Determination That ORTHO-CEPT (Desogestrel-Ethinyl Estradiol) 21- and 28-Day Oral Tablets, 0.15 Milligram/0.03 Milligram, Were Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Agency, or we) has determined that ORTHO-CEPT (desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol) 21- and 28-day oral tablets, 0.15 milligram (mg)/0.03 mg, were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This determination means that FDA will not begin procedures to withdraw approval of abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) that refer to this drug product, and it will allow FDA to continue to approve ANDAs that refer to the product as long as they meet relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stacy Kane, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 51, Rm. 6236, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-8363, Stacy.Kane@fda.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 505(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 355(j)) allows the submission of an ANDA to market a generic version of a previously approved drug product. To obtain approval, the ANDA applicant must show, among other things, that the generic drug product: (1) Has the same active ingredient(s), dosage form, route of administration, strength, conditions of use, and, with certain exceptions, labeling as the listed drug, which is a version of the drug that was previously approved and (2) is bioequivalent to the listed drug. ANDA applicants do not have to repeat the extensive clinical testing otherwise necessary to gain approval of a new drug application (NDA).

Section 505(j)(7) of the FD&C Act 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of the drug's NDA or ANDA for reasons of safety or effectiveness, or if FDA determines that the listed drug was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness (21 CFR 314.162).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may petition the Agency to determine, or the Agency may determine on its own initiative, whether a listed drug was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.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 (§ 314.161 (21 CFR 314.161)). FDA may not approve an ANDA that does not refer to a listed drug.

ORTHO-CEPT (desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol) 21- and 28-day oral tablets, 0.15 mg/0.03 mg, is the subject of NDA 020301, held by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and initially approved on December 14, 1992. ORTHO-CEPT is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use oral contraceptives as a method of contraception.

In a letter dated October 7, 2014, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., notified FDA that ORTHO-CEPT (desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol) 21- and 28-day oral tablets, 0.15 mg/0.03 mg, were being discontinued, and FDA moved the drug product to the “Discontinued Drug Product List” section of the Orange Book.

Arnall Golden Gregory LLP submitted a citizen petition dated March 11, 2021 (Docket No. FDA-2021-P-0292), under 21 CFR 10.30, requesting that the Agency determine whether ORTHO-CEPT (desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol) oral tablets, were 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 § 314.161 that ORTHO-CEPT (desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol) 21- and 28-day oral tablets, 0.15 mg/0.03 mg, were not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. The petitioner has identified no data or other information suggesting that ORTHO-CEPT (desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol) 21- and 28-day oral tablets, 0.15 mg/0.03 mg, were withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. We have carefully reviewed our files for records concerning the withdrawal of ORTHO-CEPT (desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol) 21- and 28-day oral tablets, 0.15 mg/0.03 mg, from sale. We have also independently evaluated relevant literature and data for possible postmarketing adverse events. We have found no information that would indicate that this drug product was withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.

Accordingly, the Agency will continue to list ORTHO-CEPT (desogestrel-ethinyl estradiol) 21- and 28-day oral tablets, 0.15 mg/0.03 mg, 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.