Small Business Assistance
What's New for Small Pharmaceutical
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Introduction
Although large corporations produce many of the products that FDA
regulates, smaller businesses actually constitute a large majority of Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research regulated companies. Such small businesses provide a vast array of
the drug products available to American consumers.
Because FDA has long recognized the unique needs of small business, a network of FDA offices exists in the Commissioner's Office, in the regional offices, and in the product-specific
Centers to help small businesses understand the Agency's structures and rules. In
the Commissioner's Office, the Office of Ombudsman has responsibility for liaison with the
Small Business National Ombudsman for resolving complaints against the Agency brought by
small business owners. Also in the Commissioner's Office, the Economics Staff works
with the Centers to assure that the impacts of all regulatory burdens on small businesses
are considered, and that adverse impacts are lessened whenever possible, before
regulations are issued.
In CDER, the Office of Training and Communication includes a small
business staff that answers inquiries from small business owners, conducts outreach
efforts, and participates in programs on emerging topics of interest to small business.
Each of FDA's five Regional Offices has a Small Business Representative
(SBR) to provide outreach and training to, and answer specific inquiries from, small
businesses across the country. FDA Regional Offices have answered thousands of
questions, conducted scores of training programs, and organized more than 50
"grassroots" meetings in the last few years to educate industry, particularly
small business, about emerging regulatory topics of interest. In addition,
grassroots meetings are regularly conducted by the FDA Centers to elicit input on proposed
regulations.
In addition to providing ready access to FDA personnel who are
knowledgeable about the concerns of small business, FDA provides a wealth of written and
electronic information of importance to small business.
In developing its regulatory policies and programs, FDA strives, whenever
possible, to moderate adverse impacts on small business. The Agency has received
some 45 Vice-presidential "Hammer Awards" for regulatory improvements, virtually
all of which directly benefit FDA's small regulated businesses.
The purpose of this website is to assist small businesses with timely
and accurate information on CDER's programs and services; organizational and contact
information; and links to FDA laws, regulations and guidances that affect small business.
Information is also provided on financial assistance and incentives that are available for
drug development. For small business inquiries, contact the Director of Small Business Assistance, Ron Wilson at 301-796-3177 or Ronald.Wilson@fda.hhs.gov.
To learn more about the drug
review process, please see these free online training seminars.
We ask you to take time to communicate with CDER about this website.
What information is and isn't useful to you in understanding how to deal with the
Center? What additional items or categories of information would you like us to
add? Please use our comment
form.
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Date updated: October 22, 2008 |