S. 1636Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed Senate

Ensuring Innovation Act

Introduced May 23, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 5:44 AM UTC

The Ensuring Innovation Act changes the definition of a “new chemical entity” in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It replaces the term “active ingredient” with “active moiety” for drugs and adds parallel language for biologics. The bill tightens the rules for when a drug or biologic must be sent to an FDA advisory committee and updates orphan‑drug eligibility for rare pediatric diseases.

Key Provisions

  • Swaps the phrase “active ingredient (including any ester or salt)” with “active moiety” in multiple sections of the FD&C Act, clarifying what counts as a new chemical entity for drugs and biologics.
  • Requires the FDA to refer any drug or biologic that contains a new active moiety (or new active ingredient for biologics) to an advisory committee before approval, and to explain in the approval letter why a referral was not made if it occurs.
  • Updates orphan‑drug (rare pediatric disease) criteria to use the new “active moiety” language and to align biologic product rules with the same standards.
  • Makes technical corrections, such as removing outdated clauses and fixing cross‑references, to ensure the revised language works consistently across the statute.

Legislative Activity

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7 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 15, 2020 • 3:41 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 23, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

May 23, 2019

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.

December 14, 2020

SenateFloor

Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7470)

December 14, 2020

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7470)

December 14, 2020

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 15, 2020

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 15, 2020 • 3:03 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 15, 2020 • 3:41 PM

Amendments

1 amendment

Offered to this bill

Bill Text

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Latest
Engrossed in SenateIssued December 14, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 1636

AN ACT

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the scope of new chemical exclusivity.

1.

Clarifying the meaning of new chemical entity

(a)

In general

Chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is amended—

(1)

in section 505 (21 U.S.C. 355)—

(A)

in subsection (c)(3)(E), by striking active ingredient (including any ester or salt of the active ingredient) each place it appears and inserting active moiety (as defined by the Secretary in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations));

(B)

in subsection (j)(5)(F), by striking active ingredient (including any ester or salt of the active ingredient) each place it appears and inserting active moiety (as defined by the Secretary in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations));

(C)

in subsection (l)(2)(A)—

(i)

by amending clause (i) to read as follows:

(i)

not later than 30 days after the date of approval of such applications—

(I)

for a drug, no active moiety (as defined by the Secretary in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations)) of which has been approved in any other application under this section; or

(II)

for a biological product, no active ingredient of which has been approved in any other application under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act; and

; and

(ii)

in clause (ii), by inserting or biological product before the period;

(D)

by amending subsection (s) to read as follows:

(s)

Referral to advisory committee

The Secretary shall—

(1)

refer a drug or biological product to a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee for review at a meeting of such advisory committee prior to the approval of such drug or biological if it is—

(A)

a drug, no active moiety (as defined by the Secretary in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations)) of which has been approved in any other application under this section; or

(B)

a biological product, no active ingredient of which has been approved in any other application under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act; or

(2)

if the Secretary does not refer a drug or biological product described in paragraph (1) to a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee prior to such approval, provide in the action letter on the application for the drug or biological product a summary of the reasons why the Secretary did not refer the drug or biological product to an advisory committee prior to approval.

; and

(E)

in subsection (u)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(i)

by striking active ingredient (including any ester or salt of the active ingredient) and inserting active moiety (as defined by the Secretary in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations)); and

(ii)

by striking same active ingredient and inserting same active moiety;

(2)

in section 512(c)(2)(F) (21 U.S.C. 360b(c)(2)(F)), by striking active ingredient (including any ester or salt of the active ingredient) each place it appears and inserting active moiety (as defined by the Secretary in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations));

(3)

in section 524(a)(4) (21 U.S.C. 360n(a)(4)), by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:

(C)

is for—

(i)

a human drug, no active moiety (as defined by the Secretary in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations)) of which has been approved in any other application under section 505(b)(1); or

(ii)

a biological product, no active ingredient of which has been approved in any other application under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act.

;

(4)

in section 529(a)(4) (21 U.S.C. 21 U.S.C. 360ff(a)(4)), by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following:

(A)

is for a drug or biological product that is for the prevention or treatment of a rare pediatric disease;

(B)
(i)

is for such a drug—

(I)

that contains no active moiety (as defined by the Secretary in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations)) that has been previously approved in any other application under subsection (b)(1), (b)(2), or (j) of section 505; and

(II)

that is the subject of an application submitted under section 505(b)(1); or

(ii)

is for such a biological product—

(I)

that contains no active ingredient that has been previously approved in any other application under section 351(a) or 351(k) of the Public Health Service Act; and

(II)

that is the subject of an application submitted under section 351(a) of the Public Health Service Act;

; and

(5)

in section 565A(a)(4) (21 U.S.C. 360bbb–4a(a)(4)), by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:

(D)

is for—

(i)

a human drug, no active moiety (as defined by the Secretary in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations)) of which has been approved in any other application under section 505(b)(1); or

(ii)

a biological product, no active ingredient of which has been approved in any other application under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act.

.

(b)

Technical corrections

Chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 351 et seq) is amended—

(1)

in section 505 (21 U.S.C. 355)—

(A)

in subsection (c)(3)(E), by repealing clause (i); and

(B)

in subsection (j)(5)(F), by repealing clause (i); and

(2)

in section 505A(c)(1)(A)(i)(II) (21 U.S.C. 355a(c)(1)(A)(i)(II)), by striking (c)(3)(D) and inserting (c)(3)(E).

Passed the Senate December 14, 2020.

Secretary