US FDA’s Rare Pediatric Voucher Program Faces Tight Deadline For Reauthorization

Under current law, drugs or biologics must receive rare pediatric disease designation before 1 October to be eligible for a priority review voucher. The sunset provisions have led to a spike in designation requests at the FDA and a push by pediatric and rare disease advocates for an extension, either through a continuing resolution or reauthorizing legislation.

Sunset
The rare pediatric disease PRV program is scheduled to start sunsetting on 1 October. (Shutterstock)

The clock is once again running down on the US Food and Drug Administration’s rare pediatric disease priority review voucher program, and congressional action is needed within the next few weeks to temporarily extend the popular incentive.

The FDA has been dealing with an influx of requests for rare pediatric disease designation before the program’s sunset provisions...

Pink Sheet Podcast

Learn what's happening at the US FDA. On the go.

Derrick Gingery and the team bring you a weekly "Drug Fix".

More from Review Pathways

PS-Pathways&Standards (Free-1): Industrial Chemicals Within Us - The Ubiquity of Industrial Products in the Human Body

 
• By 

Exploring How Everyday Industrial Compounds Enter Our Systems, Their Health Implications, and the Ongoing Quest for Safer Alternatives .

Brazil Issues Guidance On Regulatory Reliance & Equivalent Authorities

 

Brazilian regulator Anvisa is relying on the decisions of its foreign counterparts as a means of ensuring more quality medicines are made available in the country.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis Drug Confirmatory Trials Aim To Avoid Hurdles That Tripped Up Ocaliva

 
• By 

The FDA and sponsors of two new accelerated approval drugs for PBC have taken steps in study design, initiation and reporting transparency to ensure timely completion; Intercept’s COBALT trial of obeticholic acid was negatively impacted by product safety labeling changes and a high crossover rate to commercial drug.

UK MHRA First-Half New Drug Approvals Show Overwhelming Use Of EU Reliance Procedures

 
• By 

The UK regulator approved 16 medicines containing a new active substance in the first half of this year, while the European Commission issued marketing authorizations for 20 NAS-containing drugs.

More from United States

Clinical Trial Diversity Action Plans Need Timely FDA Feedback, Groups Say

 
• By 

The agency also should explain the potential consequences for sponsors if enrollment goals are not met, stakeholders say in comments on the DAP draft guidance. Some commenters urged the FDA to apply waiver criteria flexibly, especially for rare diseases.

Califf: Not Wise To Create Problems Related to Chinese Pharma Supply Chain Dependence

 

The US FDA Commissioner pushed for a rebalancing of the US’s pharmaceutical supply chains while also stressing that there is a role for US-China commerce that would be risky to compromise.

Califf: Rare Disease Hub Will Develop Methods To Guide Approvability Determinations

 

The US FDA commissioner also said the hub is looking for an executive director who will work with the CBER and CDER heads, who will serve as co-leads.