The FDA is requesting a budget of $4.5 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the president’s fiscal year 2013 budget—a 17% increase over the FDA enacted budget for FY 2012.

Industry user fees would fund 98% of the proposed budget increase. The FY 2013 request covers the period from Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013.

In addition to recommending new user fees to support the review of generic drugs and biosimilars, the FDA budget also contains increased funding for priorities such as import safety, medical countermeasures and research facilities to protect patients and consumers.

“These are austere budget times, and the FDA budget request reflects this reality,” said Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., commissioner of food and drugs. “Our budget increases are targeted to strategic areas that will help speed the availability of new medical products, address the challenges of increased globalization and allow FDA to fulfill its public health duties more efficiently. With FDA-regulated products accounting for about a quarter of each dollar that Americans spend, these budget priorities will benefit patients and consumers and strengthen our economy.”

Highlights of the FDA FY 2013 budget include:

• Protecting Patients Initiative (+$364 million) recommends new user fees to support FDA generic drug activities and to support development and review of biosimilar biological products. The initiative also includes resources to equip state-of-the-art laboratory facilities at the FDA’s White Oak, Md., campus for research to protect patients and consumers. 
• Transforming Food Safety Initiative (+$253 million) will bolster the FDA’s efforts to build a strong, reliable food safety system—as envisioned in the landmark Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). With the support of new user fees, FDA will foster a prevention-focused domestic and import food safety system to protect the health of American consumers. The FDA is also proposing new user fees to support its cosmetic and food contact substance programs.
• Transforming Food Safety and Protecting Patients initiatives include $10 million in new resources for the FDA to enhance collaboration with its Chinese counterparts and increase its presence in and expertise on China. This investment will strengthen the safety of the food and drugs produced in China for export to the U.S.
• Medical Countermeasures (MCM) Initiative (+$3.5 million) will help meet America’s national security and public health requirements for MCM readiness. Congress provided new resources in FY 2012 to support the FDA’s role in protecting the U.S. from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, and from emerging infectious diseases such as pandemic influenza. The additional resources in FY 2013 will support science and partnerships to improve MCM development timelines and the success rates.
• Data Consolidation and IT Savings Initiative (-$20 million) will produce savings to meet the requirements of recent executive orders that promote government efficiency and assure environmental, energy and economic performance. The FDA will also reduce redundant computer equipment and achieve other IT savings.