[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 135 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 45507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16635]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA-2015-P-4224]
Determination That PARAFON FORTE DSC (Chlorzoxazone) Tablets, 500
Milligrams, Was Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or
Effectiveness
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) has
determined that PARAFON FORTE DSC (chlorzoxazone) tablets, 500
milligrams (mg), were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or
effectiveness. This determination means that FDA will not begin
procedures to withdraw approval of abbreviated new drug applications
(ANDAs) that refer to this drug product, and this determination will
allow FDA to continue to approve ANDAs for chlorzoxane tablets, 500 mg,
if all other legal and regulatory requirements are met.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Faranda, Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 51, Rm. 6213, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-
796-8767.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1984, Congress enacted the Drug Price
Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-417)
(the 1984 amendments), which authorized the approval of duplicate
versions of drug products under an ANDA procedure. ANDA applicants
must, with certain exceptions, show that the drug for which they are
seeking approval contains the same active ingredient in the same
strength and dosage form as the ``listed drug,'' which is a version of
the drug that was previously approved. ANDA applicants do not have to
repeat the extensive clinical testing otherwise necessary to gain
approval of a new drug application (NDA).
The 1984 amendments include what is now section 505(j)(7) of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)(7)), which
requires FDA to publish a list of all approved drugs. FDA publishes
this list as part of the ``Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic
Equivalence Evaluations,'' which is known generally as the ``Orange
Book.'' Under FDA regulations, drugs are removed from the list if the
Agency withdraws or suspends approval of the drug's NDA or ANDA for
reasons of safety or effectiveness or if FDA determines that the listed
drug was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness (21
CFR 314.162).
A person may petition the Agency to determine, or the Agency may
determine on its own initiative, whether a listed drug was withdrawn
from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This determination
may be made at any time after the drug has been withdrawn from sale,
but must be made prior to approving an ANDA that refers to the listed
drug (Sec. 314.161 (21 CFR 314.161)). FDA may not approve an ANDA that
does not refer to a listed drug.
PARAFON FORTE DSC (chlorzoxazone) tablets, 500 mg, is the subject
of NDA 011529, held by Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and
initially approved on August 15, 1958. PARAFON FORTE DSC is indicated
as an adjunct to rest, physical therapy, and other measures for the
relief of discomfort associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal
conditions.
PARAFON FORTE DSC (chlorzoxazone) tablets, 500 mg, is listed in the
``Discontinued Drug Product List'' section of the Orange Book.
Flamingo Pharmaceuticals Ltd. submitted a citizen petition dated
November 7, 2015 (Docket No. FDA-2015-P-4224), under 21 CFR 10.30,
requesting that the Agency determine whether PARAFON FORTE DSC
(chlorzoxazone) tablets, 500 mg, were withdrawn from sale for reasons
of safety or effectiveness.
After considering the citizen petition and reviewing Agency records
and based on the information we have at this time, FDA has determined
under Sec. 314.161 that PARAFON FORTE DSC (chlorzoxazone) tablets, 500
mg, were not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. The
petitioner has identified no data or other information suggesting that
PARAFON FORTE DSC (chlorzoxazone) tablets, 500 mg, were withdrawn for
reasons of safety or effectiveness. We have carefully reviewed our
files for records concerning the withdrawal of PARAFON FORTE DSC
(chlorzoxazone) tablets, 500 mg, from sale. We have also independently
evaluated relevant literature and data for possible postmarketing
adverse events. We have reviewed the available evidence and determined
that this drug product was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of
safety or effectiveness.
Accordingly, the Agency will continue to list PARAFON FORTE DSC
(chlorzoxazone) tablets, 500 mg, in the ``Discontinued Drug Product
List'' section of the Orange Book. The ``Discontinued Drug Product
List'' delineates, among other items, drug products that have been
discontinued from marketing for reasons other than safety or
effectiveness. ANDAs that refer to PARAFON FORTE DSC (chlorzoxazone)
tablets, 500 mg, may be approved by the Agency as long as they meet all
other legal and regulatory requirements for the approval of ANDAs. If
FDA determines that labeling for this drug product should be revised to
meet current standards, the Agency will advise ANDA applicants to
submit such labeling.
Dated: July 8, 2016.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-16635 Filed 7-13-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P