The system uses secure Internet connections to receive electronic versions of medical product applications and related documents from industry sponsors seeking regulatory approval. FDA’s Electronic Submissions Gateway has been running since 2006 and this latest modification allows it to receive submissions from Canada as well as the US, using the same interface and technology. Submissions can then be transmitted to one or both regulatory authorities.

The gateway is an outcome of the US–Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council, which was first announced by US President Barack Obama in February 2011. Thus, it has progressed from concept to delivery in only 26 months.

‘By streamlining the process to allow industry to submit information in an easy and secure manner, Canadians will benefit from faster access to safe and effective medications. This will encourage more companies to bring their products to Canada,’ said Canada’s Minister of Health, Rona Ambrose.

The collaboration should yield long-term positive outcomes for both FDA and Health Canada, streamlining both agencies’ submission requirements while maintaining consistency in regulatory requirements. There could also be cost savings for regulated industry, which would not have to follow separate technical requirements for submission to the two countries.

This is not the first collaboration FDA is carrying out with other regulatory agencies. This announcement follows a previous initiative announced by FDA to collaborate with the European Medicines Agency, which provides a mechanism to conduct joint facility inspections for generics applications submitted to both agencies [1].

‘This is yet another example of the steps FDA is taking as part of our Global Initiative, which envisions enhanced collaboration with our regulatory partners,’ said Dr Robert Yetter, Associate Directory for Review Management in FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

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Reference

1.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. EMA and FDA launch joint generics inspections [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Feb 28]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Policies-Legislation/EMA-and-FDA-launch-joint-generics-inspections

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