Background: Increasing generic drug price competition by facilitating abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA) submission may help patients have access to affordable care. This study examined factors associated with first ANDA submission for the brand drug to be copied [the "reference listed drug" (RLD)].
Methods: This study used several data sources from 1/1/2011 to 12/31/2017, including FDA's Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (the Orange Book), internal ANDA submission data, FDA's Product-Specific Guidances (PSGs), National Drug Code, and IQVIA National Sales Perspectives. Two Cox proportional hazard models were separately performed to determine factors associated with first ANDA submissions for groups of ANDAs for RLDs with "new chemical entity" (NCE) exclusivity that were submitted on the first lawfully permissible date NCE ANDAs, and non-NCE ANDA groups.
Results: For NCE group, annual market sales were the only factor associated with increased likelihood of first ANDA submission. Specifically, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for RLDs with annual sales > $250 million was nearly 5 times higher than those with annual sales < $10 million (HR 4.74; Confidence Interval [CI] 1.85-12.13) suggesting RLDs with higher sales are more likely to have ANDA submissions. For the non-NCE group, annual market sales (HR 2.40; CI 1.09-5.25, sales > $100-250 million compared with sales < $10 million) and PSG availability were associated with increased likelihood of first ANDA submission. Being an ANDA for a complex drug product was associated with decreased likelihood of submission for both NCE (HR 0.51; CI 0.26-0.99) and non-NCE groups (HR 0.62; CI 0.39-0.98).
Conclusion: Given the impact of regulatory-related factors, particularly PSG availability prior to ANDA submission, the findings provide opportunities to address high drug prices with specific FDA actions. Specifically, timely development of PSGs, including those for complex generics, and research prioritizing complex generics may facilitate ANDA submission; and thus, promote drug price competition.
Keywords: Bioequivalence; Drug submission; Generic drugs; New chemical entity.