[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51038-51039]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20852]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2010-D-0246]

Guidance for Industry on Residual Drug in Transdermal and Related
Drug Delivery Systems; Availability

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the
availability of a guidance for industry entitled ``Residual Drug in
Transdermal and Related Drug Delivery Systems.'' This guidance provides
recommendations to developers and manufacturers of transdermal drug
delivery systems (TDDS), transmucosal drug delivery systems (TMDS), and
topical patch products regarding use of an appropriate scientific
approach during product design and development--as well as during
manufacturing and product life-cycle management--to ensure that the
amount of residual drug substance at the end of the labeled use period
is minimized. The guidance is applicable to investigational new drug
applications, new drug applications, abbreviated new drug applications,
and supplemental new drug applications for TDDS, TMDS, and topical
patch products.

DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments on Agency guidances
at any time.

ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for single copies of this guidance
to the Division of Drug Information, Center for Drug Evaluation and
Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg.
51, rm. 2201, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send one self-addressed
adhesive label to assist that office in processing your requests. See
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access to the
guidance document.
    Submit electronic comments on the guidance to http://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments to the Division of Dockets
Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane,
rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terrance Ocheltree, Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bldg. 21, rm.
1609, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-
1988.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    FDA is announcing the availability of a guidance for industry
entitled ``Residual Drug in Transdermal and Related Drug Delivery
Systems.'' This guidance provides recommendations to developers and
manufacturers of TDDS, TMDS, and topical patch products regarding use
of an appropriate scientific approach during product design and
development--as well as during manufacturing and product life-cycle
management--to ensure that the amount of residual drug substance at the
end of the labeled use period is minimized. In the Federal Register of
August 3, 2010 (75 FR 45640), FDA announced the availability of the
draft version of this guidance. The public comment period closed on
November 1, 2010. A number of comments were received from the public,
all of which the Agency considered carefully as it finalized the
guidance and made appropriate changes. Any changes to the guidance were
minor and made to clarify statements in the draft guidance.
    Existing TDDS, TMDS, and topical patches contain a larger amount of
the drug substance than what is intended to be delivered to the
patient. This excess amount of drug substance is needed to facilitate
delivery of the intended amount of the drug to the patient and remains
as residual drug in the used system. The amount of residual drug
substance in TDDS, TMDS, and topical patches has a significant
potential to impact the products' quality, efficacy, and safety
(including abuse potential). Consequently, it is necessary to ensure
that an appropriate scientific approach is used to design and develop
these products. The approach should ensure that the amount of residual
drug substance is minimized consistent with the current state of
technology.
    Currently marketed TDDS, TMDS, and topical patches may retain 10 to
95 percent of the initial total amount of drug as the residual drug
after the intended use period. This raises a potential safety issue not
only to the patient, but also to others, including family members,
caregivers, children, and pets. For example, adverse events due to a
patient's failure to remove TDDS at the end of the intended use period
have been reported and are generally related to an increased or
prolonged pharmacological effect of the drug. Also, some children have
died from inadvertent exposure to discarded TDDS. Reported adverse
events resulting from various quality problems pertaining to TDDS have
lead to product recalls, withdrawals, and public health advisories.
    To reduce some of these risks, the Agency recommends that a robust
design and development approach be considered when developing and
manufacturing TDDS, TMDS, and topical patches. One example of such an
approach is quality by design, as described in the International
Conference on Harmonization guidance for industry entitled ``Q8(R2)
Pharmaceutical Development.'' The Agency also recommends that
sufficient scientific justification to support the amount of residual
drug in TDDS, TMDS, or topical patches be included in an application.
The justification should include an evaluation of the safety risks
involved with the formulation and system design, as well as support the
amount of drug load in the TDDS, TMDS, or topical patch based on the
proposed quality target product profile and formulation studies. Most
important, the justification for applications of products with known
safety issues--such as those with fentanyl-containing liquid reservoir
systems--should demonstrate that the safety risk factors have been
adequately mitigated.
    In all cases, the level of information in the justification should
be sufficient to demonstrate product and process understanding and
ensure that a scientific, risk-based approach has been taken to
minimize the amount of residual drug in a system after use to the
lowest possible level. It is expected that the amount of residual drug
in a newly developed system (including new generic drug products) will
not exceed that of similar FDA-approved products.
    This guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance
practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The guidance represents the
Agency's current thinking on residual drug in transdermal and related
drug delivery systems. It does not create or confer any rights for or
on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An
alternative approach may be used if such approach satisfies the
requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.

II. Comments

    Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management
(see ADDRESSES) either electronic or written comments regarding this
document. It is only necessary to send one set of comments. It is no
longer necessary to send two copies of mailed comments. Identify
comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of
this document. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets
Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

III. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This guidance refers to previously approved collections of
information found in FDA regulations. These collections of information
are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).
Information in an application on the product and process development
and justification for the final formulation and system design is
approved under OMB control numbers 0910-0001 and 0910-0014.

IV. Electronic Access

    Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the document at
either http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/default.htm or http://www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: August 10, 2011.
Leslie Kux,
Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2011-20852 Filed 8-16-11; 8:45 am]
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