Department of Health and Human Services August 13, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the issuance of an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) (the Authorization) for a freeze dried plasma treatment for hemorrhage or coagulopathy during an emergency involving agents of military combat (e.g., firearms, projectiles, and explosive devices) when plasma is not available for use or when the use of plasma is not practical. FDA issued this Authorization under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), as requested by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The Authorization contains, among other things, conditions on the emergency use of the authorized treatment. The Authorization follows the June 7, 2018, determination by the Deputy Secretary of Defense that there is a military emergency or significant potential for a military emergency, involving a heightened risk to U.S. military forces of an attack with an agent or agents that may cause, or are otherwise associated with an imminently life-threatening and specific risk to those forces. The Deputy Secretary of Defense further stated that, more specifically, U.S. forces are now deployed in multiple locations where they serve at heightened risk of an enemy attack with agents of military combat, including firearms, projectiles, and explosive devices, that may cause major and imminently life-threatening combat casualties involving uncontrolled hemorrhage. On the basis of such determination, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary declared on July 9, 2018, that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of freeze dried plasma for the treatment of hemorrhage or coagulopathy during an emergency involving agents of military combat (e.g., firearms, projectiles, and explosive devices) when plasma is not available for use or when the use of plasma is not practical, subject to the terms of any authorization issued under the FD&C Act. The Authorization, which includes an explanation of the reasons for issuance, is reprinted in this document.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Expansion Cohorts: Use in First-In-Human Clinical Trials to Expedite Development of Oncology Drugs and Biologics.'' The purpose of this draft guidance is to provide advice to sponsors regarding the design and conduct of first-in-human (FIH) clinical trials intended to efficiently expedite the clinical development of cancer drugs, including biological products, through multiple expansion cohort study designs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is withdrawing approval of 20 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) from multiple applicants. The holders of the applications notified the Agency in writing that the drug products were no longer marketed and requested that the approval of the applications be withdrawn.