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Notice2026-19660

Reauthorization of the Biosimilar User Fee Act; Public Meeting; Request for Comments

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Published
September 25, 2026

Issuing agencies

Health and Human Services DepartmentFood and Drug Administration

Abstract

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is hosting a hybrid public meeting to discuss proposed recommendations for the reauthorization of the Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA) for fiscal years (FYs) 2028 through 2032. The BsUFA authorizes FDA to collect user fees to support the process for the review of biosimilar biological product applications. The current legislative authority for BsUFA expires in September 2027. At that time, new legislation will be required for FDA to continue collecting user fees in future fiscal years. Following discussions with the regulated industry and periodic consultations with public stakeholders, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) directs FDA to publish the recommendations for the reauthorized program in the Federal Register, hold a meeting at which the public may present its views on such recommendations, and provide for a period of 30 days for the public to provide written comments on such recommendations. FDA will then consider such public views and comments and revise such recommendations, as necessary.

Full Text

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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60962-60967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19660]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2015-N-3326]


Reauthorization of the Biosimilar User Fee Act; Public Meeting; 
Request for Comments

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

[[Page 60963]]


ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is 
hosting a hybrid public meeting to discuss proposed recommendations for 
the reauthorization of the Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA) for fiscal 
years (FYs) 2028 through 2032. The BsUFA authorizes FDA to collect user 
fees to support the process for the review of biosimilar biological 
product applications. The current legislative authority for BsUFA 
expires in September 2027. At that time, new legislation will be 
required for FDA to continue collecting user fees in future fiscal 
years. Following discussions with the regulated industry and periodic 
consultations with public stakeholders, the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) directs FDA to publish the recommendations 
for the reauthorized program in the Federal Register, hold a meeting at 
which the public may present its views on such recommendations, and 
provide for a period of 30 days for the public to provide written 
comments on such recommendations. FDA will then consider such public 
views and comments and revise such recommendations, as necessary.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on October 26, 2026, from 9 a.m. 
to 12 p.m. Eastern Time, and will take place in person and virtually. 
Either electronic or written comments on the proposed recommendations 
must be submitted by November 25, 2026.

ADDRESSES: The hybrid public meeting will be held in-person at the FDA 
White Oak Campus, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Building Conference Center, 
the White Oak Great Room, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002 and virtually 
using the Microsoft Teams platform. Entrance for the public meeting 
participants (non-FDA employees) is through Building 1 where routine 
security check procedures will be performed. Participants must be REAL 
ID compliant to access Federal facilities. For additional information 
regarding REAL ID, refer to <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs">https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs</a>. 
For security and parking information, please refer to <a href="https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/visitor-information">https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/visitor-information</a> and <a href="https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/visitor-information/visitor-parking-and-campus-map">https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/visitor-information/visitor-parking-and-campus-map</a>.
    You may submit comments as follows. Please note that late, untimely 
filed comments will not be considered. Electronic comments must be 
submitted on or before November 25, 2026. The <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> electronic filing system will accept comments until 
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time at the end of November 25, 2026. Comments 
received by mail/hand delivery/courier (for written/paper submissions) 
will be considered timely if they are postmarked or the delivery 
service acceptance receipt is on or before that date.

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted 
electronically, including attachments, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> 
will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be 
made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment 
does not include any confidential information that you or a third party 
may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone 
else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, 
such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your 
name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in 
the body of your comments, that information will be posted on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
    <bullet> If you want to submit a comment with confidential 
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, 
submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner 
detailed (see ``Written/Paper Submissions'' and ``Instructions'').

