ABII » Topics » Regulatory Considerations

This excerpt taken from the ABII 10-K filed Mar 12, 2010.

Regulatory Considerations

Proprietary pharmaceutical products are subject to extensive pre- and post-market regulation by the FDA, including regulations that govern the testing, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, labeling, storage, record keeping, advertising and promotion of the products under the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Services Act, and by comparable agencies in foreign countries. FDA approval is required before any dosage form of any drug can be marketed in the United States. All applications for FDA approval of drugs must include information relating to the pharmaceutical formulation, stability, manufacturing, processing, packaging, labeling, quality control, safety and efficacy and other information as appropriate.

The process required by the FDA before a new drug may be marketed in the United States generally involves:

 

   

completion of pre-clinical laboratory and animal testing;

 

   

submission of an investigational new drug application, or IND, which must become effective before trials may begin;

 

   

performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug product’s intended use; and

 

   

submission to and approval by the FDA of a new drug application, or NDA.

Clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap. These phases generally include:

 

   

Phase I during which the drug is introduced into healthy human subjects or, on occasion, patients, and generally is tested for safety, stability, dose tolerance and metabolism;

 

   

Phase II during which the drug is introduced into a limited patient population to determine the efficacy of the product in specific targeted diseases, to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage and to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks; and

 

   

Phase III during which the clinical trial is expanded to a more diverse patient group in geographically dispersed trial sites to further evaluate clinical efficacy, optimal dosage and safety.

The drug sponsor, the FDA or the Institutional Review Board at each institution at which a clinical trial is being performed may suspend a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk.

The results of product development, preclinical animal studies and human studies are submitted to the FDA as part of the NDA. The NDA also must contain extensive manufacturing information. The FDA may approve on the basis of the submission made or disapprove the NDA if applicable FDA regulatory criteria are not satisfied. The FDA may also require additional clinical data. Under certain circumstances, drug sponsors may obtain approval pursuant to Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act based in part upon literature or an FDA finding and/or effectiveness for another approved product, even where the products are not duplicates in terms of formulation and bioequivalence. Once approved, the FDA may withdraw the product approval if compliance with pre- and post-market regulatory standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the marketplace. In addition, the FDA may require post-marketing studies to monitor the effect of approved products and may limit further marketing of the product based on the results of these post-marketing studies. The FDA has broad post-market regulatory and enforcement powers, including the ability to levy fines and civil penalties, suspend or delay issuance of approvals, seize or recall products, and withdraw approvals.

Satisfaction of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes several years and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product or disease. Government regulation may delay or prevent marketing of potential products for a considerable period of time

 

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and impose costly procedures upon a manufacturer’s activities. Success in early stage clinical trials does not assure success in later stage clinical trials. Data obtained from clinical activities is not always conclusive and may be susceptible to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. Even if a product receives regulatory approval, later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product may result in restrictions on the product or even complete withdrawal of the product from the market.

In addition to regulating and auditing human clinical trials, the FDA regulates and inspects equipment, facilities, laboratories and processes used in the manufacturing and testing of such products prior to providing approval to market a product. If after receiving clearance from the FDA, a material change is made in manufacturing equipment, location or process, additional regulatory review may be required. We and our suppliers also must adhere to current good manufacturing practice and product-specific regulations enforced by the FDA through its facilities inspection program. The FDA also conducts regular, periodic visits to re-inspect equipment, facilities, laboratories and processes following the initial approval. If, as a result of these inspections, the FDA determines that the equipment, facilities, laboratories or processes do not comply with applicable FDA regulations and conditions of product approval, the FDA may seek civil, criminal or administrative sanctions and/or remedies against our manufacturers, including the suspension of manufacturing operations. In addition, our discovery pipeline includes product candidates in the follow-on biologics area, also known as biosimilars. Although, like all pharmaceutical products, these product candidates must receive appropriate regulatory clearance before they can be marketed and sold in a particular country, including the United States, there does not currently exist a defined abbreviated regulatory approval process for obtaining this approval in the United States. As a result, considerable uncertainty exists regarding the pathway, timing and likelihood of approval for these types of product candidates.

While the above process describes the regulatory process in the United States, similar processes for drug development and approval to market generally apply internationally.

