Department of Health and Human Services February 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites nominations of individuals qualified to serve as members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) is proposing an extension of a currently approved generic clearance (OMB no. 0970-0477) for Grant Reviewer Recruitment (GRR) forms. The GRR forms will be used to select reviewers who will participate in the grant review process for the purpose of selecting successful applications.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of the draft guidance entitled ``Nonbinding Feedback After Certain FDA Inspections of Device Establishments.'' The FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 (FDARA) mandated that FDA issue draft guidance specifying how FDA provides nonbinding feedback to the owner, operator, or agent in charge of a device establishment after an inspection of such establishment within 45 days of FDA's receipt of a request for such feedback if the request meets certain statutory criteria. This draft guidance describes FDA's proposed approach for providing nonbinding feedback, including the procedures for requesting nonbinding feedback and FDA's review of requests for nonbinding feedback. This draft guidance is not final nor is it in effect at this time.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Competitive Generic Therapies.'' On August 18, 2017, the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 (FDARA), which amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), was signed into law. Under FDARA, a section was added to the FD&C Act that established a new process to designate, and expedite the development and review of, certain drugs intended for submission or submitted in an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) and for which there is ``inadequate generic competition.'' This draft guidance provides a description of the process that applicants should follow to request designation of a drug as a competitive generic therapy (CGT) and the criteria for designating a drug as a CGT. This draft guidance also includes information on the actions FDA may take to expedite the development and review of an ANDA for a drug designated as a CGT. This draft guidance also provides information on how FDA implements the statutory provisions providing for a 180-day exclusivity period for certain first approved applicants that submit ANDAs for drugs designated as CGTs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is issuing a final rule to establish criteria for and identify an initial list of bulk drug substances that can be used to compound drug products in accordance with certain compounding provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), although they are neither the subject of an applicable United States Pharmacopeia (USP) or National Formulary (NF) monograph nor components of FDA-approved drugs. Specifically, the Agency is placing six bulk drug substances on the list. This final rule also identifies four bulk drug substances that FDA has considered and is not including on the list. Additional bulk drug substances nominated by the public for inclusion on this list are currently under consideration and will be the subject of a future rulemaking.

This request for information (RFI) is issued for informational and planning purposes only. This RFI is not a solicitation; nor does it commit the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue a solicitation, make any award, or pay any costs associated with responding to this announcement. The RFI is being issued by the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NVPO is located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), Office of the Secretary (OS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The NVPO provides strategic leadership and management, policy scholarship and recommendations, and encourages collaboration and coordination among federal agencies and other stakeholders whose mission is to reduce the burden of preventable infectious disease through immunization. NVPO offers thorough reporting, unbiased advice and expertise to other agencies in identifying and responding to gaps in the vaccine system. Prevention of cancers associated with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections continues to be a public health challenge in the United States. Vaccination is an effective, primary medical intervention for prevention of infection from these viruses. Despite this, HPV vaccination series completion rates remain low nationwide, with adolescents living in rural communities (per census definition of

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces a forthcoming public advisory committee meeting of the Blood Products Advisory Committee (BPAC). The general function of the committee is to provide advice and recommendations to the Agency on regulatory issues related to blood and products derived from blood. Matters considered at the meeting will include testing of the blood supply for Zika virus, topics relevant to blood donation by men who have sex with men, and an overview of research programs in the Laboratory of Biochemistry and Vascular Biology. At least one portion of the meeting will be closed to the public.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. 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 of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on export notification and recordkeeping requirements for persons exporting human drugs, biological products, devices, animal drugs, food, cosmetics, and tobacco that may not be marketed or sold in the United States.

The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development.