FDA to Slash Drug Approval Times by Half with New Streamlined Procedures

• The Philippine Food and Drug Administration plans to implement new policies this month that could reduce drug approval waiting times by up to 50%, benefiting pharmaceutical companies seeking market entry.
• Key reforms include eliminating duplicative bioavailability testing requirements for export products and implementing a Facilitated Registration Pathway that accepts approvals from trusted foreign regulators.
• The regulatory changes coincide with the launch of Victoria Industrial Park in Tarlac, the Philippines' first pharmaceutical economic zone, which has already attracted 14 manufacturing companies.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to implement significant changes to its approval process that could cut waiting times for new pharmaceutical products by as much as half, according to FDA Director General Samuel Zacate.

The regulatory overhaul, expected to be implemented this month, aims to streamline procedures for companies seeking to bring new products to market. Currently, approval times average 45 days for food products and 45-60 days for cosmetics, with pharmaceutical products and vaccines typically taking longer due to clinical trial requirements.

"We are on track, it's just a matter of time. So we just have to follow normal bureaucracy because this is a process, [an] approval of policy," Zacate told reporters during the launch of Victoria Industrial Park in Tarlac, the country's first pharmaceutical industrial hub.

Key Regulatory Changes

The FDA is preparing to sign new implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the registration of drugs and biologicals this month after completing public consultations. The agency plans to present the new IRR for public feedback by the third week of May.

"This is a new process. It will be signed this month, we are just fixing it because it has to run through public consultation. The stakeholders and the drug companies must also have a say on the policy, on what the hurdles are, and on what is slowing down the process," Zacate explained.

Three major policy changes are expected to significantly reduce processing times:

1. A new streamlined IRR for drug and biological registrations
2. Removal of duplicative testing requirements for export products
3. Implementation of a Facilitated Registration Pathway

The FDA has already approved and implemented a new policy on exporting drugs that eliminates redundant bioavailability and bioequivalence (BABE) studies, which previously created significant delays.

"Before, there was duplication — we do BABE here, which takes six months, and then another BABE in the receiving country, which also takes six months," Zacate said. "What we did is, as long as the product is only for export, we left it to the receiving country to test it."

Additionally, the Facilitated Registration Pathways approved last year will allow the FDA to accept approvals from trusted foreign regulatory authorities.

"The process of approval is reduced because we do not have to evaluate the product; we will just rely on (the foreign regulator's) evaluation," Zacate added.

First Pharmaceutical Economic Zone Launched

The regulatory reforms coincide with the inauguration of Victoria Industrial Park in Tarlac, developed by Greenstone Pharmaceutical HK, Inc., the manufacturer of the popular liniment brand Katinko. The 30-hectare complex is accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), offering fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to locators.

During the launch, Greenstone signed agreements with 14 companies that will establish operations in the industrial park. Melissa Y. Yap, Chief Executive Officer of Greenstone, emphasized the need for the Philippines to accelerate its pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.

"We need to move fast because of the trade wars and everything. Other countries are moving so much faster than us," Yap stated.

Industry Growth Projections

The regulatory improvements come at a crucial time for the Philippine pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors. The local cosmetics industry is projected to grow by nearly 6 percent this year, reaching approximately P371.56 billion in value.

According to global market research firm IMARC Group, the beauty and personal care industries in the Philippines generated $3.7 billion (roughly P350.35 billion) in revenues in 2024, with projections suggesting expansion to $11.05 billion (about P607.75 billion) in the coming years.

Greenstone is planning to expand the pharmaceutical zone after seeing strong interest from potential locators. The company has also earmarked around P2 billion for expanding its own manufacturing capacity for cosmetics and home care products.

"We have some big and exciting names that are coming that I cannot name yet; hopefully they will come within the next couple of months," Yap revealed.

The FDA's regulatory reforms, combined with new manufacturing infrastructure, signal a potentially transformative period for the Philippine pharmaceutical industry, with faster approvals likely to accelerate market access for new medicines and health products.