We are also subject to various federal and state laws pertaining to health care “fraud and abuse,” including anti-kickback laws and false claims laws. Anti-kickback laws make it illegal to solicit, offer, receive or pay any remuneration in exchange for, or to induce, the referral of business, including the purchase or prescription of a particular drug. The federal government has published regulations that identify “safe harbors” or exemptions for certain arrangements that do not violate the anti-kickback statutes. Due to the breadth of the statutory provisions and the absence of guidance in the form of regulations or court decisions addressing some practices, it is possible that our practices might be challenged under anti-kickback or similar laws. False claims laws prohibit anyone from knowingly and willingly presenting, or causing to be presented for payment to third-party payers (including Medicare and Medicaid), claims for reimbursed drugs or services that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services not provided as claimed or claims for medically unnecessary items or services. The activities of our strategic partners relating to the sale and marketing of our products may be subject to scrutiny under these laws. Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including fines and civil monetary penalties, as well as the possibility of exclusion from federal health care programs (including Medicare and Medicaid). If the government were to allege against or convict us of violating these laws, there could be a material adverse effect on us. Our activities could be subject to challenge for the reasons discussed above and due to the broad scope of these laws and the increasing attention being given to them by law enforcement authorities.

We are also subject to regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and other current and potential future federal, state, or local laws, rules and/or regulations. Our research and development activities involve the controlled use of chemicals, biological materials and other hazardous materials. We believe that our procedures comply with the standards prescribed by federal, state and local laws, rules and/or regulations; however, the risk of injury or accidental contamination cannot be completely eliminated.

 

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This excerpt taken from the ABII 10-K filed Mar 6, 2009.

Regulatory Considerations

Proprietary pharmaceutical products are subject to extensive pre- and post-market regulation by the FDA, including regulations that govern the testing, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, labeling, storage, record keeping, advertising and promotion of the products under the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Services Act, and by comparable agencies in foreign countries. FDA approval is required before any dosage form of any drug can be marketed in the United States. All applications for FDA approval of drugs must contain information relating to pharmaceutical formulation, stability, manufacturing, processing, packaging, labeling and quality control.

The process required by the FDA before a new drug may be marketed in the United States generally involves:

 

   

completion of pre-clinical laboratory and animal testing;

 

   

submission of an investigational new drug application, or IND, which must become effective before trials may begin;

 

   

performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug product’s intended use; and

 

   

submission to and approval by the FDA of a new drug application, or NDA.

Clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap. These phases generally include:

 

   

Phase I during which the drug is introduced into healthy human subjects or, on occasion, patients, and generally is tested for safety, stability, dose tolerance and metabolism;

 

   

Phase II during which the drug is introduced into a limited patient population to determine the efficacy of the product in specific targeted diseases, to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage and to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks; and

 

   

Phase III during which the clinical trial is expanded to a more diverse patient group in geographically dispersed trial sites to further evaluate clinical efficacy, optimal dosage and safety.

The drug sponsor, the FDA or the Institutional Review Board at each institution at which a clinical trial is being performed may suspend a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk.

The results of product development, preclinical animal studies and human studies are submitted to the FDA as part of the NDA. The NDA also must contain extensive manufacturing information. The FDA may approve on the basis of the submission made or disapprove the NDA if applicable FDA regulatory criteria are not satisfied. The FDA may also require additional clinical data. Under certain circumstances, drug sponsors may obtain approval pursuant to Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act based in part upon literature or

 

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an FDA finding and/or effectiveness for another approved product, even where the products are not duplicates in terms of formulation and bioequivalence. Once approved, the FDA may withdraw the product approval if compliance with pre- and post-market regulatory standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the marketplace. In addition, the FDA may require post-marketing studies to monitor the effect of approved products and may limit further marketing of the product based on the results of these post-marketing studies. The FDA has broad post-market regulatory and enforcement powers, including the ability to levy fines and civil penalties, suspend or delay issuance of approvals, seize or recall products, and withdraw approvals.

Satisfaction of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes several years and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product or disease. Government regulation may delay or prevent marketing of potential products for a considerable period of time and impose costly procedures upon a manufacturer’s activities. Success in early stage clinical trials does not assure success in later stage clinical trials. Data obtained from clinical activities is not always conclusive and may be susceptible to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. Even if a product receives regulatory approval, later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product may result in restrictions on the product or even complete withdrawal of the product from the market.

