Source: https://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Guidances/ucm125127
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 13:56:34+00:00

Document:
This guidance explains FDA's general recommendations and procedures applicable to the authorization of the emergency use of certain medical products under sections 564, 564A, and 564B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 2 as amended or added by the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 (PAHPRA).3 The provisions in PAHPRA, described in section II of this guidance, include key legal authorities to sustain and strengthen national preparedness for public health, military, and domestic emergencies involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents, including emerging infectious disease threats such as pandemic influenza. PAHPRA clarifies and enhances FDA’s authority to support emergency preparedness and response and foster the development and availability of medical products for use in these emergencies. These medical products, also referred to as “medical countermeasures” or “MCMs,” include drugs4 (e.g., antivirals and antidotes), biological products (e.g., vaccines, blood products, and biological therapeutics), and devices (e.g., in vitro diagnostics and personal protective equipment). This guidance finalizes the draft guidance, Emergency Use Authorization of Medical Products and Related Authorities (April 2016) and replaces the following two guidance documents, Emergency Use Authorization of Medical Products (July 2007) and Emergency Use Authorization Questions and Answers (April 2009).
In general, FDA's guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency's current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The use of the word should in Agency guidance means that something is suggested or recommended, but not required.
Reliance on the governmental pre-positioning authority set forth in section 564B.
Section 564, as amended by PAHPRA, permits the Commissioner6 to authorize the emergency use of an unapproved medical product or an unapproved use of an approved7 medical product for certain emergency circumstances (discussed in section III.A of this guidance) after the HHS Secretary has made a declaration of emergency or threat justifying emergency use. The Commissioner may issue an EUA to allow an MCM to be used in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions caused by a CBRN agent when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives. Section III of this guidance addresses EUAs.
In addition, PAHPRA amended section 505-1(k) to authorize FDA to waive Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) requirements for CBRN emergencies.
Finally, section 564B, also added by PAHPRA, permits government stakeholders to pre-position (e.g., stockpile, forward-deploy) MCMs in anticipation of FDA approval or clearance, authorization of an investigational use, or the issuance of an EUA, to enable these stakeholders to prepare for potential rapid deployment during an actual CBRN emergency. This authority is discussed in section V of this guidance.
The EUA authority under section 564 allows FDA to facilitate availability and unapproved uses of MCMs needed to prepare for and respond to CBRN emergencies. The EUA authority is separate and distinct from use of a medical product under an investigational application (i.e., Investigational New Drug Application (IND) or Investigational Device Exemption (IDE)), section 561 expanded access authorities,11 and section 564A emergency use authorities discussed in section IV of this guidance.
After the Secretary of HHS issues an EUA declaration based on one of these four determinations, and after consulting (to the extent feasible and appropriate given the applicable circumstances) with the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Director of CDC,17 the Commissioner may authorize the emergency use of an unapproved product or an unapproved use of an approved product, provided that other statutory criteria are met.
In appropriate circumstances, an HHS EUA declaration may support issuance of more than one EUA. For example, based on an HHS EUA declaration that circumstances exist to justify the authorization of emergency use of diagnostics for a specified biological agent, FDA may authorize emergency use for multiple diagnostic tests to meet the need, provided that each EUA meets the statutory criteria for issuance.
When an EUA declaration is terminated, then any EUA(s) issued based on that declaration will no longer remain in effect.18 The HHS Secretary’s EUA declaration will terminate on the earlier of: (1) a determination by the HHS Secretary that the circumstances that precipitated the declaration have ceased (after consultation as appropriate with the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of Defense), or (2) a change in the approval status of the product such that the authorized use(s) of the product are no longer unapproved (section 564(b)(2)). For example, an EUA issued to allow an unapproved use of an approved product may no longer be needed if that product is later approved by FDA for the use permitted by the EUA.
During the effective period of the HHS Secretary's EUA declaration, FDA may authorize the introduction of a medical product into interstate commerce when the product is intended for use during an actual or potential emergency. EUA candidate products include medical products and uses that are not approved, cleared, or licensed under sections 505, 510(k), and 515 of the FD&C Act or section 351 of the PHS Act.
After the requisite determination and declaration have been issued, and after feasible and appropriate consultations, FDA may issue an EUA only if FDA concludes that the following four statutory criteria for issuance have been met. If the product does not meet the statutory criteria for issuance or is not otherwise an appropriate candidate, an alternative regulatory mechanism (i.e., access under an IND or IDE, which can include expanded access protocols)20 may be an appropriate means to provide patients access to an unapproved use of a product in a CBRN emergency.
For FDA to issue an EUA, the CBRN agent(s) referred to in the HHS Secretary’s EUA declaration must be capable of causing a serious or life-threatening disease or condition.
Medical products that may be considered for an EUA are those that "may be effective" to prevent, diagnose, or treat serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions that can be caused by a CBRN agent(s) identified in the HHS Secretary’s declaration of emergency or threat of emergency under section 564(b). Potential EUA products also include those that may be effective to mitigate a disease or condition caused by an FDA-regulated product (including a product authorized for emergency use under section 564 or an approved product) used to diagnose, treat, or prevent a disease or condition caused by a CBRN agent.
The "may be effective" standard for EUAs provides for a lower level of evidence than the "effectiveness" standard that FDA uses for product approvals.21 FDA intends to assess the potential effectiveness of a possible EUA product on a case-by-case basis using a risk-benefit analysis, as explained below. If, based on the totality of the scientific evidence available, it is reasonable to believe that the product may be effective for the specified use, FDA may authorize its emergency use, provided that other statutory criteria for issuing an EUA also are met.
A product may be considered for an EUA if the Commissioner determines that the known and potential benefits of the product, when used to diagnose, prevent, or treat the identified disease or condition, outweigh the known and potential risks of the product. In making this assessment, FDA must take into consideration the material threat posed by the CBRN agent(s) identified in the HHS Secretary’s declaration of emergency or threat of emergency if applicable (section 564(c)).
In determining whether the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks, FDA intends to look at the totality of the scientific evidence to make an overall risk-benefit determination. Such evidence, which could arise from a variety of sources, may include (but is not limited to): results of domestic and foreign clinical trials, in vivo efficacy data from animal models, and in vitro data, available for FDA consideration. FDA will also assess the quality and quantity of the available evidence, given the current state of scientific knowledge. The types of evidence that FDA may consider and that should be submitted to support a request for an EUA are discussed more fully in section III.D.2 of this guidance.
For FDA to issue an EUA, there must be no adequate, approved, and available alternative to the candidate product for diagnosing, preventing, or treating the disease or condition. A potential alternative product may be considered “unavailable” if there are insufficient supplies of the approved alternative to fully meet the emergency need. A potential alternative product may be considered "inadequate" if, for example, there are contraindicating data for special circumstances or populations (e.g., children, immunocompromised individuals, or individuals with a drug allergy), if a dosage form of an approved product is inappropriate for use in a special population (e.g., a tablet for individuals who cannot swallow pills), or if the agent is or may be resistant to approved and available alternative products.
Substitution of a critical reagent of a cleared in vitro diagnostic (IVD) with another reagent that has not been cleared for use with the device.
Submission of an IND or IDE is not required for potential EUA products, although FDA anticipates that many unapproved products for which an EUA is requested will already be under evaluation through such mechanisms. In fact, human data derived in the course of studies conducted under an IND or IDE may help to support an FDA conclusion that the available evidence is adequate to support an EUA consistent with the statutory criteria for issuance.
Early engagement between an industry or government sponsor23 and FDA about potential EUA products will facilitate more complete EUA requests and enhance FDA’s ability to review and ultimately grant the EUA as appropriate. FDA also recognizes that circumstances can change rapidly, and planning for a potential emergency may unexpectedly transition to a response effort. Therefore, FDA strongly encourages the sponsor of a product that might be considered for an EUA, particularly one at an advanced stage of development, to contact the appropriate FDA Center before submitting a formal request for an EUA. For purposes of this guidance, these submissions and related interactions are referred to as “pre-EUA” activities.
