(A)
In general
In issuing an administrative order under paragraph (1) at the request of a requestor with respect to certain drugs, classes of drugs, or combinations of drugs—
(i)
the Secretary shall, after receiving a request under this subparagraph, determine whether the request is sufficiently complete and formatted to permit a substantive review;
(ii)
if the Secretary determines that the request is sufficiently complete and formatted to permit a substantive review, the Secretary shall—
(I)
file the request; and
(II)
initiate proceedings with respect to issuing an administrative order in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3); and
(iii)
except as provided in paragraph (6), if the Secretary determines that a request does not meet the requirements for filing or is not sufficiently complete and formatted to permit a substantive review, the requestor may demand that the request be filed over protest, and the Secretary shall initiate proceedings to review the request in accordance with paragraph (2)(A).
(C)
Exclusivity
(i)
In general
A final administrative order issued in response to a request under this section shall have the effect of authorizing solely the order requestor (or the licensees, assignees, or successors in interest of such requestor with respect to the subject of such order), for a period of 18 months following the effective date of such final order and beginning on the date the requestor may lawfully market such drugs pursuant to the order, to market drugs—
(I)
incorporating changes described in clause (ii); and
(II)
subject to the limitations under clause (iv).
(ii)
Changes described
A change described in this clause is a change subject to an order specified in clause (i), which—
(I)
provides for a drug to contain an active ingredient (including any ester or salt of the active ingredient) not previously incorporated in a drug described in clause (iii); or
(II)
provides for a change in the conditions of use of a drug, for which new human data studies conducted or sponsored by the requestor (or for which the requestor has an exclusive right of reference) were essential to the issuance of such order.
(iii)
Drugs described
The drugs described in this clause are drugs—
(I)
specified in subsection (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3);
(II)
subject to a final order issued under this section;
(III)
subject to a final sunscreen order (as defined in
section 360fff(2)(A) of this title); or
(IV)
described in subsection (m)(1), other than drugs subject to an active enforcement action under subchapter III of this chapter.
(iv)
Limitations on exclusivity
(I)
In general
Only one 18-month period under this subparagraph shall be granted, under each order described in clause (i), with respect to changes (to the drug subject to such order) which are either—
(aa)
changes described in clause (ii)(I), relating to active ingredients; or
(bb)
changes described in clause (ii)(II), relating to conditions of use.
(II)
No exclusivity allowed
No exclusivity shall apply to changes to a drug which are—
(aa)
the subject of a Tier 2 OTC monograph order request (as defined in
section 379j–71 of this title);
(bb)
safety-related changes, as defined by the Secretary, or any other changes the Secretary considers necessary to assure safe use; or
(cc)
changes related to methods of testing safety or efficacy.
(v)
New human data studies defined
In this subparagraph, the term “new human data studies” means clinical trials of safety or effectiveness (including actual use studies), pharmacokinetics studies, or bioavailability studies, the results of which—
(I)
have not been relied on by the Secretary to support—
(aa)
a proposed or final determination that a drug described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of clause (iii) is generally recognized as safe and effective under
section 321(p)(1) of this title; or
(bb)
approval of a drug that was approved under
section 355 of this title; and
(II)
do not duplicate the results of another study that was relied on by the Secretary to support—
(aa)
a proposed or final determination that a drug described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of clause (iii) is generally recognized as safe and effective under
section 321(p)(1) of this title; or
(bb)
approval of a drug that was approved under
section 355 of this title.
(vi)
Notification of drug not available for sale
A requestor that is granted exclusivity with respect to a drug under this subparagraph shall notify the Secretary in writing within 1 year of the issuance of the final administrative order if the drug that is the subject of such order will not be available for sale within 1 year of the date of issuance of such order. The requestor shall include with such notice the—
(I)
identity of the drug by established name and by proprietary name, if any;
(II)
strength of the drug;
(III)
date on which the drug will be available for sale, if known; and
(IV)
reason for not marketing the drug after issuance of the order.