In addition to regulating and auditing human clinical trials, the FDA regulates and inspects equipment, facilities, laboratories and processes used in the manufacturing and testing of such products prior to providing approval to market a product. If after receiving clearance from the FDA, a material change is made in manufacturing equipment, location or process, additional regulatory review may be required. We and our suppliers also must adhere to current good manufacturing practice and product-specific regulations enforced by the FDA through its facilities inspection program. The FDA also conducts regular, periodic visits to re-inspect equipment, facilities, laboratories and processes following the initial approval. If, as a result of these inspections, the FDA determines that the equipment, facilities, laboratories or processes do not comply with applicable FDA regulations and conditions of product approval, the FDA may seek civil, criminal or administrative sanctions and/or remedies against our manufacturers, including the suspension of manufacturing operations.

While the above process describes the regulatory process in the United States, similar processes for drug development and approval to market generally apply internationally.

We are also subject to various federal and state laws pertaining to health care “fraud and abuse,” including anti-kickback laws and false claims laws. Anti-kickback laws make it illegal to solicit, offer, receive or pay any remuneration in exchange for, or to induce, the referral of business, including the purchase or prescription of a particular drug. The federal government has published regulations that identify “safe harbors” or exemptions for certain arrangements that do not violate the anti-kickback statutes. Due to the breadth of the statutory provisions and the absence of guidance in the form of regulations or court decisions addressing some practices, it is possible that our practices might be challenged under anti-kickback or similar laws. False claims laws prohibit anyone from knowingly and willingly presenting, or causing to be presented for payment to third-party payers (including Medicare and Medicaid), claims for reimbursed drugs or services that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services not provided as claimed or claims for medically unnecessary items or services. The activities of our strategic partners relating to the sale and marketing of our products may be subject to scrutiny under these laws. Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including fines and civil monetary penalties, as well as the possibility of exclusion from federal health care programs (including Medicare and Medicaid). If the government were to allege against or convict us of violating these laws, there could be a material adverse effect on us. Our activities could be subject to challenge for the reasons discussed above and due to the broad scope of these laws and the increasing attention being given to them by law enforcement authorities.

We are also subject to regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and other current and potential future federal, state, or local laws, rules and/or regulations. Our research and development activities involve the controlled use of

 

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chemicals, biological materials and other hazardous materials. We believe that our procedures comply with the standards prescribed by federal, state and local laws, rules and/or regulations; however, the risk of injury or accidental contamination cannot be completely eliminated.

These excerpts taken from the ABII 10-K filed Mar 31, 2008.

Regulatory Considerations

Proprietary pharmaceutical products are subject to extensive pre- and post-market regulation by the FDA, including regulations that govern the testing, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, labeling, storage, record keeping, advertising and promotion of the products under the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Services Act, and by comparable agencies in foreign countries. FDA approval is required before any dosage form of any drug can be marketed in the United States. All applications for FDA approval must contain information relating to pharmaceutical formulation, stability, manufacturing, processing, packaging, labeling and quality control.

The process required by the FDA before a new drug may be marketed in the United States generally involves:

 

   

completion of pre-clinical laboratory and animal testing;

 

   

submission of an investigational new drug application, or IND, which must become effective before trials may begin;

 

   

performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug product’s intended use; and

 

   

submission to and approval by the FDA of a new drug application, or NDA.

Clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap. These phases generally include:

 

   

Phase I during which the drug is introduced into healthy human subjects or, on occasion, patients, and generally is tested for safety, stability, dose tolerance and metabolism;

 

   

Phase II during which the drug is introduced into a limited patient population to determine the efficacy of the product in specific targeted diseases, to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage and to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks; and

 

   

Phase III during which the clinical trial is expanded to a more diverse patient group in geographically dispersed trial sites to further evaluate clinical efficacy, optimal dosage and safety.

The drug sponsor, the FDA or the Institutional Review Board at each institution at which a clinical trial is being performed may suspend a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk.

