FACILITATING THE USE OF REAL WORLD EVIDENCE.

SEC. 3629. FACILITATING THE USE OF REAL WORLD EVIDENCE.(a) Guidance.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue or revise existing guidance on considerations for the use of real world data and real world evidence to support regulatory decision-making, as follows:(1) With respect to drugs, such guidance shall address the use of such data and evidence to support the approval of a drug application under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355) or a biological product application under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262), and to support an investigational use exemption submission under section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(i)) or section 351(a)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(a)(3)). Such guidance shall include considerations for the inclusion, in such applications and submissions, of real world data and real world evidence obtained as a result of the use of drugs authorized for emergency use under section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360bbb–3), and considerations for standards and methodologies for collection and analysis 136 STAT. 5892 of real world evidence included in such applications and submissions, as appropriate. (2) With respect to devices, such guidance shall address the use of such data and evidence to support the approval, clearance, or classification of a device pursuant to an application or submission submitted under section 510(k), 513(f)(2), or 515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360(k), 360c(f)(2), 360e), to support an investigational use exemption submission under section 520(g) of such Act (21 U.S.C. 360j(g)), and to support a determination by the Secretary for purposes of section 353 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 263a) (including the category described under subsection (d)(3) of such section). Such guidance shall include considerations for the inclusion, in such applications and submissions, of real world data and real world evidence obtained as a result of the use of devices authorized for emergency use under section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360bbb–3), including considerations related to a determination under section 353(d)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 263a(d)(3)), and considerations for standards and methodologies for collection and analysis of real world evidence included in such applications, submissions, or determinations, as appropriate. (b) Report to Congress.—Not later than 2 years after the end of the public health emergency declared by the Secretary under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID–19, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives on—(1) the number of applications, submissions, or requests submitted for clearance, approval, or authorization under section 505, 510(k), 513(f)(2), or 515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355, 360(k), 360c(f)(2), 360e) or section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262), for which an authorization under section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360bbb–3) was previously granted; (2) of the number of applications so submitted, the number of such applications—(A) for which real world evidence was submitted and used to support a regulatory decision; and (B) for which real world evidence was submitted and determined to be insufficient to support a regulatory decision; and (3) a summary explanation of why, in the case of applications described in paragraph (2)(B), real world evidence could not be used to support regulatory decisions. (c) Information Disclosure.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the disclosure of information that is prohibited from disclosure under section 1905 of title 18, United States Code, or subject to withholding under subsection (b)(4) of section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the “Freedom of Information Act”).136 STAT. 5893