Department of Health and Human Services August 17, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Regulatory Classification of Pharmaceutical Co-Crystals.'' This guidance provides applicants planning to submit new drug applications (NDAs) and abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) with information on the appropriate regulatory classification of pharmaceutical co-crystal solid-state forms. This guidance also provides information about the data that applicants should submit to support the appropriate classification of a co-crystal as well as the regulatory implications of the classification. This draft guidance revises the guidance for industry entitled ``Regulatory Classification of Pharmaceutical Co- Crystals'' issued in April 2013.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a document entitled ``Use of Nucleic Acid Tests to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus from Donors of Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products; Guidance for Industry.'' The guidance document provides establishments that make donor eligibility determinations for donors of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps), with recommendations concerning the use of FDA-licensed nucleic acid tests (NAT) in donor testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The guidance finalizes the draft guidance of the same title dated January 2016 and supplements previous FDA recommendations to HCT/P establishments concerning donor testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and total antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), in the document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Eligibility Determination for Donors of Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps)'' dated August 2007 (2007 Donor Eligibility Guidance).

In 2011 and 2012, the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), promulgated regulations designed to govern the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program (Program), including the processes by which eligible responders and survivors may apply for enrollment in the Program, obtain health monitoring and treatment for WTC-related health conditions, and appeal enrollment and treatment decisions, as well as a process to add new conditions to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions. After using the regulations for a number of years, the Administrator of the WTC Health Program has identified potential improvements to certain existing provisions, including, but not limited to, appeals of enrollment, certification, and treatment decisions, as well as the procedures for the addition of health conditions for WTC Health Program coverage. He has also identified the need to add new regulatory provisions, including, but not limited to, standards for the disenrollment of a WTC Health Program member and decertification of a certified WTC-related health condition.