The results of product development, preclinical animal studies and human studies are submitted to the FDA as part of the NDA. The NDA also must contain extensive manufacturing information. The FDA may approve on

 

19


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the basis of the submission made or disapprove the NDA if applicable FDA regulatory criteria are not satisfied. The FDA may also require additional clinical data. Under certain circumstances, drug sponsors may obtain approval pursuant to Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act based in part upon literature or an FDA finding and/or effectiveness for another approved product, even where the products are not duplicates in terms of chemistry and bioequivalence. Once approved, the FDA may withdraw the product approval if compliance with pre- and post-market regulatory standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the marketplace. In addition, the FDA may require post-marketing studies to monitor the effect of approved products and may limit further marketing of the product based on the results of these post-marketing studies. The FDA requested that we perform a safety and pharmacokinetics study for Abraxane® in patients with hepatic impairment. This ongoing study is our only outstanding post-marketing commitment and is expected to be completed in mid-2008. The FDA has broad post-market regulatory and enforcement powers, including the ability to levy fines and civil penalties, suspend or delay issuance of approvals, seize or recall products, and withdraw approvals.

Satisfaction of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes several years and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product or disease. Government regulation may delay or prevent marketing of potential products for a considerable period of time and impose costly procedures upon a manufacturer’s activities. Success in early stage clinical trials does not assure success in later stage clinical trials. Data obtained from clinical activities is not always conclusive and may be susceptible to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. Even if a product receives regulatory approval, later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product may result in restrictions on the product or even complete withdrawal of the product from the market.

In addition to regulating and auditing human clinical trials, the FDA regulates and inspects equipment, facilities, laboratories and processes used in the manufacturing and testing of such products prior to providing approval to market a product. If after receiving clearance from the FDA, a material change is made in manufacturing equipment, location or process, additional regulatory review may be required. We and our suppliers also must adhere to current good manufacturing practice and product-specific regulations enforced by the FDA through its facilities inspection program. The FDA also conducts regular, periodic visits to re-inspect equipment, facilities, laboratories and processes following the initial approval. If, as a result of these inspections, the FDA determines that the equipment, facilities, laboratories or processes do not comply with applicable FDA regulations and conditions of product approval, the FDA may seek civil, criminal or administrative sanctions and/or remedies against our manufacturers, including the suspension of manufacturing operations.

While the above process describes the regulatory process in the United States, similar processes for drug development and approval to market generally apply internationally.

We are also subject to various federal and state laws pertaining to health care “fraud and abuse,” including anti-kickback laws and false claims laws. Anti-kickback laws make it illegal to solicit, offer, receive or pay any remuneration in exchange for, or to induce, the referral of business, including the purchase or prescription of a particular drug. The federal government has published regulations that identify “safe harbors” or exemptions for certain arrangements that do not violate the anti-kickback statutes. Due to the breadth of the statutory provisions and the absence of guidance in the form of regulations or court decisions addressing some practices, it is possible that our practices might be challenged under anti-kickback or similar laws. False claims laws prohibit anyone from knowingly and willingly presenting, or causing to be presented for payment to third-party payers (including Medicare and Medicaid), claims for reimbursed drugs or services that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services not provided as claimed or claims for medically unnecessary items or services. The activities of our strategic partners relating to the sale and marketing of our products may be subject to scrutiny under these laws. Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including fines and civil monetary penalties, as well as the possibility of exclusion from federal health care programs (including Medicare and Medicaid). If the government were to allege against or convict us of violating these laws, there could be a material adverse effect on us. Our activities could be subject to challenge for the reasons discussed above and

 

20


Table of Contents

due to the broad scope of these laws and the increasing attention being given to them by law enforcement authorities.

We are also subject to regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and other current and potential future federal, state, or local laws, rules and/or regulations. Our research and development activities involve the controlled use of chemicals, biological materials and other hazardous materials. We believe that our procedures comply with the standards prescribed by federal, state and local laws, rules and/or regulations; however, the risk of injury or accidental contamination cannot be completely eliminated.

Regulatory
Considerations

Proprietary pharmaceutical products are subject to extensive pre- and post-market regulation by the FDA, including
regulations that govern the testing, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, labeling, storage, record keeping, advertising and promotion of the products under the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Services Act, and by comparable
agencies in foreign countries. FDA approval is required before any dosage form of any drug can be marketed in the United States. All applications for FDA approval must contain information relating to pharmaceutical formulation, stability,
manufacturing, processing, packaging, labeling and quality control.

