Evaluation of the Generic Drug User Fee Act (GDUFA) Program for Fiscal Years 2013-2022.

The effectiveness of the regulatory initiatives, strategies, and incentives put forth in the first two authorizations of the Generic Drug User Fees Act (GDUFA) were evaluated using factors including the number of Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) withdrawals and first-cycle approvals. GDUFA was originally authorized in 2012 for FY 2013-2017 (GDUFA I) and reauthorized for FY 2018-2022 (GDUFA II). ANDA approvals were analyzed from the Drugs @ FDA database covering 2013-2022. From the applications, the approval time, dosage form and route of administration (ROA), product indication, market status of the product, first generic status, company and company size filing the ANDA were noted. Despite the COVID pandemic, there was more than a 40% increase in ANDA approvals during GDUFA II relative to GDUFA I. Oral and parenteral drugs were the two leading categories of approved generics during both iterations of GDUFA. There was more than a 120% increase in withdrawn applications during GDUFA II, which reflects the partial refund that is now offered to incentivize companies to withdraw inadequate applications prior to review. This also appears to have contributed to an increase in the number of first-cycle approvals, which increased by 100% between GDUFA I and II. Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, there was a decrease in activity within the generic drug program and market. Therefore, it is important to consider this impact when observing actual trends from this study.