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                Drug Approvals and Databases

Drug Approvals and Databases

                        


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          Drug Approvals and Databases
          Frequently Asked Questions on The Orange BookDrug Approvals and Databases Frequently Asked Questions on The Orange Book
  
  	
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    PrintHow often is the Orange Book updated?
	How do I obtain the Orange Book?
	How do I use the Electronic Orange Book to find approved generic drugs?
	I want drug information not found in the Orange Book. How do I go about getting it?**How often is the Orange Book updated?**

	Since February 2005, we have been providing daily Electronic Orange Book (EOB) product information for new generic drug approvals.  Daily generic updates provide the consumer with the current list of approved generic products which is important for substitution purposes.  Previously, a first-time-generic product approved early in the month would not be published in the EOB for several weeks.

	The monthly EOB update goal is by the end of the following month’s second work week (e.g., November’s EOB will be updated by the end of the second full work week in December).

	**The EOB content includes:**

	New Drug Application (NDA) approvals in the EOB month they were approved.   NDA application numbers are preceded with “N”
		Abbreviated New Drug Application approvals (ANDA or Generic) as of the date of the daily update.  Generic application numbers are preceded  with “A”.
		All product changes received and processed as of the monthly update date.
		Patent information, also updated daily in the EOB, as of the date of the daily update.
		Exclusivity information updated monthly and current to the date of the monthly EOB update date.
	**How do I obtain the Orange Book?**
	Commencing with the 25th edition, the Annual Edition and monthly Cumulative Supplements have been provided in downloadable Portable Document Format (PDF) at the EOB home page by clicking on Annual Edition.  The PDF annual and cumulative supplements duplicate previous paper versions.  Over time, there will be an archive for the annuals and  each year's December Cumulative Supplement.
	The downloaded Annual Edition and Cumulative Supplements are also available in a paper version (Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, ADP) from the U.S. Government Printing Office:  http://bookstore.gpo.gov/ ; toll free 866-512-1800.
	There are ASCII text files of the Orange Book drug product, patent, and exclusivity data at the Orange Book Information Data Files page.  The text files are provided in eobzip.exe and eobzip.zip format. The files are updated concurrently with the monthly cumulative supplements.  Also, the annual Orange Book Edition Appendices A, B, and C in PDF format are updated quarterly.
	**How Do I use the Electronic Orange Book to find approved generic drugs?**
	First, if you have the trade name, search the Electronic Orange Book's Rx or OTC section using the Proprietary Name search. This determines the ingredient(s).
		Then use the Ingredient Search for all approved products that contain the ingredient(s).  The resulting list will provide approved products by dosage form and route.
		For each Dosage Form; Route grouping, there will be a Reference Listed Drug (RLD) that is the innovator product.  One or more strengths will have a "Yes" RLD.  If there are approved generic products of another firm, the RLD will be "No" and all the products within the Dosage Form; Route grouping will have a Therapeutic Equivalence Code (TE Code).  Products that have been discontinued are in the Discontinued section and do not have RLD or TE Codes.  The OTC Section products are not evaluated for therapeutic equivalence.
		Refer to the EOB home page preface for discussion and definitions of the TE Code and Reference Listed Drug (RLD).  In the Orange Book, there are links on column headings that will link to the definition of the term.back to top
	**I want drug information not found in the Orange Book. How do I go about getting it?**
	Requests for more specific information may be obtained via the Freedom of Information Act.  Requests should be submitted in writing or directed to the FDA's Freedom of Information Staff at:
	CDER Updated

	Food and Drug Administration
	Division of Freedom of Information
	Office of the Executive Secretariat, OC
	5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1035
	Rockville, MD 20857
	The CDER Freedom of Information Office Electronic Reading Room also has additional information available.
	A Handbook for Requesting Information and Records from FDA is also available.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      02/05/2020Drug Approvals and Databases

          
                        


                        Resources for Information | Approved Drugs
 
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