FDA’s review of a pre-EUA submission is not an indication of FDA’s views on the product’s potential to be used under an EUA, or that the sponsor has obtained or submitted all the information necessary for FDA to review a formal request for consideration of an EUA. Pre-EUA activities are not a substitute for sponsor efforts to develop the product toward approval, including submission and, when appropriate, implementation of proposals for clinical trials designed to determine whether the product is safe and effective for its intended use. In addition to design and implementation of clinical trials for development efforts in non-emergency settings, for some MCMs and for some emergency response plans, FDA encourages sponsors to design and propose appropriately controlled clinical trials that could be conducted during the emergency response either to run in parallel with an EUA or instead of an EUA.
Pre-EUA activities may include discussions with FDA about a potential EUA product. Such discussions may occur prior to the submission of a formal request for consideration of an EUA or issuance by the HHS Secretary of an EUA declaration. They may also include discussions about the appropriate vehicle to use (e.g., IND or IDE, Master File, pre-EUA submission) for submitting data on the product prior to submission of a formal request for consideration of an EUA.
Generally, FDA recommends that a sponsor submitting data as part of "pre-EUA” activities follow recommendations for submitting pre-IND, IND, and device pre-submissions to the relevant medical product Center.24 A "pre-EUA" submission is typically separate from other developmental submissions on file with FDA; its existence does not imply that any specific set of qualifications has been met but represents the initiation of a series of preliminary interactions to discuss potential suitability for EUA consideration. In addition, FDA requests that the sponsor follow the recommendations for the content of the submission outlined in section III.D.2 of this guidance and for the format of the submission contained in section III.D.3 of this guidance.
As with requests for issuance of EUAs, FDA prioritizes its pre-EUA activities based on a variety of factors. Many of these are discussed more fully in section III.D.4.a of this guidance. Examples of additional factors FDA may take into account in prioritizing pre-EUA activities may include: progress on product development targets or milestones; competing FDA obligations or exigent circumstances (e.g., user fee deadlines, other agency priorities); and whether there is a significant likelihood that the product would be retained in or added to government stockpiles if the product is authorized for use in an emergency. The extent of, and timelines for, review of such submissions will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will depend on the nature of the submission (e.g., whether an IND or IDE for the product already is on file), the circumstances of the emergency, and the workload of the review staff.
FDA can issue an EUA not only during an emergency to support a rapid public health response, but also for significant potential of an emergency (e.g., in advance of an emergency) based on the requisite EUA declaration by the HHS Secretary, to support preparedness planning. The circumstances of a CBRN emergency may afford FDA or other stakeholders little time to consider the statutory criteria and appropriate conditions to ensure safe and effective use of an MCM when an event occurs. For instance, some CBRN events may require dispensing of MCMs within just a few hours of identification or notification of an exposure. It may be necessary to use other MCMs, such as IVDs, to identify the presence of a CBRN agent in an individual. An EUA issued before an emergency could permit use of an MCM during an emergency without the need for further authorization by FDA, assuming no new information about the product or emergency requires amendment and/or reissuance of the EUA. Section 564 thus reflects the fact that some scenarios may support issuance of an EUA before an emergency (including if the emergency is occurring in another country but not yet in the U.S.) to better enable federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to plan for such use during an emergency.
Based on experience, FDA expects that many requests for an EUA will be submitted by government sponsors (e.g., HHS or the Department of Defense (DoD)), although industry sponsors may also submit such a request.
Any right of reference28, as applicable.
The amount and type(s) of safety information that FDA recommends be submitted as part of a request for an EUA will differ depending upon a number of factors, including whether the product is approved for another indication and, in the case of an unapproved product, the product's stage of development. FDA anticipates that, for some products, data from controlled clinical trials will be available. For others, FDA expects to consider clinical experience from other than a controlled trial if the circumstances warrant. In addition, for some devices (e.g., IVDs), if clinical data are not available, FDA may consider accepting data solely from bench testing, if the circumstances warrant. FDA expects to interpret safety information in light of the seriousness of the clinical condition, alternative diagnostics, prophylaxis, or alternative therapies (if any), and the specific circumstances of the emergency or threat of emergency. FDA encourages any sponsor of a candidate product to have early discussions with FDA (even before a determination of actual or potential emergency) about the nature and type of safety data that might be appropriate to submit to FDA.
If the new indication uses a similar dose, duration, route of administration, or mechanism of action (as appropriate given the nature of the product), and the intended patient population is similar, to that for which the product is approved, FDA recommends that the request for an EUA reference the approved application, including right of reference as applicable. If the new use poses a different risk to the patient population (e.g., suggesting the possibility of increased toxicity), FDA recommends that information from relevant in vitro studies, animal toxicology studies, and (if available) human clinical data and experience be provided to support such a use.
The range of available data for unapproved products will differ widely. FDA recommends that any request for consideration for an EUA include available preclinical testing data, such as in vitro and animal toxicology data. FDA also encourages that human safety information from clinical trials and individual patient experience be provided, if available. Data submitted in the request should attempt to link the likely exposure to the MCM to any relevant, existing preclinical data. Similarly, when animal data are used, sufficient information should be provided to link the results of these data to expected exposures to the MCMs related to the proposed use in humans. Any information on safety associated with use in humans of this or related compounds or devices of a similar design should also be submitted.
FDA recognizes that comprehensive effectiveness data are unlikely to be available for every EUA candidate product, and the information necessary to authorize emergency use of a product will also depend on the circumstances of the CBRN emergency, as well as available knowledge about the product's safety profile. FDA plans to assess the sufficiency of the effectiveness data and the risk-benefit profile of each candidate product on a case-by-case basis.
For IVDs, device performance data to support the intended use such as analytical sensitivity and analytical specificity, and data from testing fresh, contrived, banked or archived specimens.
Source data for clinical studies, nonclinical laboratory studies, and any animal studies that contribute to assessing activity or effectiveness of the product in the treatment of the underlying disease or condition or a closely related disease or condition, such as case report tabulations for key studies; case report forms for all patients who died during the clinical studies and for all persons who did not complete the study due to an adverse event, regardless of causality; relevant reports in the published literature; and translations of source materials that are in a language other than English.
FDA recommends that requests for EUAs include statements on whether the nonclinical laboratory studies were conducted in compliance with applicable Good Laboratory Practice for Nonclinical Laboratory Studies regulations (GLP)31 and whether the clinical studies were conducted in compliance with applicable Good Clinical Practice standards.32 FDA also recommends specifying the methods and quality systems used to ensure the quality and integrity of data from any animal studies submitted in support of an EUA request but not performed under GLP.
Data from any ongoing testing (e.g., longer term stability data) or other data or information that may change FDA's evaluation of the product's safety or effectiveness and that become available during the period of review or the term of the EUA. Such data should be submitted to FDA when such data become available, including any appropriately controlled clinical trials conducted in parallel with the EUA during the emergency response. Data that are required to be submitted under the condition(s) established as part of the authorization of an EUA should be submitted as specified in the EUA.
To the extent known, information concerning the threats posed by the CBRN agent(s) (actually or potentially) involved, and anticipated response and operational considerations that may be relevant to an assessment of risks and benefits.
FDA expects material to be provided in a reviewable form and sufficiently complete to permit substantive review. Nevertheless, FDA recognizes that, in rapidly developing or unexpected emergency circumstances, or when previously unanticipated or unavailable MCMs are being considered, it may not be possible for a sponsor to provide all of the requested data or to provide it in the format suggested in a timely manner. In such circumstances, FDA will accept and evaluate the request for an EUA based on data in the form the sponsor is able to submit. However, a request that is missing data, poorly documented, or otherwise incomplete will make FDA’s determination of whether the product's benefits outweigh its risks more difficult and could result in a request for additional information, the need for a longer time period for review, or a decision not to authorize emergency use of the candidate product.
Prior to submitting any materials to FDA, FDA recommends contacting the relevant medical product Center (e-mails provided below) for any specific directions unique to the submission. Submissions, including a cover letter, may be provided in electronic or paper format. General information, as well as links to Center-specific submission preparation guidelines, is included in the Center contact information below. When a request is submitted in paper, FDA recommends that a minimum of three copies be provided to the relevant medical product Center address below.
Any other previously established contacts within the Center familiar with the submission.
Whether other mechanisms, such as developing a clinical study protocol under an IND or IDE for investigational use, typically in coordination with government stakeholders, or granting access to an investigational product under an IND or IDE expanded access authority, might be more appropriate for allowing emergency access to products under development (e.g., when there are little or no safety or efficacy data available).