The process required by the FDA before a new drug may be marketed in
the United States generally involves:

 







  

completion of pre-clinical laboratory and animal testing;

 







  

submission of an investigational new drug application, or IND, which must become effective before trials may begin;

STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> 







  

performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug product’s intended use; and

 







  

submission to and approval by the FDA of a new drug application, or NDA.

STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">Clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap. These phases generally include:

STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> 







  

Phase I during which the drug is introduced into healthy human subjects or, on occasion, patients, and generally is tested for safety, stability, dose tolerance and
metabolism;

 







  

Phase II during which the drug is introduced into a limited patient population to determine the efficacy of the product in specific targeted diseases, to determine
dosage tolerance and optimal dosage and to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks; and

 







  

Phase III during which the clinical trial is expanded to a more diverse patient group in geographically dispersed trial sites to further evaluate clinical efficacy,
optimal dosage and safety.

The drug sponsor, the FDA or the Institutional Review Board at each institution at which a
clinical trial is being performed may suspend a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk.

STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">The results of product development, preclinical animal studies and human studies are submitted to the FDA as part of the NDA. The NDA also must contain
extensive manufacturing information. The FDA may approve on

 


19







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the basis of the submission made or disapprove the NDA if applicable FDA regulatory criteria are not satisfied. The FDA may also require additional clinical
data. Under certain circumstances, drug sponsors may obtain approval pursuant to Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act based in part upon literature or an FDA finding and/or effectiveness for another approved
product, even where the products are not duplicates in terms of chemistry and bioequivalence. Once approved, the FDA may withdraw the product approval if compliance with pre- and post-market regulatory standards is not maintained or if problems
occur after the product reaches the marketplace. In addition, the FDA may require post-marketing studies to monitor the effect of approved products and may limit further marketing of the product based on the results of these post-marketing studies.
The FDA requested that we perform a safety and pharmacokinetics study for Abraxane® in patients with hepatic impairment. This ongoing study is our only outstanding post-marketing commitment
and is expected to be completed in mid-2008. The FDA has broad post-market regulatory and enforcement powers, including the ability to levy fines and civil penalties, suspend or delay issuance of approvals, seize or recall products, and withdraw
approvals.

Satisfaction of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes several years and the actual time required may vary
substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product or disease. Government regulation may delay or prevent marketing of potential products for a considerable period of time and impose costly procedures upon a manufacturer’s
activities. Success in early stage clinical trials does not assure success in later stage clinical trials. Data obtained from clinical activities is not always conclusive and may be susceptible to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or
prevent regulatory approval. Even if a product receives regulatory approval, later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product may result in restrictions on the product or even complete withdrawal of the product from the market.

In addition to regulating and auditing human clinical trials, the FDA regulates and inspects equipment, facilities, laboratories and
processes used in the manufacturing and testing of such products prior to providing approval to market a product. If after receiving clearance from the FDA, a material change is made in manufacturing equipment, location or process, additional
regulatory review may be required. We and our suppliers also must adhere to current good manufacturing practice and product-specific regulations enforced by the FDA through its facilities inspection program. The FDA also conducts regular, periodic
visits to re-inspect equipment, facilities, laboratories and processes following the initial approval. If, as a result of these inspections, the FDA determines that the equipment, facilities, laboratories or processes do not comply with applicable
FDA regulations and conditions of product approval, the FDA may seek civil, criminal or administrative sanctions and/or remedies against our manufacturers, including the suspension of manufacturing operations.

STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">While the above process describes the regulatory process in the United States, similar processes for drug development and approval to market generally
apply internationally.

We are also subject to various federal and state laws pertaining to health care “fraud and abuse,”
including anti-kickback laws and false claims laws. Anti-kickback laws make it illegal to solicit, offer, receive or pay any remuneration in exchange for, or to induce, the referral of business, including the purchase or prescription of a particular
drug. The federal government has published regulations that identify “safe harbors” or exemptions for certain arrangements that do not violate the anti-kickback statutes. Due to the breadth of the statutory provisions and the absence of
guidance in the form of regulations or court decisions addressing some practices, it is possible that our practices might be challenged under anti-kickback or similar laws. False claims laws prohibit anyone from knowingly and willingly presenting,
or causing to be presented for payment to third-party payers (including Medicare and Medicaid), claims for reimbursed drugs or services that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services not provided as claimed or claims for medically
unnecessary items or services. The activities of our strategic partners relating to the sale and marketing of our products may be subject to scrutiny under these laws. Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal and/or civil
sanctions, including fines and civil monetary penalties, as well as the possibility of exclusion from federal health care programs (including Medicare and Medicaid). If the government were to allege against or convict us of violating these laws,
there could be a material adverse effect on us. Our activities could be subject to challenge for the reasons discussed above and

 


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Table of Contents



due to the broad scope of these laws and the increasing attention being given to them by law enforcement authorities.

STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%">We are also subject to regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act, and other current and potential future federal, state, or local laws, rules and/or regulations. Our research and development activities involve the controlled use of chemicals, biological materials and other hazardous materials. We believe that
our procedures comply with the standards prescribed by federal, state and local laws, rules and/or regulations; however, the risk of injury or accidental contamination cannot be completely eliminated.

STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px">Manufacturing

FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">We have manufacturing facilities in Melrose Park, Illinois, Phoenix, Arizona and Barbengo, Switzerland. For the length of the applicable lease, our manufacturing facility in Melrose Park has been leased to New APP and
New APP has agreed to provide certain contract manufacturing services to us in accordance with the terms of the manufacturing agreement. In addition, we leased from New APP a portion of New APP’s Grand Island, New York manufacturing facility to
enable us to perform our responsibilities under the manufacturing agreement for its term. The initial term of the manufacturing agreement will expire on December 31, 2011, but the term of the manufacturing agreement will be automatically
extended for one year if either New APP exercises its option to extend the lease for our Melrose Park manufacturing facility for an additional year or we exercise our option to extend the lease for New APP’s Grand Island manufacturing facility
for an additional year. We expect that our Melrose Park, Phoenix and Barbengo facilities will be utilized to globally manufacture our current and future proprietary products, including Abraxane®
.

In addition, as part of the separation agreement, New APP’s current Puerto Rico facility will be divided into two separate
facilities and we will take ownership of one part of the facility. The portion of the Puerto Rico facility that will be owned by us following the separation of the Puerto Rico facility is the 90,000 square foot active pharmaceutical ingredients
manufacturing plant currently leased to Pfizer for a term expiring in February 2012.

We are required to comply with the applicable
FDA manufacturing requirements contained in the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP, regulations. cGMP regulations require quality control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding maintenance of records and
documentation. Our manufacturing facilities must meet cGMP requirements to permit us to manufacture our products. We are subject to the periodic inspection of our facilities, procedures and operations and/or the testing of our products by the FDA,
the Drug Enforcement Administration and other authorities to assess our compliance with applicable regulations.

Failure to comply with the
statutory and regulatory requirements subjects the manufacturer to possible legal or regulatory action, including the seizure or recall of products, injunctions, consent decrees placing significant restrictions on or suspending manufacturing
operations, and civil and criminal penalties. Adverse experiences with a product must be reported to the FDA and could result in the imposition of market restriction through labeling changes or in product removal. Product approvals may be withdrawn
if compliance with regulatory requirements is not maintained or if problems concerning safety or efficacy of the product occur following approval.

This excerpt taken from the ABII 8-K filed Nov 8, 2007.

Regulatory Considerations

Proprietary pharmaceutical products are subject to extensive pre- and post-market regulation by the FDA, including regulations that govern the testing, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, labeling, storage, record keeping, advertising and promotion of the products under the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Services Act, and by comparable agencies in foreign countries. FDA approval is required before any dosage form of any drug can be marketed in the United States. All applications for FDA approval must contain information relating to pharmaceutical formulation, stability, manufacturing, processing, packaging, labeling and quality control.

The process required by the FDA before a new drug may be marketed in the United States generally involves:

 

   

completion of pre-clinical laboratory and animal testing;

 

   

submission of an investigational new drug application, or IND, which must become effective before trials may begin;

 

   

performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug product’s intended use; and

 

   

submission to and approval by the FDA of a new drug application, or NDA.

 

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Clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap. These phases generally include:

 

   

Phase I during which the drug is introduced into healthy human subjects or, on occasion, patients, and generally is tested for safety, stability, dose tolerance and metabolism;

 

   

Phase II during which the drug is introduced into a limited patient population to determine the efficacy of the product in specific targeted diseases, to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage and to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks; and

 

   

Phase III during which the clinical trial is expanded to a more diverse patient group in geographically dispersed trial sites to further evaluate clinical efficacy, optimal dosage and safety.