Written/Paper Submissions

    Submit written/paper submissions as follows:
    <bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper 
submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
    <bullet> For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets 
Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any 
attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, 
as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ``Instructions.''
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. 
FDA-2015-N-3326 for ``Reauthorization of the Biosimilar User Fee Act; 
Public Meeting; Request for Comments.'' Received comments, those filed 
in a timely manner (see ADDRESSES), will be placed in the docket and, 
except for those submitted as ``Confidential Submissions,'' publicly 
viewable at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> or at the Dockets Management 
Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 240-402-7500.
    <bullet> Confidential Submissions--To submit a comment with 
confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly 
available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You 
should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information 
you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states 
``THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.'' The Agency will 
review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in 
its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the 
claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be 
available for public viewing and posted on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 
Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish 
your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you 
can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of 
your comments and you must identify this information as 
``confidential.'' Any information marked as ``confidential'' will not 
be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other 
applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of 
comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or 
access the information at: <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf</a>.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and insert the docket number, found in brackets in 
the heading of this document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the 
prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, 
Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-402-7500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thamar Bailey, Center for Drug 
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New 
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 32, Rm. 4171, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-
796-6645, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90d2c3c5d6d1c2f5f1e5e4f8ffe2f9eaf1e4f9fffed0f6f4f1bef8f8e3bef7ffe6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="99dbcaccdfd8cbfcf8ecedf1f6ebf0e3f8edf0f6f7d9fffdf8b7f1f1eab7fef6ef">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    FDA is announcing a hybrid public meeting to begin the 
reauthorization process for BsUFA, the legislation that authorizes FDA 
to collect user fees to support the process for the review of 
biosimilar biological product applications. The current authorization 
of the program (BsUFA III) expires in

[[Page 60964]]

September 2027. Without new legislation, FDA will no longer be able to 
collect user fees for future fiscal years to help fund the process for 
the review of biosimilar biological product applications. Section 
744I(f)(5) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 379j-53(f)(5)) requires that 
after FDA holds negotiations with regulated industry and periodic 
consultations with patient and consumer advocacy groups, we do the 
following: (1) present the recommendations to the relevant 
Congressional committees, (2) publish the recommendations in the 
Federal Register, (3) provide a period of 30 days for the public to 
provide written comments on the recommendations, (4) hold a meeting at 
which the public may present its views, and (5) after consideration of 
public views and comments, revise the recommendations as necessary.
    This notice, the comment period, and the public meeting described 
in this notice help satisfy these requirements. After the public 
meeting, we will revise the recommendations as necessary and present 
our proposed recommendations to the relevant Congressional committees. 
The purpose of the meeting is to hear the public's views on the 
proposed recommendations for the reauthorized program (BsUFA IV). The 
following information is provided to help potential meeting 
participants better understand the history and evolution of the BsUFA 
program and the status of the proposed BsUFA IV recommendations.

II. What is BsUFA and what does it do?

    The following information is provided to help potential meeting 
participants better understand the history and evolution of the BsUFA 
program and its status. BsUFA is a law that authorizes FDA to assess 
and collect fees from drug companies that submit marketing applications 
for certain biosimilar biological products. BsUFA was originally 
enacted in 2012 under the Food and Drug Administration Safety and 
Innovation Act (FDASIA) (Pub. L. 112-144) for a 5-year period. Congress 
reauthorized BsUFA (BsUFA II) for an additional 5 years, through FY 
2022, under the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 (FDARA) (Pub. L. 115-
52). BsUFA was most recently reauthorized in 2022 under Title IV of the 
FDA User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2022 (FDAUFRA) (Pub. L. 117-180), 
extending the program through FY 2027 (BsUFA III).
    BsUFA's intent is to provide additional revenues so that FDA can 
hire staff, improve systems, and continue a well-managed biosimilar 
biological product review process to make biosimilar biological product 
therapies available to patients sooner without compromising review 
quality or FDA's high standards for safety, efficacy, and quality. As 
part of FDA's agreements with industry during prior BsUFA 
authorizations, the Agency agreed to certain performance and procedural 
goals and other commitments, which are documented on FDA's website. The 
goals apply to the process for the review of biosimilar biological 
product applications, including biosimilar biological product 
development meetings, review of applications and supplements, and other 
review activities. FDA's website provides more information about BsUFA, 
including the statutory text of FDAUFRA, the BsUFA III Commitment 
Letter, key Federal Register documents, BsUFA-related guidances, BsUFA 
user fee rates, performance reports, and financial reports available at 
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/fda-user-fee-programs/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments">https://www.fda.gov/industry/fda-user-fee-programs/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments</a>.
    The current authorization of BsUFA (BsUFA III) introduced new 
supplement categories, timelines, and performance goals to expedite the 
review of supplemental biosimilar biological product applications. It 
established new procedures and performance goals for the review of use-
related risk analysis and human factors protocol submissions, aimed at 
advancing the development of biosimilar biological product-device 
combination products. To improve overall meeting management, BsUFA III 
modified two meeting types (Biosimilar Initial Advisory and Type 4), 
created a new meeting type (Type 2a), and provided a new follow-up 
opportunity after meetings or written-response-only communication. The 
agreement introduced a regulatory science pilot program focused on 
advancing the development of interchangeable biosimilar biological 
products and improving the efficiency of biosimilar biological product 
development. It included additional commitments to advance 
interchangeable biosimilar biological product development through 
publishing foundational guidances and stakeholder engagement. BsUFA III 
included commitments to promote best practices in communication between 
FDA and sponsors during application reviews, enhance inspection 
communication, and provide guidance on alternative tools to assess 
manufacturing facilities.
    BsUFA III built upon the financial enhancements included in BsUFA 
II to ensure optimal use of user fee resources, transparency around the 
use of financial resources, and management of the carryover balance. 
The agreement committed FDA to leveraging cloud technology to modernize 
the Electronic Submissions Gateway and to establish and progress a data 
and technology modernization strategy. A comprehensive list of the 
deliverables developed to meet BsUFA III commitments is available on 
FDA's website at <a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/completed-bsufa-iii-deliverables">https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/completed-bsufa-iii-deliverables</a>.