The statutory criteria for issuing an EUA are the same whether the EUA is issued before or during a CBRN emergency. Therefore, in deciding whether to issue an EUA in advance of an emergency for preparedness purposes, FDA will make a case-by-case assessment of product risks and benefits based on the totality of available safety and efficacy data consistent with the criteria for issuance of an EUA in section 564(c), just as it would in considering a request for an EUA to be issued during an emergency response.
It will not be appropriate to issue an EUA for every potential MCM or in anticipation of each emergency scenario. For example, FDA anticipates that, in all but the most catastrophic scenarios, only comparatively mature products (e.g., those with demonstrated safety data and in advanced stages of efficacy testing) are likely to meet the minimum risk-benefit criteria for an EUA for preparedness purposes. In addition, the extent to which the proposed use of an MCM is supported by operational planning, whether the MCM is already held in a government stockpile, and whether timely and comprehensive pre-EUA submissions have been available for FDA review will be relevant to the prioritization of a request for an EUA for preparedness purposes.
Nevertheless, the extent to which the sponsor is actively pursuing FDA approval for the MCM is relevant to FDA’s prioritization of requests to issue an EUA in advance of an emergency for preparedness purposes35, and the duration of such an EUA if issued. An EUA is not a long-term alternative to obtaining FDA approval, licensure, or clearance for MCMs; the issuance of an EUA in advance of an emergency (or during an emergency) is not an appropriate endpoint for new product development.
Section 564 expressly states that FDA’s authority to allow emergency use of an unapproved product, or unapproved use of an approved product, does not authorize a delay in FDA's review or other consideration of any pending application. If an EUA remains in effect for more than one year, FDA must provide the sponsor written explanation of obstacles to approval and specific actions to be taken by FDA and the sponsor to overcome them.36 Moreover, FDA is required to review the circumstances and appropriateness of an EUA periodically, including progress made with respect to the approval of the product.37 FDA generally does not anticipate allowing an EUA issued in advance of an emergency for preparedness purposes to remain in effect indefinitely. If the sponsor is not actively working to advance the MCM’s development for an approval, FDA may reconsider the EUA's status and/or consider terminating the EUA.
A formal request to issue an EUA generally should not be submitted until the Secretary of HHS has issued an EUA declaration under section 564(b)(1). In particular, although section 564 allows FDA to issue an EUA for preparedness purposes, in such cases the HHS Secretary must first declare that circumstances exist justifying such an authorization in advance of an actual emergency based on a formal determination of a significant potential for emergency or a material threat determination. FDA typically coordinates closely with HHS and other relevant government sponsors throughout the EUA process, from pre-EUA submissions to final disposition, including the need for issuance of the EUA declaration and any consultations on EUAs with federal partners.38 Moreover, a formal request for issuance of an EUA typically will have the benefit of FDA feedback based on pre-EUA submission activities.
A sponsor seeking an EUA should submit its formal request in the form of an EUA submission, including reference to relevant pre-EUA submissions previously reviewed by FDA, and request to issue the EUA through the same process outlined in section III.D.3 of this guidance. Typically the data and other information in EUA submissions have already been reviewed by FDA and have had the benefit of FDA Center feedback based on pre-EUA submissions and interactions with FDA prior to submission of the request to issue an EUA.
The workload of the reviewing Center’s personnel.
FDA may decline to review or issue an EUA based on any number of factors. For example, the candidate product may fail to meet the necessary criteria identified in section 564 and discussed in section III.B.1 of this guidance, or it may fail to meet any one of the factors given the circumstances of the emergency or threat of emergency (see section III.D.4.a of this guidance for a discussion of factors FDA will consider in reviewing requests for prioritization of EUA requests). Under such circumstances, the relevant product Center will notify the sponsor that the EUA review cannot be prioritized or FDA declines to issue an EUA for the candidate product.
Of available alternatives and their benefits and risks.
Contact information for reporting adverse events and additional information about the product.
FDA further recommends that Fact Sheets target the health care professional or authorized dispenser who has the most basic level of training, recognizing that individuals responding to an emergency may have different levels of training, could come from a variety of backgrounds, and may have different types of experience or speak different languages. FDA recommends that Fact Sheets accompany the EUA product in an accessible form (e.g., printable as a hard copy) when the product is distributed to the health care professional or authorized dispenser if practicable. To the extent consistent with other conditions of authorization, information on the EUA product also may be disseminated to health care professionals or authorized dispensers through mass media (including print, broadcast, radio, satellite, Internet, or other electronic means of dissemination), videos/DVDs, or direct communication from public health agencies.
Of any available alternatives to the product and of the risks and benefits of available alternatives.
Dosing information (if applicable), including specific instructions for home use or preparation (if applicable).
FDA recommends that recipients be given as much appropriate information as possible given the nature of the emergency and the conditions of the authorization.47 Ordinarily, FDA expects that some written form of information will be given to recipients with the MCM, similar to the Fact Sheet for health care professionals or authorized dispensers. FDA recognizes that these Fact Sheets, like those for health care professionals or authorized dispensers, will generally be brief. To ensure that individuals of varying educational levels comprehend the information provided, FDA recommends that all written information be stated in the simplest language possible using techniques to improve health literacy.48 In addition, translations to other languages may be appropriate if practicable.49 FDA recognizes that some flexibility may be needed for health care providers or authorized dispensers to make minor, nonsubstantive changes to the fact sheets for recipients such as adding local contact information, using specific letterhead or minor format changes.
FDA acknowledges that exigent circumstances may dictate the use of other appropriate dissemination methods. Therefore, FDA expects that information would be disseminated in the most effective and expeditious way possible to reach the recipient before administration or use of an EUA product.50 If, however, taking the time needed to provide such information would diminish or negate the effectiveness of the product for the recipient, FDA may include as a condition of authorization that the information be provided to the recipient as soon as practicable after dispensing. Other methods of dissemination may include internet posting, mass media, videos/DVDs, or direct communication from health care professionals and public health agencies.
For an unapproved product (section 564(e)(1)(A)(iii)), EUA conditions for monitoring and reporting of adverse events are required to the extent practicable given the circumstances of the emergency; such conditions may be established for an EUA for an unapproved use of an approved product (section 564(e)(2)(A)), at the discretion of FDA.
Conditions may be placed to enable the collection and analysis of information on the safety and effectiveness of the EUA product during the period when the authorization is in effect and for a reasonable time following such period. FDA expects that the primary focus of adverse event-related conditions will be capturing serious adverse events and applying appropriate mechanism(s) for the collection of follow-up clinical information. Some reporting may be directed to predefined mechanisms to capture adverse event data (e.g., FDA’s Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting System (MedWatch) or Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)). FDA will work with product sponsors in some circumstances to develop proposals for more active data collection and follow-up mechanisms to capture adverse event information under the EUA. FDA encourages EUA sponsors to provide proposals for data collection and follow-up during pre-EUA interactions.
To the extent practicable given the circumstances of the emergency, FDA must establish conditions for a manufacturer of an unapproved product to maintain records and to grant FDA access to records concerning the EUA product.51 FDA anticipates that such conditions may relate to, for example, the number of doses, devices, or other unit(s) (including lot identification) that have been shipped or sold under an EUA; or the name and addresses of the facilities to and from which the EUA product was shipped. FDA may also impose comparable recordkeeping requirements on any person (e.g., an authorized distributor or dispenser) other than a manufacturer who carries out any activity for an unapproved EUA product (section 564(e)(1)(B)(iv)).
FDA may also impose recordkeeping and records access requirements on any person (including a manufacturer) engaged in an activity for which an EUA is issued for an unapproved use of an approved product (section 564(e)(2)(A)). In addition to the examples noted above for unapproved EUA products, examples may include conditions relating to actual use of the product and disposition of any unused product, and monitoring of patients who have been administered the product under an EUA.
Advertising54 — conditions (e.g., limitations) may be placed on advertisements and other promotional descriptive printed matter (e.g., press releases issued by the EUA sponsor) relating to the use of an EUA product, such as requirements applicable to prescription drugs under section 502(n) and requirements applicable to restricted devices under section 502(r).
The known and potential benefits of such categorization under the circumstances of the authorization outweigh the known and potential risks of the categorization.
FDA may also establish appropriate conditions on the performance of the test. The complexity categorization made under this authority is effective for the same period as the EUA and is independent of that made under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations.
