FDA releases 52 new and revised bioequivalence guidelines for generic drugs

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As part of its ongoing efforts to provide product-specific guidance for generics makers the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has again released several new and revised bioequivalence documents. The agency announced on 1 February 2018 that it had released 35 new draft guidance documents and 22 revisions to guidance documents on bioequivalence requirements for the development of generics containing 49 different active ingredients.

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The new draft bioequivalence guidance documents cover generics of Takeda’s multiple myeloma drug Ninlaro (ixazomib), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment Ritalin-SR (methylphenidate HCl) from Novartis, Bayer’s Aleve-D Sinus & Cold (naproxen/pseudoephedrine) and Merck’s cholesterol lowering medication Zocor (simvastatin) among others, see Table 1.

Revised bioequivalence guidance documents include those for generics of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s hepatitis C treatment Daklinza (daclatasvir dihydrochloride), anticonvulsant felbamate, proton pump inhibitors lansoprazole and dexlansoprazole, and opioid pain treatment oxycodone, among others, see Table 2.

FDA bioequivalence requirements demand that the generic drug performs in the same way in the body and has the same active ingredient(s), strength, dosage form and route of administration as the brand-name reference drug.

Table 1: FDA new draft bioequivalence guidance documents

Active ingredient Route of administration Dosage form Link
Alcaftadine Ophthalmic Drops/ solution 0.25% Click here
Amitriptyline hydrochloride/ chlordiazepoxide Oral Tablet Click here
Amphetamine sulfate Oral Tablet Click here
Barium sulfate Oral Suspension 98% (334g/ bottle) Click here
Barium sulfate Oral Suspension 2% (9g/ 450 mL) Click here
Betamethasone dipropionate Topical Ointment, augmented Click here
Bimatoprost Ophthalmic Drops/ solution 0.03% Click here
Bimatoprost Ophthalmic Drops/ solution 0.01% Click here
Bimatoprost Topical Drops/ solution 0.03% Click here
Bupivacaine Injectable Liposomal, injection Click here
Buprenorphine hydrochloride Buccal Film Click here
Cabozantinib S-malate Oral Capsule Click here
Cabozantinib S-malate Oral Tablets Click here
Crisaborole Topical Ointment Click here
Desonide Topical Aerosol foam Click here
Doxycycline hyclate Oral Tablet Click here
Fluocinonide Topical Cream Click here
Hydrocortisone valerate Topical Cream Click here
Ixazomib citrate Oral Capsule Click here
Ketoconazole Oral Tablet Click here
Leuprolide acetate; Norethindrone acetate Oral/ intermuscular Tablet/ injectable depot Click here
Levetiracetam Oral suspension Tablet Click here
Levocetirizine dihydrochloride Oral Tablet Click here
Loteprednol etabonate Ophthalmic Suspension/drops; 0.2% Click here
Mebendazole Oral Tablet, chewable Click here
Naldemedine tosylate Oral Tablet Click here
Naproxen sodium/ pseudoephedrine hydrochloride Oral Tablet, ER Click here
Niraparib tosylate Oral Capsule Click here
Olopatadine hydrochloride Ophthalmic Drops/ solution Click here
Prasterone Vaginal Insert Click here
Rucaparib camsylate Oral Tablet Click here
Safinamide mesylate Oral Tablet Click here
Simvastatin/ sitagliptin phosphate Oral Tablet Click here
Soybean oil Injectable Injection Click here
Soybean oil Injectable Injection Click here
ER: extended release.

Table 2: FDA revised draft bioequivalence guidance documents

Active ingredient Route of administration Dosage form Link
Aspirin/ omeprazole Oral Tablet, DR Click here
Cysteamine bitartrate Oral Tablet, DR Click here
Daclatasvir dihydrochloride Oral Tablet Click here
Dexlansoprazole Oral Tablet, DR, OD Click here
Dexlansoprazole Oral Capsule, DR Click here
Esomeprazole magnesium Oral Powder for suspension, DR Click here
Esomeprazole magnesium Oral Capsule, DR Click here
Felbamate Oral Suspension Click here
Felbamate Oral Tablet Click here
Fluconazole Oral Tablet Click here
Gatifloxacin Ophthalmic Solution Click here
Gentamicin sulfate Ophthalmic Drops/ solution Click here
Ketorolac tromethamine Nasal Spray Click here
Lansoprazole Oral Tablet, DR, OD Click here
Loteprednol etabonate Ophthalmic Suspension/drops; 0.5% Click here
Morphine sulfate Oral Capsule, ER Click here
Naloxegol oxalate Oral Tablet Click here
Oxycodone Oral Capsule, ER Click here
Pantoprazole sodium Oral Powder for Suspension, DR Click here
Potassium citrate Oral Tablet, ER Click here
Sulfamethoxazole; trimethoprim Oral Tablet Click here
Triamcinolone acetonide Dental Paste Click here
DR: delayed release; ER: extended release; OD: orally disintegrating.

The draft guidance documents recommend what in vivo and in vitro studies generics companies should carry out in order to demonstrate bioequivalence. The number of studies, the population to be studied, blood sampling time points and analytes to be measured in blood samples are also detailed in the draft guidance documents. Some of the documents also provide discussion on data formats.

FDA also has an overarching guidance document on bioequivalence recommendations for specific products [1], as well as a dissolution methods database.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that to date the agency has ‘now published about 1,600 of these product-specific guidances laying out the path for developing generics to specific products; including more than 350 guidances for developing generics of complex drugs’.

Comments on the draft guidance documents can be posted to the Division of Dockets Management (DDM) under Docket FDA-2007-D-0369-0015. This can be done via the website www.regulations.gov or written comments can be mailed to DDM (HFA-305), FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

Related article
FDA releases 52 new and revised bioequivalence guidelines for generics

Reference
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. US guidelines for generics [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2018 Apr 6]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Guidelines/US-guidelines-for-generics

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Source: US FDA

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