III. Proposed BsUFA IV Recommendations

    In preparing the proposed recommendations to Congress for BsUFA 
reauthorization, FDA conducted discussions with the regulated industry 
and consulted with patient and consumer advocacy groups, as required by 
law. We began the BsUFA reauthorization process by publishing a notice 
in the Federal Register (90 FR 52967, November 24, 2025) requesting 
public input on the reauthorization and announcing a public meeting 
that was held on December 3, 2025. The meeting included a presentation 
by FDA, remarks from representatives of regulated industry, and public 
comments from representatives of a number of different stakeholder 
groups, including patient advocates, consumer advocacy groups, health 
care professionals, and academic researchers. The materials from the 
meeting, including a transcript and webcast recording, can be found at 
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/public-meeting-reauthorization-biosimilar-user-fee-act-bsufa-12032025">https://www.fda.gov/industry/public-meeting-reauthorization-biosimilar-user-fee-act-bsufa-12032025</a>.
    Following the December 2025 public meeting, FDA conducted 
negotiations with the regulated industry and held monthly consultations 
with patient and consumer advocacy groups from April 2026 through June 
2026. As directed by Congress, FDA posted minutes of these meetings on 
its web page, BsUFA IV: Fiscal Years 2028-2032, available at <a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032">https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032</a>.
    The proposed enhancements for BsUFA IV address many of the 
priorities identified by public stakeholders, the regulated industry, 
and FDA. The proposed enhancements modify aspects of the program to 
match advances in science and changes in the industry, establish new 
processes to increase efficiency and enhance communication, advance a 
lifecycle approach to addressing manufacturing issues, and enhance 
regulatory and financial

[[Page 60965]]

transparency. Across the commitment letter, FDA proposes to remove one-
time commitments completed under BsUFA III and streamline the text 
where possible. The full text of the proposed BsUFA IV Commitment 
Letter can be found on the Agency's web page, BsUFA IV: Fiscal Years 
2028-2032, available at <a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032">https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032</a>. Each significant new or 
modified enhancement is described briefly below.

A. Original and Resubmitted Supplemental Biosimilar Biological Product 
Applications

    To streamline and simplify review, FDA proposes to modify the 
supplement categories and timelines. FDA proposes to replace the BsUFA 
III supplement categories with two categories that correspond with 
either 4- or 6-month review timelines. FDA also proposes to issue 
guidance and/or a manual of policies and procedures on (1) post-
approval submissions to 351(k) applications that seek to make labeling 
changes to conform to changes in reference product labeling and (2) 
submissions for unbranded 351(k) application labeling. These 
enhancements are described in section I.A.2 of the proposed BsUFA IV 
Commitment Letter.

