[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3933-3934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01062]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2019-P-1525]


Determination That CARDENE (Nicardipine Hydrochloride) Injection, 
25 Milligrams/10 Milliliters, Was Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons 
of Safety or Effectiveness

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) has 
determined that CARDENE (nicardipine hydrochloride) injection, 25 
milligrams (mg)/10 milliliters (mL), was not withdrawn from sale for 
reasons of safety or effectiveness. This determination will allow FDA 
to approve abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) for nicardipine 
hydrochloride injection, 25 mg/10 mL, if all other legal and regulatory 
requirements are met.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Gottlieb, Center for Drug 
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New 
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 51, Rm. 6210, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-
796-6650, daniel.gottlieb@fda.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1984, Congress enacted the Drug Price 
Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-417) 
(the 1984 amendments), which authorized the approval of duplicate 
versions of drug products under an ANDA procedure. ANDA applicants 
must, with certain exceptions, show that the drug for which they are 
seeking approval contains the same active ingredient in the same 
strength and dosage form as the ``listed drug,'' which is a version of 
the drug that was previously approved. ANDA applicants do not have to 
repeat the extensive clinical testing otherwise necessary to gain 
approval of a new drug application (NDA).
    The 1984 amendments include what is now section 505(j)(7) of the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)(7)), which 
requires FDA to publish a list of all approved drugs. FDA publishes 
this list as part of the ``Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic 
Equivalence Evaluations,'' which is known generally as the ``Orange 
Book.'' Under FDA regulations, drugs are removed from the list if the 
Agency withdraws or suspends approval of the drug's NDA or ANDA for 
reasons of safety or effectiveness or if FDA determines that the listed 
drug was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness (21 
CFR 314.162).
    A person may petition the Agency to determine, or the Agency may 
determine on its own initiative, whether a listed drug was withdrawn 
from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This determination 
may be made at any time after the drug has been withdrawn from sale but 
must be made prior to approving an ANDA that refers to the listed drug 
(Sec.  314.161 (21 CFR 314.161)). FDA may not approve an ANDA that does 
not refer to a listed drug.
    CARDENE (nicardipine hydrochloride) injection, 25 mg/10 mL, is the 
subject of NDA 019734, held by Chiesi USA, Inc., and initially approved 
on January 30, 1992. CARDENE is indicated for short-term treatment of 
hypertension when oral therapy is not feasible or not desirable.
    In a letter dated February 13, 2018, Chiesi USA, Inc. notified FDA 
that CARDENE (nicardipine hydrochloride) injection, 25 mg/10 mL, was 
being discontinued, and FDA moved the drug product to the 
``Discontinued Drug Product List'' section of the Orange Book.
    Baxter Healthcare Corporation submitted a citizen petition on May 
6, 2019 (Docket No. FDA-2019-P-1525), under 21 CFR 10.30, requesting 
that the Agency determine whether CARDENE (nicardipine hydrochloride) 
injection, 25 mg/10 mL, was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety 
or effectiveness.
    After considering the citizen petition and reviewing Agency records 
and based on the information we have at this time, FDA has determined 
under Sec.  314.161 that CARDENE (nicardipine hydrochloride) injection, 
25 mg/10 mL, was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. 
The petitioner has identified no data or other information suggesting 
that this drug product was withdrawn for reasons of safety or 
effectiveness. We have carefully reviewed our files for records 
concerning the withdrawal of CARDENE (nicardipine hydrochloride) 
injection, 25 mg/10 mL, from sale. We have also independently evaluated 
relevant literature and data for possible postmarketing adverse events. 
We have found no information that would

[[Page 3934]]

indicate that this drug product was withdrawn from sale for reasons of 
safety or effectiveness.
    Accordingly, the Agency will continue to list CARDENE (nicardipine 
hydrochloride) injection, 25 mg/10 mL, in the ``Discontinued Drug 
Product List'' section of the Orange Book. The ``Discontinued Drug 
Product List'' delineates, among other items, drug products that have 
been discontinued from marketing for reasons other than safety or 
effectiveness. FDA will not begin procedures to withdraw approval of 
approved ANDAs that refer to this drug product. Additional ANDAs for 
this drug product may also be approved by the Agency as long as they 
meet all other legal and regulatory requirements for the approval of 
ANDAs. If FDA determines that labeling for this drug product should be 
revised to meet current standards, the Agency will advise ANDA 
applicants to submit such labeling.

    Dated: January 16, 2020.
Lowell J. Schiller,
Principal Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020-01062 Filed 1-22-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4164-01-P


