ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Thursday proposed collecting $87.4 million more in user fees from drug firms to enhance drug safety.
The FDA said it is asking Congress to allow it to collect more money -- the fees drug companies submit with their new drug applications -- to enhance the agency's drug safety program, shore up resources for its review of broadcast drug ads, and allow for more efficient development of new drugs.
The agency is seeking a total of $392.8 million in annual user fees from companies as the Prescription Drug User Fee Act -- the law that authorized the FDA to collect fees from drug firms to help pay for faster reviews of new products -- comes up for renewal this year.
The biggest chunk of the new funds -- $29.3 million -- would go toward ensuring the safety of new drugs after they have been approved and are being prescribed in patients.