B. Provisional Determinations

    To facilitate Agency action on biosimilar biological applications 
upon the expiration of applicable exclusivity periods, FDA proposes to 
establish a structured process and review timeline for approval 
requests submitted for applications in a provisional determination 
status, which refers to applications that otherwise meet applicable 
licensure standards but cannot be approved due to an unexpired period 
of exclusivity. FDA also proposes to issue guidance or a manual of 
policies and procedures on the provisional determination process. These 
enhancements are described in section I.A.6. of the proposed BsUFA IV 
Commitment Letter.

C. Imminent Action

    To promote efficient review, FDA proposes to enable the Agency to 
work 60 days past an application goal date to address discrete, late-
arising, resolvable issues to help avoid otherwise unnecessary 
provisional determinations and complete response actions. This 
enhancement is described in section I.A.7. of the proposed BsUFA IV 
Commitment Letter.

D. New Target Action Date

    To enhance communication with applicants, FDA proposes to establish 
a process under which the Agency would notify the applicant of an 
anticipated missed biologics license application (BLA) or supplement 
goal date, establish a new internal target action date, and identify 
the issue(s) responsible for the delay. If the new target action date 
is not met, the Agency would contact the applicant and provide an 
update on the issue causing delay and the estimated timeline for 
action, when possible. These enhancements are described in section 
I.A.8. of the proposed BsUFA IV Commitment Letter.

E. Initial Pediatric Study Plan

    To enhance the efficiency of initial pediatric study plan (iPSP) 
submissions, FDA proposes to publish a biosimilar-specific iPSP 
template and make it available for public comment. FDA proposes to 
finalize the template following consideration of public comments. FDA 
also proposes to issue guidance addressing pediatric study plans for 
biosimilar products and how biosimilar applicants can meet applicable 
Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA) requirements. These enhancements 
are described in section I.C. of the proposed BsUFA IV Commitment 
Letter.

F. Multi-Dose Pharmacokinetic and/or Pharmacodynamic Study and 
Comparative Efficacy Study Protocol Review

    To help ensure applicants receive feedback on critical questions 
prior to study initiation, FDA proposes to implement a process for 
prioritizing review of multi-dose pharmacokinetic and/or 
pharmacodynamic study or comparative efficacy study (CES) protocols. 
FDA proposes to update relevant manuals of policies and procedures and 
standard operating policies and procedures describing processes and 
timelines for protocol review to account for this enhancement. This 
enhancement is described in section I.H. of the proposed BsUFA IV 
Commitment Letter.

G. Meeting Management

    To improve overall meeting management, FDA proposes three 
enhancements: (1) eliminating the biosimilar initial advisory (BIA) 
meeting; (2) providing sponsors with the option to request a written 
response only (WRO) for all BsUFA meeting types; and (3) allowing 
applicants to use the follow-up opportunity to seek clarification of 
FDA's advice following a meeting, a WRO, or a correspondence that 
responds to a sponsor's meeting question. Additionally, FDA proposes 
revising the biosimilar biological product development (BPD) Type 2b 
meeting description. This update replaces the BIA meeting with the Type 
2b meeting as a sponsor's initial interaction with FDA to discuss a 
proposed development program. These enhancements are described in 
section I.I. of the proposed BsUFA IV Commitment Letter.

H. Combination Products

    To support the development of biosimilar biological-device 
combination products, FDA proposes to establish human factors (HF) 
protocol review goals and issue guidance on alternative approaches to 
comparative use HF studies. FDA also proposes expanding the BPD Type 2b 
meeting description to allow sponsors to request a review of use-
related risk analysis, comparative analysis, or HF study protocols. 
These enhancements are described in section I.J. of the proposed BsUFA 
IV Commitment Letter.

