In recent years 505(b)(2) approvals have experienced double-digit growth. Many companies are electing to pursue 505(b)(2) applications to obtain a new drug approval (NDA). A 505(b)(2) application is a hybrid between the FDA's traditional NDA and an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA). These submission types were made possible in 1984 by the adoption of the Hatch-Waxman Act. The act was created to allow for generic competition and increased innovation in the pharmaceutical arena. A true generic or ANDA demonstrates that the drug is identical to an already approved product based on bioequivalence data and chemical equivalence.
