Title 21 › CHAPTER 9 — FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT › SUBCHAPTER V — DRUGS AND DEVICES › Part A — Drugs and Devices › § 355a
Requires drug makers to do studies in children when the FDA thinks those studies could help kids. "Pediatric studies" means at least one clinical trial in the child age groups where the drug might be used (including newborns when appropriate). If the FDA sends a written request for such studies before a drug is approved, and the drug company agrees, finishes the studies in the time given, and the FDA accepts the study reports, the company gets extra market protection. That protection generally adds six months to certain exclusivity periods. For example, a five-year period can become five years and six months; references to four years become four and a half years (54 months); seven and a half years can become eight years; three years can become three years and six months; and orphan drug exclusivity of seven years can become seven years and six months. If pediatric studies are submitted before a listed patent expires (or a court finds the patent valid and infringed), the time during which a generic application cannot be approved is also extended by six months after the patent ends. The FDA will not give these extensions if its acceptance decision is made less than 9 months before the original period ends. Exclusivity only applies for studies that were actually requested in writing and whose reports the FDA accepts. The FDA must put pediatric study requests in writing and include a schedule and a request for proposed pediatric labeling. It must consider minority representation and explain if it does not ask for newborn studies. A single written request can cover more than one use and both approved and unapproved uses. The drug company must tell the FDA within 180 days whether it will do the studies and when it will start, or explain why it will not. If it agrees and later submits study reports, the FDA must accept or reject those reports within 180 days, judging only whether the studies match the request and followed accepted scientific methods. The FDA will review proposed requests within 120 days. The agency will publish notice of its determinations within 30 days and make pediatric review documents public within 210 days after a report is submitted. If the sponsor and FDA cannot agree on labeling from the pediatric studies, the FDA can ask the Pediatric Advisory Committee to review the data and advise on labeling; timelines include a 180-day initial request, 30 days for sponsor response, 90 days for committee review, and 30 days for FDA action. For 18 months after a pediatric labeling change, all adverse event reports for that drug are reviewed by the Office of Pediatric Therapeutics, with input from the Pediatric Advisory Committee as needed. If required studies are not done, the FDA will decide whether other assessments are needed or whether to put the drug on a public study list and will notify relevant agencies for certain countermeasures.
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Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
21 U.S.C. § 355a
Title 21, Food and Drugs
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110