FDA will specify the effective date of an EUA issued under section 564. In general, an EUA will remain in effect for the duration of the EUA declaration under which it was issued (see section III.A.2 of this guidance, which describes termination of an EUA declaration and its impact on existing EUAs), unless the EUA is revoked because the criteria for issuance as described in section III.B of this guidance are no longer met or revocation is appropriate to protect public health or safety (section 564(f),(g)).
FDA will periodically review the circumstances and appropriateness of an EUA, including circumstances that might warrant revocation of the EUA. The review will include regular assessment based on additional information provided by the sponsor of the progress made with respect to the approval, licensure, or clearance of the unapproved product, or of the unapproved use of an approved product, for which an EUA was issued.
FDA may revise or revoke an EUA if the circumstances justifying its issuance (under section 564(b)(1)) no longer exist, the criteria for its issuance are no longer met, or other circumstances make a revision or revocation appropriate to protect the public health or safety.58 Such circumstances may include significant adverse inspectional findings (e.g., when an inspection of the manufacturing site and processes has raised significant questions regarding the purity, potency, or safety of the EUA product that materially affect the risk/benefit assessment upon which the EUA was based); reports of adverse events (number or severity) linked to, or suspected of being caused by, the EUA product; product failure; product ineffectiveness (such as newly emerging data that may contribute to revision of the FDA's initial conclusion that the product "may be effective" against a particular CBRN agent); a request from the sponsor to revoke the EUA; a material change in the risk/benefit assessment based on evolving understanding of the disease or condition and/or availability of authorized MCMs; or as provided in section 564(b)(2), a change in the approval status of the product may make an EUA unnecessary.
Upon revocation of an EUA or its termination as a result of the termination of the HHS EUA declaration supporting it, an unapproved product or its labeling, and product information for an unapproved use of an approved product, must be disposed of pursuant to section 564(b)(2)(B) and (b)(3).59 Notwithstanding any such revocation or termination, under section 564(f)(2) an authorization shall continue to be effective to provide for continued use in any patient who began treatment before revocation or termination (to the extent found necessary by the patient's attending physician). Any study or future use of an EUA product beyond the term of a declaration is subject to investigational product regulations (e.g., IND regulations).
If a manufacturer is the sole source of an unapproved product authorized for emergency use, that manufacturer must inform FDA, within a reasonable time after the authorization, if the manufacturer does not intend to make its product available for use under the EUA (section 564(l)). The Commissioner does not have the authority under section 564 to require a person to carry out any activity for which an EUA is issued. Section 564(l), however, does not limit FDA's authority to impose conditions on persons who carry out any activity for which an EUA is issued.
FDA may extend the expiration date of an eligible, FDA-approved MCM stockpiled for use in a CBRN emergency if the extension is supported by an appropriate scientific evaluation that is conducted or accepted by FDA. An "expiration date" is defined as “the date established through appropriate stability testing…to ensure that the product meets applicable standards of identity, strength, quality, and purity at the time of use” (section 564A(b)(4)).
The expiration date extension authority in section 564A applies to any eligible MCM, including eligible MCMs tested through the federal Shelf-Life Extension Program (SLEP). Since the mid-1980s FDA has engaged with federal partners in SLEP; DoD administers the program, while FDA tests the stability of certain federally stockpiled drug products to assess and extend, as appropriate, the useful shelf-life of such products. The explicit expiration date extension authority added by PAHPRA does not displace the longstanding federal SLEP, but eliminates any uncertainty about the legal status of eligible products for which FDA authorizes an extended expiration date, whether or not FDA also issues an EUA.
Although FDA may rely on section 564A to authorize an expiration date extension without issuing an EUA, if an EUA is requested for a product that is nearing or beyond its labeled expiration date, FDA may consider extending that expiration date and imposing conditions in connection with an EUA request as discussed in section III.D.2.a of this guidance.
FDA may authorize deviations from otherwise applicable CGMP requirements for the manufacture, processing, packing, or holding of eligible, FDA-approved products without issuing an EUA (section 564A(c)). Products that receive a waiver from applicable CGMPs will not be considered adulterated or misbranded under the FD&C Act. This includes requirements under section 501 or 520(f)(1) or applicable conditions prescribed with respect to the eligible product by an order under section 520(f)(2).
Although FDA may rely on section 564A to waive CGMP requirements without issuing an EUA, if an EUA is requested for a product for which a CGMP waiver is also requested, FDA may consider waiving CGMP requirements and imposing conditions in connection with the EUA as discussed in section III.E.5 of this guidance.
FDA may issue waivers on its own initiative, but expects that any such action will be uncommon. Since the need for a waiver will be driven by the exigencies and other demands of responding to a CBRN emergency, FDA expects that in most cases a waiver will be based on a request from a government stakeholder or other interested party. For example, government stakeholders or manufacturers of products intended for use in a CBRN emergency may submit a request for a CGMP waiver for eligible products based on actual or anticipated emergency response activities that necessitate the waiver. FDA recommends, however, that requests be submitted only after consultation with and among relevant government stakeholders (e.g., CDC, and government officials in adjacent jurisdictions) that are or eventually may be part of a coordinated or related response effort involving the CBRN agent(s) or MCM. For example, absent compelling justification and to maintain response consistency, FDA does not expect to grant multiple CGMP waivers for the same MCM or CBRN use. FDA generally will not issue a waiver based on a request from an individual state if FDA has already issued the same type of waiver for the same MCM on a nationwide basis. Similarly, if FDA receives CGMP waiver requests for a particular MCM from multiple states or federal partners at the same time, FDA generally anticipates it will issue a single waiver (if a waiver is appropriate). Advance consideration and coordination are critical to ensure appropriate consistency and avoid unnecessary duplication.
Available information about the potential impact of the deviation on the safety or efficacy of the product (e.g., strength, purity, quality).
FDA may request additional information to assess the request and decide whether to grant a waiver. A waiver of CGMP requirements pursuant to section 564A(c) may either (1) be issued independent of any other FDA action or, when appropriate, (2) be included with an emergency dispensing order under section 564A(d) (see section IV.D of this guidance).
Submit a request for a CGMP waiver for an eligible MCM via e-mail or letter to the relevant Center and OCET points of contact identified in section III.D.3 of this guidance.
Emergency dispensing of eligible, FDA-approved products is allowed under section 564A(d) without adhering to the requirements of section 503(b) or 520(e). This authority includes dispensing such products without an individual prescription for each recipient (often referred to as “mass dispensing”)69 if: (: (1) permitted by state law where the product is dispensed (section 564A(d)(2)(A)) or (2) dispensed in accordance with an emergency dispensing order issued by FDA (section 564A(d)(2)(B)). This streamlined mechanism permits emergency response activities that involve an emergency dispensing strategy needed to meet immediate public health needs, but that otherwise may not comply with the FD&C Act’s prescription requirements.70 Like other provisions in section 564A, FDA may issue an emergency dispensing order to allow emergency dispensing of eligible products without having to issue an EUA. Products that are dispensed pursuant to section 564A(d) (i.e., under state law or under an FDA emergency dispensing order) will not be considered unapproved, adulterated, or misbranded under the FD&C Act.
Although FDA may rely on section 564A to allow emergency dispensing of FDA-approved products without issuing an EUA, if an EUA is requested for a product for which emergency dispensing is also requested, FDA may consider waiving prescription requirements and imposing conditions in connection with considering the EUA (as discussed in section III.E.5 of this guidance).
Section 564A(d) provides a mechanism for FDA to fill any gaps in state law or to ensure adequate and consistent emergency response within and across state lines by issuing an order to allow emergency dispensing of eligible MCMs (i.e., an emergency dispensing order). FDA may issue such an order before or during an emergency. However, to receive the protections from potential violations of the FD&C Act under section 564A(d), eligible MCMs may only be dispensed during (not before) an emergency, as may be determined by relevant government stakeholders (see section IV.D.2 of this guidance).
FDA intends to issue orders to allow emergency dispensing when, based on available information about the MCM, emergency response plans, and operational needs, the agency concludes that it is reasonable to permit emergency dispensing of eligible FDA-approved products. FDA anticipates that government stakeholders will submit a request for an emergency dispensing order. However, in the event that FDA deems it appropriate to issue an order without such a request, FDA will notify the relevant government stakeholders (e.g., ASPR, CDC, DHS, and/or DoD, regional authorities) as appropriate.
