Feb. 20, 2017 – Although the FDA announced last August that it would issue four advertising-related guidance documents by the end of 2016, the Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) fell short of that goal and apparently will set a very low bar for 2017: It plans to issue only one guidance document in 2017.

According to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Guidance Agenda for 2017 issued Feb. 17, CDER has committed to issuing a guidance document entitled “Drug and Device Manufacturer Communications with Payors, Formulary Committees and Similar Entities.” The agency announced a draft guidance on this topic on Jan. 19, so it appears OPDP would plan to issue a final guidance on this matter at some point after the comment period on the draft document ends April 19.

This recent announcement leaves in limbo the much-awaited guidance document on off-label/unapproved uses, which industry has been promised for years. The agency held a two-day forum on this issue last November and recently extended the comment period on the topic until April 10; however, without that topic appearing on the guidance agenda for 2017, it remains to be seen whether the agency will act on this topic any time soon.

The Trump administration’s call for regulatory agencies to delete two regulations for every new regulation (which may include guidance documents) could be affecting the agency’s projected plans for 2017 guidance documents. That said, efforts to answer industry’s requests for more guidance on off-label use surely have stalled beyond reasonable expectations.

However, Coalition for Healthcare Communication Executive Director John Kamp noted that “It’s important to not take this report too seriously. New leadership is coming to FDA. The Trump crew will have its own agenda that will likely take hold quickly.”