calculation, the foreign fee differential will make up
$10,815,000 of the total API fee revenue. Subtracting the foreign
facility differential fee revenue ($10,815,000) from the total API
facility target revenue ($44,571,000) results in a remaining balance of
$33,756,000. To determine the domestic API facility fee, we divide the
$33,756,000 by the total number of facilities (826) which gives us a
domestic API facility fee of $40,867. The foreign API facility fee is
$15,000 more than the domestic API facility fee, or $55,867.
VIII. Fee Schedule for FY 2016
The fee rates for FY 2016 are set out in table 4.
Table 4--Fee Schedule for FY 2016
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Fee rates for FY
Fee category 2016
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Applications:
Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA).......... $76,030
Prior Approval Supplement (PAS) to an ANDA....... 38,020
Drug Master File (DMF)............................... 42,170
Facilities:
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)--Domestic. 40,867
API--Foreign..................................... 55,867
Finished Dosage Form (FDF)--Domestic............. 243,905
FDF--Foreign..................................... 258,905
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IX. Fee Payment Options and Procedures
The new fee rates are effective October 1, 2015. To pay the ANDA,
PAS, DMF, API facility, and FDF facility fee, you must complete a
Generic Drug User Fee Cover Sheet, available at http://www.fda.gov/gdufa, and generate a user fee identification (ID) number. Payment must
be made in U.S. currency drawn on a U.S. bank by electronic check,
check, bank draft, U.S. postal money order, or wire transfer.
FDA has partnered with the U.S. Department of the Treasury to
utilize Pay.gov, a Web-based payment application, for online electronic
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payment. The Pay.gov feature is available on the FDA Web site after
completing the Generic Drug User Fee Cover Sheet and generating the
user fee ID number.
Please include the user fee ID number on your check, bank draft, or
postal money order and make payable to the order of the Food and Drug
Administration. Your payment can be mailed to: Food and Drug
Administration, P.O. Box 979108, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. If checks
are to be sent by a courier that requests a street address, the courier
can deliver checks to: U.S. Bank, Attention: Government Lockbox 979108,
1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101. (Note: This U.S. Bank
address is for courier delivery only.) Please make sure that the FDA
post office box number (P.O. Box 979108) is written on the check, bank
draft, or postal money order.
If paying by wire transfer, please reference your unique user fee
ID number when completing your transfer. The originating financial
institution may charge a wire transfer fee. Please ask your financial
institution about the wire transfer fee and include it with your
payment to ensure that your fee is fully paid. The account information
is as follows: New York Federal Reserve Bank, U.S. Department of
Treasury, TREAS NYC, 33 Liberty St., New York, NY 10045, account
number: 75060099, routing number: 021030004, SWIFT: FRNYUS33,
Beneficiary: FDA, 8455 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002.
The tax identification number of FDA is 53-0196965.
Dated: July 28, 2015.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2015-18915 Filed 7-31-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P