Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2021

1/11/2023, 1:47 PM

Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2021

This bill imposes requirements related to third-party petitions concerning an application for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to market a generic drug or biosimilar. (The current statute refers to these petitions as citizen petitions, which typically involve requests that the FDA take certain actions, such as requiring additional warnings on a drug.)

Under the bill, the FDA may deny a citizen petition that (1) was submitted primarily to delay the approval of the relevant application, or (2) does not on its face raise valid scientific or regulatory issues. Currently, the FDA may deny a petition as an attempt at delay only if the petition meets both of these requirements. The bill also requires the FDA to establish procedures for referring such a delaying petition to the Federal Trade Commission.

The bill also expressly requires a third party, before filing a lawsuit to force the FDA to set aside or prevent market approval of a generic drug or biosimilar, to first file a citizen petition with the information and arguments that form the basis of the lawsuit. A citizen petition must be filed within 60 days of when the filer knew or reasonably should have known the information that forms the basis of the petition.

Congress
117

Number
S - 562

Introduced on
2021-03-03

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

3/3/2021

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2021

This bill imposes requirements related to third-party petitions concerning an application for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to market a generic drug or biosimilar. (The current statute refers to these petitions as citizen petitions, which typically involve requests that the FDA take certain actions, such as requiring additional warnings on a drug.)

Under the bill, the FDA may deny a citizen petition that (1) was submitted primarily to delay the approval of the relevant application, or (2) does not on its face raise valid scientific or regulatory issues. Currently, the FDA may deny a petition as an attempt at delay only if the petition meets both of these requirements. The bill also requires the FDA to establish procedures for referring such a delaying petition to the Federal Trade Commission.

The bill also expressly requires a third party, before filing a lawsuit to force the FDA to set aside or prevent market approval of a generic drug or biosimilar, to first file a citizen petition with the information and arguments that form the basis of the lawsuit. A citizen petition must be filed within 60 days of when the filer knew or reasonably should have known the information that forms the basis of the petition.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to citizen petitions.

Policy Areas
Health

Potential Impact
Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Government liability
Prescription drugs

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary7/1/2021

Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2021

This bill imposes requirements related to third-party petitions concerning an application for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to market a generic drug or biosimila...


Latest Action3/3/2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.