[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 148 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 42843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16692]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2021-P-0271]


Determination That VOTRIENT (Pazopanib Hydrochloride) Tablets, 
400 Milligrams, Were Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or 
Effectiveness

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) has 
determined that VOTRIENT (pazopanib hydrochloride) tablets, 400 
milligrams (mg), were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or 
effectiveness. This determination will allow FDA to approve abbreviated 
new drug applications (ANDAs) for pazopanib hydrochloride tablets, 400 
mg, if all other legal and regulatory requirements are met.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sungjoon Chi, Center for Drug 
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New 
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 51, Rm. 6212, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 240-
402-9674, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1984, Congress enacted the Drug Price 
Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-417) 
(the 1984 amendments), which authorized the approval of duplicate 
versions of drug products under an ANDA procedure. ANDA applicants 
must, with certain exceptions, show that the drug for which they are 
seeking approval contains the same active ingredient in the same 
strength and dosage form as the ``listed drug,'' which is a version of 
the drug that was previously approved. ANDA applicants do not have to 
repeat the extensive clinical testing otherwise necessary to gain 
approval of a new drug application (NDA).
    The 1984 amendments include what is now section 505(j)(7) of the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)(7)), which 
requires FDA to publish a list of all approved drugs. FDA publishes 
this list as part of the ``Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic 
Equivalence Evaluations,'' which is known generally as the ``Orange 
Book.'' Under FDA regulations, drugs are removed from the list if the 
Agency withdraws or suspends approval of the drug's NDA or ANDA for 
reasons of safety or effectiveness or if FDA determines that the listed 
drug was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness (21 
CFR 314.162).
    A person may petition the Agency to determine, or the Agency may 
determine on its own initiative, whether a listed drug was withdrawn 
from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This determination 
may be made at any time after the drug has been withdrawn from sale, 
but must be made prior to approving an ANDA that refers to the listed 
drug (Sec.  314.161 (21 CFR 314.161)). FDA may not approve an ANDA that 
does not refer to a listed drug.
    VOTRIENT (pazopanib hydrochloride) tablets, 400 mg, are the subject 
of NDA 022465, held by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., and initially 
approved on October 19, 2009. VOTRIENT is a kinase inhibitor indicated 
for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. 
VOTRIENT (pazopanib hydrochloride) tablets, 400 mg, are currently 
listed in the ``Discontinued Drug Product List'' section of the Orange 
Book.
    Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C., submitted a citizen petition dated 
March 5, 2021 (Docket No. FDA-2021-P-0271), under 21 CFR 10.30, 
requesting that the Agency determine whether VOTRIENT (pazopanib 
hydrochloride) tablets, 400 mg, were withdrawn from sale for reasons of 
safety or effectiveness.
    After considering the citizen petition and reviewing Agency records 
and based on the information we have at this time, FDA has determined 
under Sec.  314.161 that VOTRIENT (pazopanib hydrochloride) tablets, 
400 mg, were not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. The 
petitioner has identified no data or other information suggesting that 
VOTRIENT (pazopanib hydrochloride) tablets, 400 mg, were withdrawn for 
reasons of safety or effectiveness. We have carefully reviewed our 
files for records concerning the withdrawal of VOTRIENT (pazopanib 
hydrochloride) tablets, 400 mg, from sale. We have also independently 
evaluated relevant literature and data for possible postmarketing 
adverse events. We have found no information that would indicate that 
this drug product was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or 
effectiveness.
    Accordingly, the Agency will continue to list VOTRIENT (pazopanib 
hydrochloride) tablets, 400 mg, in the ``Discontinued Drug Product 
List'' section of the Orange Book. The ``Discontinued Drug Product 
List'' delineates, among other items, drug products that have been 
discontinued from marketing for reasons other than safety or 
effectiveness. ANDAs that refer to VOTRIENT (pazopanib hydrochloride) 
tablets, 400 mg, may be approved by the Agency as long as they meet all 
other legal and regulatory requirements for the approval of ANDAs. If 
FDA determines that labeling for this drug product should be revised to 
meet current standards, the Agency will advise ANDA applicants to 
submit such labeling.

    Dated: July 29, 2021.
Lauren K. Roth,
Acting Principal Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021-16692 Filed 8-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P