I. Advancing Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls Facility 
Assessment: A Risk-Based Lifecycle Approach

    To support the timely development and availability of biosimilar 
products, FDA proposes to introduce a risk-based lifecycle approach to 
identifying and addressing manufacturing facility deficiencies. This 
proposed BsUFA IV chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) facility 
lifecycle program is designed to facilitate a proactive approach to 
addressing manufacturing facility deficiencies through new and enhanced 
engagement mechanisms between FDA and the regulated industry that may 
happen before, during, and after an application review cycle. The 
program introduces a new option for a single CMC facility pre-
submission meeting to discuss manufacturing facilities for a proposed 
application to facilitate readiness before a facility evaluation and 
inspection. The program also introduces a new post-pre-license 
inspection (PLI) meeting, when needed, to discuss inspection findings 
that may impact application approval and corrective actions that may 
address identified approvability issues. In addition, the program 
introduces a CMC facility post-action meeting for applications that 
receive a complete response due in part to manufacturing facility 
deficiencies. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss and 
understand the deficiencies that should be corrected before the 
application can be approved. FDA proposes to issue guidance describing 
the implementation

[[Page 60966]]

of the facility lifecycle program, as well as conduct a third-party 
assessment and associated public workshop to assess the program's 
effectiveness and its impact on facility-issue driven complete 
responses. These enhancements are described in section I.K. of the 
proposed BsUFA IV Commitment Letter.

J. BsUFA Regulatory Science Pilot Program

    Given the goals for the BsUFA regulatory science pilot program were 
met, FDA proposes sunsetting the program at the end of BsUFA III. If 
the Agency conducts regulatory science research using BsUFA operating 
funds during BsUFA IV, FDA proposes the Agency would notify industry 
and make the research results publicly available, as appropriate. These 
enhancements are described in section I.L. of the proposed BsUFA IV 
Commitment Letter.

K. BLA Revocation and Reissuance

    To facilitate the transfer of 351(k) BLA(s) between applicants, FDA 
proposes establishing a 180-day timeline for revoking and reissuing 
licenses following the receipt of a complete transfer request. The 
proposed 180-day timeline does not apply in instances when (1) 
transfers include BLAs regulated by both the Center for Drug Evaluation 
and Research and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research or 
(2) the BLA has outstanding facility issues. This enhancement is 
described in section I.M. of the proposed BsUFA IV Commitment Letter.

L. Assessment of BsUFA Review Program for Pre-Investigational New Drug 
Applications, Investigational New Drug Applications, and BLAs

    To understand and enhance the efficiency of the biosimilar 
development and regulatory review program, FDA proposes a third-party 
assessment of review processes, outcomes, and communications between 
FDA and sponsors during first cycle review. This assessment will help 
FDA and regulated industry understand challenges and best practices and 
provide recommendations to help FDA and sponsors (1) limit first cycle 
complete responses (for applications that are ultimately approvable) 
and missed goal dates; (2) increase the effectiveness and efficiency of 
key review processes, communications, and materials; and (3) assess the 
use of imminent action, new target action dates, and review clock 
extensions. This enhancement is described in section I.N. of the 
proposed BsUFA IV Commitment Letter.

M. Continued Enhancement of User Fee Resource Management

    FDA will build on the financial enhancements included in prior 
authorization cycles to ensure optimal use of user fee resources and 
the alignment of staff to workload through the continued operation of 
the Agency's resource capacity planning capability. FDA will also 
continue activities to promote transparency of the use of financial 
resources in support of the BsUFA program through publication of a 5-
year financial plan (along with annual updates). FDA proposes to update 
the topics included in the financial plan, as well as in the annual 
Financial Report submitted to Congress. FDA proposes to offer annual 
technical staff meetings with regulated industry to support the 
transparency and understanding of BsUFA program finances, and to 
publish minutes from these meetings on its public website. These 
enhancements are described in section II of the proposed BsUFA IV 
Commitment Letter.

