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Annual performance statistics report: July 2016 to June 2017
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1. Prescription medicines
Applications to register new or vary existing prescription medicines are accompanied by supportive scientific data and evaluated, with timeframes underpinned by legislation and/or associated business rules.
The framework for prescription medicines includes the following categories which are subject to legislated timeframes:
- Category 1 application: An application to register a new prescription medicine (other than an additional trade name) or to make a variation to an existing medicine that involves the evaluation of clinical, pre clinical or bio-equivalence data. For example, new chemical entities, extensions of indication and new routes of administration.
The legislated timeframes for the two stages of a Category 1 application are: 40 working days for notification of acceptance or rejection of the application and 255 working days for the completion of the evaluation and notification of the decision.
- Category 2 application: An application accompanied by two independent evaluation reports from comparable overseas regulators in whose jurisdiction the product is approved for the same indication.
The legislated timeframes for the two stages of a Category 2 application are: 20 working days for notification of acceptance or rejection of an application and 175 working days to notify the applicant of the decision.
- Category 3 application: An application to register or to vary the registration of a prescription medicine where the application does not require the support of clinical, pre clinical or bio-equivalence data. For example, a change in the site of manufacture, a change to the synthetic route, a change in the product specifications, a change in the steps of manufacture or a change in trade name.
The legislated timeframe for a Category 3 application is 45 working days for notification of acceptance or rejection of an application, completion of evaluation and notification of the decision.
1.1. Approval times
Once an application has been accepted by the TGA, the approval time is defined as the number of TGA working days until a decision is made. As detailed above, this timeframe is underpinned by legislation and excludes public holidays, weekends, the time allocated to the applicant to provide responses to requests for information and 'mutual clock stop' periods agreed with the applicant.
In accordance with the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990, a 'submission' may include a number of applications submitted at the one time. The data presented below relates to submissions as this best reflects the evaluation and decision-making processes.
Approval time (TGA working days) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Application type | Submissions approved | Legislated timeframe | Mean | Median | Range |
A: New chemical entity | |||||
Category 1 | 38 | 255 | 220 | 208 | 161-238 |
B: New fixed-dose combination | |||||
Category 1 | 4 | 255 | 201 | 203 | 179-218 |
C: Extension of indication | |||||
Category 1 | 45 | 255 | 198 | 202 | 106-238 |
D: New generic medicine | |||||
Category 1 | 111 | 255 | 182 | 172 | 109-254 |
E: Additional trade name (ATN) | |||||
Category 1 | 2 | 255 | 140 | 140 | 44-237 |
ATN | 47 | 45 | 34 | 36 | 10-62 |
F: Major variation | |||||
Category 1 | 46 | 255 | 185 | 185 | 134-226 |
G: Minor variation | |||||
Category 1 | 0 | 255 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Category 3 | 104 | 45 | 27 | 26 | 8-43 |
H: Minor variation | |||||
Category 1 | 4 | 255 | 142 | 143 | 111-172 |
Category 3 | 1,253 | 45 | 24 | 23 | 1-51 |
J: Changes to Product Information requiring the evaluation of data | |||||
Category 1 | 63 | 255 | 142 | 140 | 46-228 |
Median approval time (TGA working days) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Application type | Legislated timeframe | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
A: New chemical entity | |||
Category 1 | 255 | 199 | 208 |
B: New fixed-dose combination | |||
Category 1 | 255 | 167 | 203 |
C: Extension of indication | |||
Category 1 | 255 | 195 | 202 |
D: New generic medicine | |||
Category 1 | 255 | 158 | 172 |
E: Additional trade name (ATN)a | |||
Category 1 | 255 | 219 | 140 |
ATN | 45 | 35 | 36 |
F: Major variation | |||
Category 1 | 255 | 183 | 185 |
G: Minor variationb | |||
Category 1 | 255 | 163 | 0 b |
Category 3 | 45 | 19 | 26 |
H: Minor variationc | |||
Category 1 | 255 | 146 | 143 |
Category 3 | 45 | 20 | 23 |
J: Changes to Product Information requiring the evaluation of data | |||
Category 1 | 255 | 134 | 140 |
- In July 2015, a legislated 45 working day process for ATN submissions commenced. These applications were under both the Category 1 framework with a legislated timeframe of 255 working days and the new ATN submission framework with a legislated timeframe of 45 working days.
- The type G minor variations differ from type H minor variations in that they result in a new ARTG entry. No type G Category 1 applications were approved in 2016-17.
- The minor variations (type H) refer to applications to change the formulation, composition or design specification or the container for the goods or any other attribute that results in the goods being separate and distinct. These applications are typically 'Category 3' changes, unless the supporting scientific package contains non-clinical or clinical data in which case the application is a 'Category 1' application.
Figure 1 Submissions received 2015-16 to 2016-17

Figure 2 Mean approval times 2015-16 to 2016-17

Figure 3 Median approval times 2015-16 to 2016-17

1.2. Submission outcomes
Submission Type | Approved | Withdrawn | Rejected | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
A: New chemical entity | 38 | 4 | 0 | 42 |
B: New fixed-dose combination | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
C: Extension of indication | 45 | 2 | 2 | 49 |
D: New generic medicine | 111 | 2 | 2 | 115 |
E: Additional trade name (ATN) (Category 1) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
E: ATN | 47 | 1 | 0 | 48 |
F: Major variation | 46 | 2 | 1 | 49 |
G: Minor variation | 104 | 2 | 0 | 106 |
H: Minor variation (Category 1) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
H: Minor variation (Category 3) | 1,253 | 16 | 0 | 1,269 |
J: Changes to Product Information | 63 | 3 | 0 | 66 |
Total | 1,717 | 34 | 5 | 1,756 |
1.3. Other applications
In addition to the application types discussed above, we also process numerous other application types. These applications are assessed in accordance with a risk-based approach, for example, some requests are categorised as 'self-assessable' and do not usually involve the evaluation of scientific data. Some applications are received because the sponsors are obliged to inform the TGA of new information related to the safety of their products. Other applications involve editorial corrections to the register entry or the associated product information document. The number of these applications is presented below.
In accordance with the legislation, registered medicines must comply with numerous standards at the time they are registered and throughout their lifecycle. Following an appropriate application and review of the scientific data and safety considerations, we may grant an 'exemption' from a particular standard for a product. The number of applications approved and rejected is also presented below.
2015-16 | 2016-17 | |
---|---|---|
July to June | ||
Prescription medicine applications | ||
Safety related request | 781 | 738 |
Self-assessable request | 1,404 | 1,244 |
Minor editorial change to product information | 481 | 459 |
Correction of error | 123 | 124 |
Total | 2,789 | 2,565 |
Exemptions to comply with a standard | ||
Approved | 88 | 89 |
Rejected | 0 | 1 |
Total | 88 | 90 |
1.4. Orphan drug designations
'Orphan drugs' are often developed to treat small and very specific patient populations who suffer from rare diseases and conditions. The application and evaluation fees for orphan drugs can be waived to help reduce their development costs and facilitate their access to the Australian marketplace. A medicine needs to be designated by the TGA as an orphan drug before an application can be accepted to register it on the ARTG. The designation process involves a review of whether the drug meets the established criteria which are underpinned by legislation.
The quality, efficacy and safety of orphan drugs are assessed at the same standard as for other registered prescription medicines.
2015-16 | 2016-17 | |
---|---|---|
July to June | ||
Number of designations | 22 | 29 |