The report, Advancing Regulatory Science at FDA: Focus Areas of Regulatory Science (FARS), outlines topics that FDA has identified as needing continued targeted investment in regulatory science research to facilitate the development of innovative products, provide data and methodology to inform regulatory decision-making and improve guidance to sponsors. Each FARS aligns with one of the following four strategic initiatives.

Public health preparedness and response
This topic was included as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and covers regulatory considerations such as speedy development of medical countermeasures and technologies to reduce pathogen contamination. Other topics included in this focus area include substance use disorders, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and ensuring the quality of compounded drugs.

Increasing choice and competition through Innovation
To support the development of innovative products, ‘FDA’s Emerging Sciences Working Group scans the horizon to identify new scientific trends that may affect products coming to the FDA in the future’. Topics identified for extra focus by FDA include individualized therapeutics and precision medicine (including gene therapies and rare diseases), complex innovative trial designs, microbiome research, novel foods, regenerative medicine, advanced manufacturing, product development tools and replacing animal trials. This focus area also includes FDA’s ongoing work to try to increase access to generic alternatives for complex drugs. This is discussed in more detail in a second article [1].

Unleashing the power of data
This topic includes product safety surveillance activities, which include key data-gathering tools such as the Sentinel system and the Biologics, Effectiveness and Safety (BEST) systems. Use of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to support FDA activities, as well as digital health technologies such as wearables and apps are also included in this focus area. Finally, the increasing importance of real-world evidence (RWE) in the conduct of clinical trials and post-marketing review is also included.

Empowering patients and consumers
Engaging patients and consumers, to better understand their preferences, perspectives and outcomes, as well as increasing understanding by providing easy-to-understand communications and resources was also identified as an area of focus for the agency in 2021. Topics included in this focus area include patient and consumer preferences and perspectives, patient-reported outcomes and other clinical outcome assessments and empowering patients and consumers to make better-informed decisions.

According to Denise Hinton, FDA Chief Scientist, ‘the focus areas are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all the FDA’s research needs, but generally encompasses research affecting more than one centre or office. The areas identified have been designed to be flexible so they can be updated as needed to address evolving regulatory needs.’

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Reference
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA includes generics of complex drugs in regulatory focus [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Feb 12]. Available from: www.gabionline.et/Reports/FDA-includes-generics-of-complex-drugs-in-regulatory-focus 

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