Company: ATRA
Filing Date: 2025-03-07
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000950170-25-035507
Chunk: 42

Company: Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-03-07
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1
Chunk 42
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 or approval process.

If a product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the disease for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan product exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a full BLA, to market the same biologic for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority to the product with orphan drug exclusivity. Orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent the FDA from approving a different drug or biologic for the same disease or condition, or the same drug or biologic for a different disease or condition. Among the other benefits of orphan drug designation are tax credits for certain research and a waiver of the BLA application user fee.

A designated orphan drug may not receive orphan drug exclusivity if it is approved for a use that is broader than the indication for which it received orphan designation. In addition, exclusive marketing rights in the U.S. may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantities of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition.

Expedited Development and Review Programs in the U.S.

The FDA has a fast track program that is intended to expedite or facilitate the process for reviewing new products that meet certain criteria. Specifically, new products are eligible for fast track designation if they are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and demonstrate the potential to address an unmet medical need for the disease or condition. Fast track designation applies to the combination of the product and the specific indication for which it is being studied. For a product that has received fast track designation, the FDA may consider for review sections of the BLA on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted. A sponsor seeking a rolling submission must provide a schedule for the submission of each section of the BLA, and the FDA must agree to the rolling submission and that the schedule is acceptable. In addition, the sponsor must pay any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the BLA. Submission of sections of a BLA on a rolling basis does not guarantee that the FDA will begin their review of these sections upon receipt or even before the BLA submission is deemed to be complete. Therefore, a rolling BLA submission may not result in a faster timeline to marketing approval. Additionally, a rolling BLA submission has no bearing on whether or not a product candidate is ultimately approved. 

Any product,