FDA expects that federal government stakeholders will initiate any requests relating to federally-maintained or federally-controlled MCMs, and to the extent possible, will consider emergency dispensing activities of the same MCMs at all jurisdictional levels including state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions. For example, if both the CDC Strategic National Stockpile and state or local jurisdictions stockpile an antibiotic for use for post-exposure prophylaxis of inhalational anthrax, FDA anticipates that a CDC request for an order to allow emergency dispensing for that antibiotic would address all other relevant government stakeholder stockpiles. FDA also expects that a federal stakeholder seeking an emergency dispensing order, or to which such an order is otherwise directed, will communicate with other government stakeholders as necessary to ensure a coordinated emergency response.
FDA also anticipates receiving requests relating to MCMs maintained or controlled solely by non-federal government stakeholders (e.g., public health officials at the state level or in major metropolitan areas that independently maintain MCM stockpiles) to address the possibility that such assets may be deployed independent of reliance on federal assets. FDA strongly recommends that such requests be submitted only after consultation with relevant federal government stakeholders (e.g., CDC), as well as other relevant government stakeholders (e.g., officials in adjacent jurisdictions) that are or may be part of a coordinated or related response effort involving the same CBRN agent(s) or MCM.
The relevant government stakeholders' roles in an anticipated response.
FDA may also request additional information to evaluate and make a decision on the request. Examples of additional information include: information about anticipated dispensing strategies, dispensing locations, dispensing personnel, recipient screening, or how health care professionals or authorized dispensers and recipients will be informed about product safety, efficacy, and use during an emergency (e.g., whether corresponding CDC-issued EUI will be needed to accompany the product).
Submit a request for an emergency dispensing order for an eligible MCM via email or letter to the relevant Center and OCET points of contact identified in section III.D.3 of this guidance.
An emergency dispensing order issued by FDA would authorize emergency dispensing, but not direct or require emergency dispensing to occur; government stakeholders typically will be responsible for determining when to commence emergency dispensing consistent with the conditions specified in the order. The agency expects that in most cases, an emergency dispensing order will allow dispensing in all circumstances in which government stakeholders reasonably believe that a need exists because of their constituent recipients’ known, suspected, or likely imminent exposure to the CBRN agent(s) identified in the order. FDA also expects that any dispensing contemplated within government stakeholder emergency response plans will, to the extent possible, involve guidance from licensed health care professionals in the dispensing of product. Nevertheless, an emergency dispensing order issued under section 564A(d) may also state that, in some circumstances, direct or immediate involvement or guidance by licensed health care practitioners may not be possible, and the emergency dispensing order may authorize others, provided the product is otherwise dispensed as part of the official government emergency response plan during a CBRN event.
FDA may specify in the emergency dispensing order who is responsible for contacting additional government stakeholders who may become engaged in a response to a CBRN event covered by the order (1) to ensure that relevant government emergency response plans are coordinated or revised as appropriate, (2) to specify different or additional conditions as appropriate, including information provided in support of a request for issuance of an emergency dispensing order (e.g., to accommodate or address specific response strategies or operational considerations), and (3) when appropriate, to waive CGMP requirements under section 564A(c), as discussed more fully in section IV.C of this guidance.
In appropriate cases, FDA may also coordinate with CDC so that FDA issuance of an emergency dispensing order accompanies CDC issuance of emergency use instructions for the same MCM, as discussed in section IV.E of this guidance.
In most cases, an emergency dispensing order issued by FDA for preparedness purposes in advance of a CBRN event will remain in effect until it is revised or revoked by a subsequent FDA order. FDA may specify a duration (e.g., 1 year) for an emergency dispensing order, but, if it does so, may extend the order as appropriate.
CDC may create, issue, and disseminate special emergency use instructions (EUI) concerning an eligible MCM’s approved, licensed, or cleared conditions of use (section 564A(e)).72 EUI are intended to be similar to “Fact Sheets” that have been authorized in past EUAs, and may be directed to health care professionals and authorized dispensers or to recipients of an eligible MCM. EUI may be created and disseminated both before a CBRN event occurs and during a response.
During past public health emergencies, there were concerns that instructions for administering MCMs, even those MCMs that were FDA-approved for the disease or condition (e.g., doxycycline for post-exposure prophylaxis of inhalational anthrax), that deviate from FDA-approved product labeling would violate the FD&C Act and thus invalidate any liability protection otherwise provided under the PREP Act. When an EUI is issued pursuant to this provision, that issuance would not deprive the product of otherwise-applicable PREP Act protection. Therefore, the EUI provisions offer enhanced flexibility for CDC to prepare and disseminate EUI concerning a disease or condition for which an MCM is FDA-approved, licensed, or cleared without further limitation. FDA and CDC interpret this provision as permitting the creation of EUI that describe how the approved drug may be used, for the disease or condition for which it is approved, but in ways that may deviate from or extend beyond the FDA-approved labeling. EUI would not, on the other hand, be permitted to describe uses of an FDA-approved product for diseases or conditions for which the product has not been approved.
A new provision added by PAHPRA permits pre-positioning of MCMs without FDA approval when the product(s) is intended to be held (and not used) for emergency use (section 564B), allowing stakeholders to prepare for rapid deployment of MCMs during an emergency. This authority allows government stakeholders, or a person acting on behalf of a government stakeholder, e.g., an agent of the government stakeholder, to introduce into interstate commerce (e.g., stockpile or transport) a medical product intended for emergency use without violating the FD&C Act regardless of a product’s regulatory status (i.e., without an IND, IDE, or any other acknowledgement by FDA), but in anticipation that use will be permitted under an appropriate regulatory mechanism (i.e., FDA approval, authorization, or for investigational use).
The authority to pre-position MCMs applies to all categories of medical products intended for emergency use, including those that are approved, unapproved, investigational, or authorized for use under an EUA. However, a government stakeholder may only rely on this authority if the MCMs are in fact held and not used to diagnose, treat, or prevent the CBRN-related disease or condition until permitted under one of these mechanisms. This means, for example, that even though a government stakeholder may stockpile an unapproved MCM, additional action likely will be required to ensure that any pre-positioned MCM can be used when needed. FDA, therefore, recommends that government stakeholders also consider and, if appropriate, initiate steps to ensure an approval can be granted, or that an IND/IDE or EUA is in place or can be readily put in place if necessary.
Those relying on this provision will have to maintain documentation that shows the product qualifies to be held for emergency use, including records reflecting the government stakeholder’s initial intent to hold and not use the MCM until such time as it may be used under an appropriate regulatory mechanism. At this time, FDA is not specifying any additional recordkeeping methods relating specifically to pre-positioned MCMs. The agency recommends, however, that to the extent feasible government stakeholders maintain sufficient records or other information to be able to readily identify their pre-positioned MCMs (e.g., by product name, manufacturer's name, dosage form and strength, quantity held, lot number) as well as the distribution, storage, and ultimate disposition of those MCMs.73 For unapproved products, this information likely will be an element of the records required to be maintained for use under an IND/IDE or EUA. In addition, this information will help minimize the risks of misidentification, theft or other loss, and product deterioration. As an example, an MCM that a government stakeholder cannot verify has been properly stored might not qualify for use under an EUA or for an otherwise applicable extension of the product’s shelf life because of a lack of information about the condition of the product.
FDA believes that the terms and conditions of an EUA issued under section 564 preempt state or local law, both legislative requirements and common-law duties, that impose different or additional requirements on the medical product for which the EUA was issued in the context of the emergency declared under section 564. Similarly, an order or waiver issued under section 564A and pre-positioning under section 564B preempt state or local law, both legislative requirements and common-law duties, that impose different or additional requirements related to the activity authorized under sections 564A or 564B.
To the extent state or local law may impose requirements different from or in addition to those imposed by the EUA for a particular medical product within the scope of the declared emergency or threat of emergency (e.g., requirements on prescribing, dispensing, administering, or labeling of the medical product), such law “stands as an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of the full purposes and objectives of Congress,” and “conflicts with the exercise of Federal authority under [§ 564].” The same rationale applies to an order or waiver issued under section 564A and pre-positioning of an MCM under section 564B.