The drug sponsor, the FDA or the Institutional Review Board at each institution at which a clinical trial is being performed may suspend a clinical trial at any time for various reasons, including a belief that the subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk.

The results of product development, preclinical animal studies and human studies are submitted to the FDA as part of the NDA. The NDA also must contain extensive manufacturing information. The FDA may approve on the basis of the submission made or disapprove the NDA if applicable FDA regulatory criteria are not satisfied. The FDA may also require additional clinical data. Under certain circumstances, drug sponsors may obtain approval pursuant to Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act based in part upon literature or an FDA finding and/or effectiveness for another approved product, even where the products are not duplicates in terms of chemistry and bioequivalence. Once approved, the FDA may withdraw the product approval if compliance with pre- and post-market regulatory standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the marketplace. In addition, the FDA may require post-marketing studies to monitor the effect of approved products and may limit further marketing of the product based on the results of these post-marketing studies. The FDA requested that we perform a safety and pharmacokinetics study for Abraxane® in patients with hepatic impairment. This ongoing study is our only outstanding post-marketing commitment and is expected to be completed in mid-2008. The FDA has broad post-market regulatory and enforcement powers, including the ability to levy fines and civil penalties, suspend or delay issuance of approvals, seize or recall products, and withdraw approvals.

Satisfaction of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes several years and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product or disease. Government regulation may delay or prevent marketing of potential products for a considerable period of time and impose costly procedures upon a manufacturer’s activities. Success in early stage clinical trials does not assure success in later stage clinical trials. Data obtained from clinical activities is not always conclusive and may be susceptible to varying interpretations that could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. Even if a product receives regulatory approval, later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product may result in restrictions on the product or even complete withdrawal of the product from the market.

In addition to regulating and auditing human clinical trials, the FDA regulates and inspects equipment, facilities, laboratories and processes used in the manufacturing and testing of such products prior to providing approval to market a product. If after receiving clearance from the FDA, a material change is made in manufacturing equipment, location or process, additional regulatory review may be required. We and our suppliers also must adhere to current good manufacturing practice and product-specific regulations enforced by the FDA through its facilities inspection program. The FDA also conducts regular, periodic visits to re-inspect equipment, facilities, laboratories and processes following the initial approval. If, as a result of these inspections, the FDA determines that the equipment, facilities, laboratories or processes do not comply with applicable FDA regulations and conditions of product approval, the FDA may seek civil, criminal or administrative sanctions and/or remedies against our manufacturers, including the suspension of manufacturing operations.

We are also subject to various federal and state laws pertaining to health care “fraud and abuse,” including anti-kickback laws and false claims laws. Anti-kickback laws make it illegal to solicit, offer, receive or pay any

 

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remuneration in exchange for, or to induce, the referral of business, including the purchase or prescription of a particular drug. The federal government has published regulations that identify “safe harbors” or exemptions for certain arrangements that do not violate the anti-kickback statutes. Due to the breadth of the statutory provisions and the absence of guidance in the form of regulations or court decisions addressing some practices, it is possible that our practices might be challenged under anti-kickback or similar laws. False claims laws prohibit anyone from knowingly and willingly presenting, or causing to be presented for payment to third-party payers (including Medicare and Medicaid), claims for reimbursed drugs or services that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services not provided as claimed or claims for medically unnecessary items or services. The activities of our strategic partners relating to the sale and marketing of our products may be subject to scrutiny under these laws. Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including fines and civil monetary penalties, as well as the possibility of exclusion from federal health care programs (including Medicare and Medicaid). If the government were to allege against or convict us of violating these laws, there could be a material adverse effect on us. Our activities could be subject to challenge for the reasons discussed above and due to the broad scope of these laws and the increasing attention being given to them by law enforcement authorities.

We are also subject to regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and other current and potential future federal, state, or local laws, rules and/or regulations. Our research and development activities involve the controlled use of chemicals, biological materials and other hazardous materials. We believe that our procedures comply with the standards prescribed by federal, state and local laws, rules and/or regulations; however, the risk of injury or accidental contamination cannot be completely eliminated.

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