Title 21Food and DrugsRelease 119-73

§356h Competitive generic therapies

Title 21 › Chapter CHAPTER 9— - FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - DRUGS AND DEVICES › Part Part A— - Drugs and Devices › § 356h

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The FDA can speed up the review and development of a generic drug application if the drug maker asks and the drug is named a "competitive generic therapy." A company can ask for that name any time before or when it files its abbreviated new drug application. The FDA must decide within 60 calendar days whether there is not enough generic competition and, if so, give the designation. If the drug gets the designation, the FDA can hold extra meetings, give timely advice, bring in senior staff, and assign a cross-disciplinary project lead to help coordinate review and inspections. Within one year after approval, the drug maker must report whether the drug has been sold across state lines. Generic drug — a drug approved under the abbreviated new drug application process (section 355(j)). Inadequate generic competition — there are not more than one approved drugs on the list described in section 355(j)(7)(A) (excluding discontinued entries) that match the drug at issue. Reference listed drug — the listed product used as the official standard for comparison.

Full Legal Text

Title 21, §356h

Food and Drugs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary may, at the request of an applicant of a drug that is designated as a competitive generic therapy pursuant to subsection (b), expedite the development and review of an abbreviated new drug application under section 355(j) of this title for such drug.
(b)(1)The applicant may request the Secretary to designate the drug as a competitive generic therapy.
(2)A request under paragraph (1) may be made concurrently with, or at any time prior to, the submission of an abbreviated new drug application for the drug under section 355(j) of this title.
(3)A drug is eligible for designation as a competitive generic therapy under this section if the Secretary determines that there is inadequate generic competition.
(4)Not later than 60 calendar days after the receipt of a request under paragraph (1), the Secretary may—
(A)determine whether the drug that is the subject of the request meets the criteria described in paragraph (3); and
(B)if the Secretary finds that the drug meets such criteria, designate the drug as a competitive generic therapy.
(c)In expediting the development and review of an application under subsection (a), the Secretary may, as requested by the applicant, take actions including the following:
(1)Hold meetings with the applicant and the review team throughout the development of the drug prior to submission of the application for such drug under section 355(j) of this title.
(2)Provide timely advice to, and interactive communication with, the applicant regarding the development of the drug to ensure that the development program to gather the data necessary for approval is as efficient as practicable.
(3)Involve senior managers and experienced review staff, as appropriate, in a collaborative, coordinated review of such application, including with respect to drug-device combination products and other complex products.
(4)Assign a cross-disciplinary project lead—
(A)to facilitate an efficient review of the development program and application, including manufacturing inspections; and
(B)to serve as a scientific liaison between the review team and the applicant.
(d)Not later than one year after the date of the approval of an application under section 355(j) of this title with respect to a drug for which the development and review is expedited under this section, the sponsor of such drug shall report to the Secretary on whether the drug has been marketed in interstate commerce since the date of such approval.
(e)In this section:
(1)The term “generic drug” means a drug that is approved pursuant to section 355(j) of this title.
(2)The term “inadequate generic competition” means, with respect to a drug, there is not more than one approved drugs 11 So in original. Probably should be “drug”. on the list of drugs described in section 355(j)(7)(A) of this title (not including drugs on the discontinued section of such list) that is—
(A)the reference listed drug; or
(B)a generic drug with the same reference listed drug as the drug for which designation as a competitive generic therapy is sought.
(3)The term “reference listed drug” means the listed drug (as such term is used in section 355(j) of this title) for the drug involved.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Guidance; Amended

Regulations

Pub. L. 115–52, title VIII, § 803(b), Aug. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 1071, provided that: “(1) In general.—“(A) Issuance.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—“(i) not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 18, 2017], issue draft guidance on section 506H of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 356h], as added by subsection (a); and “(ii) not later than 1 year after the close of the comment period for the draft guidance, issue final guidance on such section 506H. “(B) Contents.—The guidance issued under this paragraph shall—“(i) specify the process and criteria by which the Secretary makes a designation under section 506H of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as added by subsection (a); “(ii) specify the actions the Secretary may take to expedite the development and review of a competitive generic therapy pursuant to such a designation; and “(iii) include good review management practices for competitive generic therapies. “(2) Amended

Regulations

.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue or revise any

Regulations

as may be necessary to carry out this section not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 18, 2017].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

21 U.S.C. § 356h

Title 21Food and Drugs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73