Affected state laws may include, but are not limited to, laws governing the administration of investigational medical products, such as informed consent laws and laws requiring Institutional Review Board approval, and laws governing the prescribing or dispensing of medical products, such as laws limiting who may prescribe or dispense medical products and under what circumstances.
Moreover, the PREP Act, which expressly provides immunity from tort liability associated with certain MCM activities, preempts state laws that are different from, or in conflict with, any requirement applicable to a covered countermeasure under the PREP Act and relating to, among other things, any matter applicable because of a requirement of the FD&C Act.79 This includes actions taken to meet the terms of an EUA, an order or waiver issued under section 564A, pre-positioning of an MCM under section 564B, an IND or IDE, or any FDA approval of an MCM.
In an emergency, it is critical that the conditions that are part of the EUA or an order or waiver issued pursuant to section 564A—those that FDA has determined to be necessary or appropriate to protect the public health—be strictly followed, and that no additional conditions be imposed. To the extent there may be circumstances in which FDA would like people carrying out activities under an EUA to also comply with requirements contained in preempted state law, FDA anticipates incorporating such requirements into the terms and conditions of the EUA.
Similarly, an extension of expiration dating under section 564A(b), a waiver of CGMP requirements under section 564A(c), and an FDA order permitting emergency dispensing pursuant to section 564A(d) are actions intended to protect the public health by enabling rapid public access to potentially life-saving medical products during an emergency. State laws that govern CGMP requirements or the dispensing of products covered by an FDA extension of expiration dating, CGMP waiver, or emergency dispensing order and that impose different or additional conditions that would limit the access to eligible products covered by FDA’s action, would be an obstacle to achieving that goal. Therefore, FDA believes that state laws within the jurisdictional coverage of an FDA extension of expiration dating, CGMP waiver, or emergency dispensing order that impose more restrictive conditions or requirements on dispensing products covered by the FDA order, or pre-positioning of MCMs under section 564B will be preempted.
As noted above, however, state laws may permit emergency dispensing of eligible MCMs. Under section 564A(d), such laws may provide another basis on which government stakeholders may be able to provide for emergency dispensing without a prescription or adherence to other prescription requirements that might otherwise apply.80 An FDA order issued under section 564A(d) is not intended to replace those frameworks as long as they are not more restrictive than the FDA’s order in providing for access to the FDA-approved product(s) that the order covers.
Apart from any applicable preemption principles, sections 564, 564A, and 564B do not confer explicit liability protections for stakeholders who carry out any activity under these authorities. The PREP Act,81 however, may provide for immunity from tort liability related to activities authorized under such authorities. More specifically, the PREP Act authorizes the HHS Secretary to issue a declaration (called a PREP Act declaration) that provides immunity (except for willful misconduct) for claims related to administration or use of countermeasures against CBRN agents to entities and individuals involved in the development, manufacture, testing, distribution, administration, and use of such countermeasures.82 The PREP Act authority, including the authority to issue PREP Act declarations, resides with the Secretary of HHS and has not been delegated to FDA.
The PREP Act liability protections apply to “covered countermeasures” as defined by the statute.83 Covered countermeasures include medical products that are approved, cleared, or licensed by FDA; authorized for investigational use under an IND or IDE by FDA; authorized for emergency use under section 564; or otherwise permitted to be held or used pursuant to sections 564A and 564B. As discussed in section IV of this guidance, in the past, EUAs have been issued in part to address concerns that certain activities related to MCMs potentially violated provisions of the FD&C Act, jeopardizing otherwise-applicable PREP Act protections. PAHPRA added sections 564A and 564B to the definitions of “covered countermeasure” in part to preserve these otherwise-applicable PREP Act protections.
Although an EUA is not an FDA-approval, a medical product authorized for emergency use under an EUA may be introduced into interstate commerce during the effective period of the EUA declaration, and as such, contingent upon compliance with the terms and conditions of the authorization, may be legally imported and exported under section 801 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 381). The letter of authorization should serve as appropriate documentation or certification that the product may be legally imported or exported.
In the past, FDA has received EUA requests for which the primary emergency use of the investigational medical product would be in a foreign country (e.g. for use in West Africa during the Ebola crisis). The assessment of whether to issue an EUA in these cases is the same as for any other emergency use: FDA must determine whether the requisite EUA determination, declaration, and criteria (as described in section III.A and III.B of this guidance) are met and consider whether it is feasible or practicable in the foreign setting to comply with the necessary and appropriate conditions of use (as described in section III.E of this guidance).
The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 85 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data sources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or suggestions for reducing this burden to: Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002.
This guidance refers to previously approved collections of information found in FDA regulations. The collections of information for: adverse experience reporting for biological products is approved under OMB control number 0910-0308; adverse drug experience reporting is approved under OMB control number 0910-0230; adverse device experience reporting is approved under OMB control number 0910-0471; investigational new drug application regulations are approved under OMB control number 0910-0014; and investigational device exemption reporting is approved under OMB control number 0910-0078.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this information collection is 0910-0595 (expires 08/31/2019).
a. Under section 564(e)(1)(A) of the FD&C Act, “required conditions” must be imposed by FDA in an EUA to the extent practicable given the applicable circumstances described in the HHS Secretary’s EUA declaration under section 564(b)(1) of the FD&C Act. See also section 564(e)(2)(A) (same rule for unapproved uses of an approved drug).
b. Discretionary conditions may be included in an EUA at FDA’s discretion as deemed necessary to protect the public health. See section 564(e)(1)(B); section 564(e)(2)(A).
c. Such conditions for an unapproved use of an approved product may not restrict distribution or administration of the product when it is distributed or administered for the approved use. See section 564(e)(2)(C).
1. This guidance was prepared by the Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats (OCET) in cooperation with the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), and Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
2. 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3, 360bbb-3a, and 360bbb-3b. Section 564 was first added to the FD&C Act by the Project BioShield Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-276). Hereafter in this document, statutory references (e.g., “section __”) are to the FD&C Act, except where otherwise indicated.
3. Public Law 113-5. Section 3088 of the 21st Century Cures Act, signed into law by the President on December 13, 2016, amends sections 564, 564A, and 564B of the FD&C Act to add new authorities to: (1) authorize emergency use of unapproved animal drugs, (2) make applicable other emergency use authorities (e.g., to issue emergency dispensing orders, waive compliance with current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs), make available Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emergency use instructions, and extend expiration dates) to approved animal drugs, and (3) allow unapproved animal drugs to be held for emergency use. While much of what is described in this guidance will apply to these new authorities, this guidance does not by its terms reference them; FDA asks anyone interested in utilizing these authorities to contact FDA directly to discuss how to proceed. FDA plans to review these new authorities and address any new procedural issues raised as we develop more experience with these new authorities.
4. Throughout this guidance references to “drugs” and “drug products” include both drugs approved under the FD&C Act and biological products licensed under the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, but not biological products that also meet the definition of a device in section 201(h) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 321(h)).
5. For purposes of this guidance, “stakeholders” include industry and government sponsors and other government stakeholders/entities involved in emergency response activities (including Federal, State, local, tribal, or territorial government stakeholders/entities). The term “government stakeholders” refers to the public health and/or emergency response agencies or their agents/delegates that have legal responsibility and authority for responding to an incident, based on political or geographical boundaries (e.g., city, county, tribal, territorial, State, or Federal), or functional range or sphere of authority (e.g., law enforcement, public health, military health) to prescribe, administer, deliver, distribute, hold, or dispense a medical product during an emergency situation.
6. As provided in section 1003 and existing delegations of authority (found in the FDA Staff Manual Guide 1410.10), the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary or Secretary of HHS) has delegated most of the authorities under sections 564, 564A, and 564B to the Commissioner of FDA (Commissioner). Thus, this guidance refers to either FDA or the Commissioner rather than the HHS Secretary, except where the HHS Secretary has traditionally exercised the authority or has delegated it to another official (e.g., the authority to issue emergency use instructions pursuant to section 564A(e) was delegated to the Director of the CDC).
7. Unless otherwise specified, the terms “approved product” and “FDA-approved product” refer to a product that is approved, licensed, or cleared under section 505, 510(k), or 515 of the FD&C Act or section 351 of the PHS Act, as applicable. For purposes of this document, an "unapproved" product refers to a product that is not approved, licensed, or cleared for commercial distribution under section 505, 510(k), or 515 of the FD&C Act or section 351 of the PHS Act; an "unapproved use of an approved product" refers to a product that is approved, licensed, or cleared under such a provision but for which the specific use is not an approved, licensed, or cleared use of the product. See section 564(a)(2).