N. Enhancements to Fee Mechanisms

    While the proposed statutory framework for setting the annual 
revenue amount is generally consistent with the current authorization, 
some updates are proposed for BsUFA IV. The updates include the 
discontinuation of the Strategic Hiring and Retention Adjustment, 
limits on the use of the Capacity Planning Adjustment, and a reduction 
in the maximum operating reserve.
    BsUFA IV proposes a personnel compensation and benefits (PC&B) set-
aside. This PC&B set-aside would ensure that FDA will reserve the 
funding needed to restaff the BsUFA program at a level consistent with 
fiscal year 2025, with appropriate adjustments for terminated staff and 
those intended to be transferred to Shared Services. The PC&B set-aside 
would ensure that the funds that are set aside will only be used for 
purposes relating to the hiring and retaining of staff for the review 
of biosimilar biological product applications. Until FDA's BsUFA-fee- 
funded PC&B spend exceeds the amount established as the PC&B target 
amount, the Capacity Planning Adjustment would be unavailable. FDA 
proposes to redirect existing resources to fund enhancements for BsUFA 
and restaff the BsUFA program in targeted areas.
    The BsUFA IV agreement proposes fee structure changes. BsUFA IV 
would eliminate the initial, annual, and reactivation BPD fees. For 
sponsors that intend to submit more than one BLA that contains 
substantially the same information about the drug substance, BsUFA IV 
would also introduce a tiered application fee to incentivize such 
sponsors to submit the BLAs at the same time. This simultaneous filing 
structure allows the Agency to realize efficiencies in review workload. 
The proposed tiered application fee structure establishes: (1) a full 
application fee without the current statutory fee differentiation based 
on clinical data; (2) no fee for BLAs containing substantially the same 
information about the drug substance (or drug substances in the case of 
either a fixed-combination product or a combination product) as another 
BLA submitted by the same sponsor on the same day; and (3) a half 
application fee for BLAs containing substantially the same information 
about the drug substance (or drug substances in the case of either a 
fixed-combination product or a combination product) as another BLA 
submitted by the same sponsor on a prior day. BsUFA IV also proposes to 
update the eligibility for the small business waiver to only companies 
based in the United States (i.e., applicants created or organized under 
the laws of any State).

IV. Public Meeting Information

A. Purpose and Scope of the Meeting

    The meeting will include presentations by FDA and panels with FDA 
and regulated industry representatives to present and discuss the 
agreed-upon proposed enhancements. The meeting will also provide an 
opportunity for other interested parties, including scientific and 
academic experts, healthcare professionals, representatives of patient 
and consumer advocacy groups, and the general public, to verbally 
comment on the proposed enhancements. A draft agenda and other 
background information for the public meeting will be posted at: 
<a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032">https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032</a>.

B. Participating in the Public Meeting

    Registration: Information about how to register for the public 
meeting is available on FDA's web page for this public meeting: <a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032">https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032</a>. Registration is free for both in-person and virtual 
attendance. In-person attendance is based on space availability, with 
priority given to early registrants. Early registration is recommended 
because seating is limited; therefore, FDA may limit the number of 
participants from each

[[Page 60967]]

organization. Registrants will receive confirmation when they have been 
accepted. If you need special accommodations due to a disability, 
please email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="46043513000714232733322e29342f3c27322f292806202227682e2e3568212930">[email&#160;protected]</a> no later than October 16, 
2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
    Opportunity for Public Comment: During online registration, you may 
indicate if you wish to make a public comment. We will do our best to 
accommodate requests to make public comments. Individuals and 
organizations with common interests are urged to consolidate or 
coordinate their public comments and request time jointly. Following 
the close of registration, we will determine the amount of time 
allotted to each commenter and the approximate time each comment is to 
begin, and will notify participants by October 19, 2026. All requests 
to make a public comment during the meeting must be received via 
registration by October 16, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Onsite 
registration for public comments on the day of the public meeting will 
not be provided. No commercial or promotional material will be 
permitted to be presented or distributed at the public meeting.
    Streaming Webcast of the Public Meeting: When available, the 
virtual link to the hybrid public meeting will be posted on FDA's 
public web page at <a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032">https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032</a>. FDA will also distribute 
the link via email to registered attendees.
    Transcripts: Please be advised that as soon as a transcript of the 
public meeting is available, it will be accessible at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. It may be viewed at the Dockets Management Staff 
(see ADDRESSES). A link to the transcript will also be available on 
FDA's public web page at <a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032">https://www.fda.gov/industry/biosimilar-user-fee-amendments/bsufa-iv-fiscal-years-2028-2032</a>.

Grace R. Graham,
Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation, and International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2026-19660 Filed 9-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on September 25, 2026.

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