8. As applied to medical devices, these are referred to as “Quality System Regulation” requirements. See 21 CFR 820.
9. For purposes of this guidance, the term "recipient(s)" refers to individual(s) to whom an MCM product is administered or on whom the product is used.
10. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Delegation of Authority of section 564A(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, December 16, 2013, see http://www.fda.gov/downloads/EmergencyPreparedness/Counterterrorism/MedicalCountermeasures/MCMLegalRegulatoryandPolicyFramework/UCM510446.pdf.
11. For general information on expanded access mechanisms, see http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ExpandedAccessCompassionateUse/default.htm.
12. The HHS declaration of emergency or threat of emergency is issued only for purposes of empowering the FDA Commissioner to issue an EUA. It is distinct from, and is not dependent on, an HHS public health emergency declaration under section 319 of the PHS Act, a Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act declaration (discussed in section VII of this document), or any other type of emergency declaration.
15. Section 564(b)(1)(C). Prior to the PAHPRA amendments, the Secretary would have made the determination that there is a public health emergency under section 319 of the PHS Act. Under amended section 564(b)(1)(C), the Secretary can make the emergency or threat of emergency determination that includes any and all of the elements required by statute (e.g., that the emergency affects national security, U.S. citizens living abroad, etc.) when making the declaration justifying the EUA under section 564(b)(1)(C). If there is an applicable section 319 public health emergency determination in place, the Secretary may conclude that any additional elements required by the statute (e.g., that the emergency affects national security, citizens living abroad, etc.) are met when issuing a declaration under section 564(b)(1).
16. Section 564(b)(1)(D). We note that, while section 564(b)(1)(D) specifically refers to the identification of a material threat "sufficient to affect national security or the health and security of United States citizens living abroad," section 319F-2 of the PHS Act, 42 USC 274d-6b, refers only to a “material threat against the United States population sufficient to affect national security," without specific reference to "the health and security of United States citizens living abroad." Because Congress chose not to amend the latter provision when it added the "material threat" provision to section 564, FDA concludes that a material threat determination necessarily encompasses the health and security of U.S. citizens living abroad. And as such, it would be an appropriate basis for a declaration. Thus, an EUA could be justified by a threat to the health and security of U.S. citizens living abroad whether or not a particular material threat determination issued pursuant to section 319F-2 expressly refers to the health and security of U.S. citizens living abroad.
18. As discussed in section III.G of this guidance, an EUA may also be revoked under certain conditions.
19. The Secretary of HHS publishes in the Federal Register notice of each declaration of emergency or threat of emergency justifying issuance of an EUA, with an explanation of the basis of the declaration under section 564(b)(1), as well as any advance notice of termination of such a declaration.
20. For general information on expanded access mechanisms, see http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ExpandedAccessCompassionateUse/default.htm.
21. Regulations regarding treatment INDs and IDEs also use the terminology “may be effective.” A request for a treatment IND for a drug or biologic intended to treat an immediately life-threatening disease may be granted when, among other things, there is evidence that the drug may be effective for its intended use in its intended population (21 CFR 312.320(a)(3)(ii)). For devices, a treatment IDE may be withdrawn if FDA determines that the available scientific evidence fails to provide a reasonable basis for concluding that the device “may be effective for its intended population” (21 CFR 812. 36(d)(2)(iv)(A)). It should be noted that FDA's decisions on requests for EUAs and treatment INDs and IDEs involve product-specific and circumstance-dependent determinations of risks and benefits. FDA also notes that the amount, type, and quality of evidence available to support an EUA may not always be the same as that required for expanded access, IDEs, or humanitarian device exemptions under the FD&C Act and FDA regulations.
22. EUAs may be requested and issued to authorize prescribing for unapproved uses of approved products, often referred to as “off-label” uses because, under emergency circumstances, licensed prescribers may not be able to make the case-by-case individual patient prescribing decisions that occur within the practice of medicine. CDC, for example, may act as the nation's doctor in recommending an unapproved use of an approved product. In such cases, CDC may request that FDA issue an EUA to authorize such unapproved use, often with the intended purpose of preserving liability protections afforded under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, described in section VI of this guidance.
23. For purposes of this guidance, the term "sponsor" is used when referring to the applicant, submitter, or person requesting an EUA. If specifically referring to a government or industry sponsor only, then "government" or "industry" is used as an adjective to describe the specific type of sponsor, e.g. government sponsor or industry sponsor.
24. For detailed information on meetings about product development with CDER and CBER, see FDA’s guidance for industry Formal Meetings Between the FDA and Sponsors or Applicants (Revision 1). In the Federal Register of March 11, 2015 (80 FR 12822), FDA published a notice announcing the availability of a draft guidance Formal Meetings Between the FDA and Sponsors or Applicants of PDUFA Products (Revision 2). The revised draft guidance updates the guidance for industry Formal Meetings Between the FDA and Sponsors or Applicants (Revision 1) and, when finalized, will represent the Agency’s current thinking on the topic. For detailed information on meetings about product development for a device, including those that are regulated by CBER, see Requests for Feedback on Medical Device Submissions: The Pre-Submission Program and Meetings with Food and Drug Administration Staff (February 2014) at http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/UCM311176.pdf.
25. FDA recognizes that data and information available in support of a request for an EUA for preparedness purposes and a request for an EUA during an emergency response may differ.
27. Although FDA generally intends to address extensions of product expiration dates pursuant to section 564A(b) separately (see section IV.B of this guidance), there may be instances when an EUA candidate product may be beyond or nearing its labeled expiration date during an emergency. If FDA issues an EUA for an approved product (i.e., to address unapproved use of that product), then the conditions of the EUA may allow labeling changes to accommodate any authorized expiration date extension (section 564(e)(2)(B)(i)). Thus, FDA recommends that a request for an EUA for use, or anticipated use, of an approved product that is approaching or beyond its labeled expiration date, include any available information that may support an extension of product shelf life (e.g., storage conditions, name of manufacturer, lot number(s), labeled expiration date, etc.).
28. For purposes of this guidance, a “right of reference” means the authority to rely upon, and otherwise use, data submitted from reports of an investigation or data previously submitted to FDA in support of an application, including the ability to make available the underlying raw data for FDA audit, if necessary. Sponsors who are not the owner of the submitted document(s)/data may need to seek written permission demonstrating their right of reference.
29. For products under an IND or IDE, or for which there is a Drug or Device Master File, sponsors may refer to the appropriate document on file containing such information, with appropriate right of reference as applicable.
30. See 21 CFR 314.600 (drugs) or 21 CFR 601.90 (biological products); see also Product Development Under the Animal Rule – Guidance for Industry (October 27, 2015), available at http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM399217.pdf.
31. See 21 CFR Part 58.
32. Information available at http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/RunningClinicalTrials/default.htm.
33. FDA requests that references to previously submitted data or information specify where the data or information can be found (e.g., identify file by submission date, name, reference number, volume, and page number).
34. For example, FDA often encourages EUA submissions from commercial developers of diagnostic tests to expand laboratory testing capacity during emergencies, consistent with U.S. government response plans.
35. As stated in section III.C with regard to pre-EUA activities, an EUA is not a substitute for sponsor efforts to develop the product toward approval, including conducting clinical trials designed to determine whether the product is safe and effective for its intended use. When appropriate, FDA encourages sponsors to design and propose appropriately controlled clinical trials that could be conducted during the emergency response either to run in parallel with an EUA or instead of an EUA.
39. The EUA letter of authorization and accompanying materials will be posted on FDA’s website at: http://www.fda.gov/EmergencyPreparedness/Counterterrorism/MedicalCountermeasures/MCMLegalRegulatoryandPolicyFramework/ucm182568.htm#current.
40. See Appendix A for a table of required and discretionary conditions. Note that the statute states that FDA shall “establish such conditions on an authorization under this section as [FDA] finds necessary or appropriate to protect the public health” with respect to unapproved products and then provides examples of such conditions by use of the term “including” (section 564(e)(1)(A)). FDA interprets this language as giving FDA the authority and the responsibility to impose other conditions, not specified as examples in the statutory language, that may be necessary or appropriate in the circumstances of a particular emergency.
41. For examples of Health Care Professional Fact Sheets, see FDA's website at: http://www.fda.gov/EmergencyPreparedness/Counterterrorism/MedicalCountermeasures/MCMLegalRegulatoryandPolicyFramework/ucm182568.htm#current.
42. For examples of Instructions for Use, see FDA's website at : http://www.fda.gov/EmergencyPreparedness/Counterterrorism/MedicalCountermeasures/MCMLegalRegulatoryandPolicyFramework/ucm182568.htm#current.
43. We note that this prohibition does not apply to changes in expiration dating permitted pursuant to section 564A(b). See section IV.B of this guidance.
44. Additional information provided under section 564(e)(2)(B)(ii) as a condition of authorization is not considered "labeling" for purposes of section 502 of the FD&C Act while the EUA for the product is effective.
45. See 21 CFR part 50.
46. The President may under certain circumstances waive the option for members of the armed forces to accept or refuse administration of an EUA product (10 U.S.C. 1107a). In addition, the option to accept or refuse may not be practicable with regard to certain diagnostics because, for example, when a sample is taken from an individual it may be unknown, even to the health care professional, which diagnostic test will be used to test the sample. For this reason, Fact Sheets for both health care professionals and recipients may not accompany an EUA diagnostic product, but instead be publicly posted for reference when receiving test results.
47.For examples of Patient/Recipient Fact Sheets, see FDA's website at: http://www.fda.gov/EmergencyPreparedness/Counterterrorism/MedicalCountermeasures/MCMLegalRegulatoryandPolicyFramework/ucm182568.htm#current.
49. When the translation of a fact sheet to a foreign language is determined to be appropriate and necessary, the party producing the translation is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the translation; FDA does not intend to review translations to ensure their accuracy.
50. As noted above, however, this may not be practicable or appropriate for certain diagnostic tests.
52. Section 564(e)(1)(B) (for unapproved products) and 564(e)(2)(A) (for unapproved uses of approved products).
55. Section 564A(c) separately empowers FDA to authorize deviations from otherwise applicable CGMP requirements for the manufacture, processing, packing, or holding of eligible, FDA-approved products without issuing an EUA. This independent authority is discussed in section IV.C of this guidance.
56. Section 564A(d) separately empowers FDA to issue an order authorizing emergency dispensing of eligible, FDA-approved products without issuing an EUA. This independent authority is discussed in section IV.D of this guidance.
57. For further information on REMS, see FDA's draft Guidance for Industry Format and Content of Proposed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), REMS Assessments, and Proposed REMS Modifications (October 2009) at http://www.fda.gov/ucm/groups/fdagov-public/@fdagov-drugs-gen/documents/document/ucm184128.pdf.
59. Section 564(b)(2)(B) provides that FDA shall consult with the manufacturer of the product with respect to the appropriate disposition.
60. In publicly releasing information on an EUA, FDA will take necessary steps to protect nonpublic information and information otherwise protected by law, as appropriate.
61. See 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d.
62. See 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(i)(1)(C), (i)(7)(B)(iii).
64. As noted previously with respect to EUAs, FDA has construed a material threat identification pursuant to section 319F-2 to apply to the health and security of U.S. citizens living abroad, even though that provision does not specifically focus on citizens outside the United States. Thus, a material threat determination may, in appropriate circumstances, serve as a basis for exercise of emergency authorities under section 564A(b),(c), and (d) and 505-1 as necessary for the protection of U.S. citizens living abroad.
68. For additional information about expiration dating extensions see http://www.fda.gov/EmergencyPreparedness/Counterterrorism/MedicalCountermeasures/MCMLegalRegulatoryandPolicyFramework/ucm411446.htm.
69. The term “emergency dispensing” includes, but is not limited to, the public health response activity of “mass dispensing” of MCMs (e.g., through points of dispensing).
70. This may include dispensing without an individual prescription, or dispensing with an incomplete prescription, e.g., without all of the information otherwise required by FDA, such as the name and address of the dispenser, name of the prescriber, serial number, etc. (see, e.g., section 503(b)(2) (21 U.S.C. § 353(b)(2)). This also may include dispensing by a non-health care professional.
71. Whether or not a particular state legal provision or action is sufficient to permit the government stakeholder's anticipated emergency dispensing strategy within their state rests in large part on the interpretation of that state's law, which is a matter that should first be directed to the appropriate legal authority within the relevant jurisdiction (e.g., the state Attorney General). To ensure clarity, and perhaps increase the likelihood that state laws, regulations, orders, or other legal actions to permit emergency dispensing are deemed legally sufficient, it is recommended that such actions address the same eligibility, scope, duration, and other elements that FDA intends to address in its emergency dispensing orders.
72. Section 564A(e) allows a designated HHS official to create and issue EUI. Although EUI authority is part of the FD&C Act, on the joint recommendation of FDA, CDC, and the ASPR, the Secretary of HHS granted the authority to create EUI to the Director of CDC (or his/her designee). Allowing CDC to create and disseminate EUI is consistent with CDC’s clinical expertise in providing event-driven treatment recommendations and facilitating emergency response with external stakeholders, as well as its front-line role in managing the SNS of medical products for which EUI may be most needed. See FDA and CDC’s Memorandum of Understanding related to EUI coordination at FDA’s website: http://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/partnershipscollaborations/memorandaofunderstandingmous/domesticmous/ucm487464.htm.
73. Absent a CGMP waiver (see section III.E.5 of this guidance), government stakeholders, or person(s) acting on their behalf, should continue to store and handle pre-positioned MCMs to support their use according to CGMP standards.
74. While FDA believes that preemption applies here, it recognizes that this is a controversial area of the law. Because attorneys advising some state response programs may take a different view than that expressed here, FDA encourages state programs to consult with their legal counsel as to whether they believe that their states would need to take complementary legal action to assure that their state laws would not conflict with actions that the Federal government might take pursuant to section 564 and 564A or that might affect pre-positioning under section 564B. If such state action is considered to be necessary, it will be important that any required changes in state law, or any steps necessary to implement state laws to permit emergency preparedness actions pursuant to these sections, be determined as part of the state’s emergency planning.
75. Such issues may also arise when FDA issues a waiver of CGMP requirements pursuant to section 564A(c), or an order to permit emergency dispensing pursuant to section 564A(d).
76. Medtronic v. Lohr, 518 U.S. 470, 503 (1996) (Breyer, J., concurring in part and concurring in the judgment); id. at 510 (O'Connor, J., joined by Rehnquist, C.J., Scalia, J., and Thomas, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part); Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc., 505 U.S. 504, 521 (1992) (plurality opinion); id. at 548-49 (Scalia, J., joined by Thomas, J., concurring in judgment in part and dissenting in part). Under the same reasoning, state regulations and local ordinances would also be preempted.
77. See Arizona v. United States, 132 S. Ct. 2492, 2501, 2505, 2507 (2012); Crosby v. National Foreign Trade Council, 530 U.S. 363, 373 (2000); Geier v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc., 529 U.S. 861, 873 (2000); Hines v. Davidowitz, 312 U.S. 52, 67 (1941).
78. Exec. Order No. 13132, 64 FR 43255 (August 4, 1999).
79. 42 U.S.C. § 247d-6d(b)(8).
80. Whether or not a particular state legal provision or action is sufficient to permit the emergency dispensing strategy that state or local government stakeholders anticipate conducting within their state rests in large part on the interpretation of that state law, which is a matter that should first be directed to the appropriate legal authority within the relevant jurisdiction (e.g., the state Attorney General). To ensure clarity, and perhaps increase the likelihood that state laws, regulations, orders, or other legal actions to permit emergency dispensing are deemed sufficient, it is recommended that such actions address the same eligibility, scope, duration, and other elements FDA intends to address in its emergency dispensing orders, as described above.
81. 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d. For information on the PREP Act, see HHS’s website at http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/prepact/Pages/default.aspx.
83. 42 U.S.C.247d-6d(i)(1) and (7).
This guidance represents the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) on this topic. It does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations. To discuss an alternative approach, contact the appropriate FDA staff responsible for this guidance as listed below.
For questions regarding this document, contact the Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats at AskMCMi@fda.hhs.gov or 301-796-8510.

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