The Biologics License Application (BLA) Process Explained

A Biologics License Application (BLA) is a comprehensive submission to the FDA requesting approval to distribute a biologic product across state lines. Biologics, derived from living organisms, encompass a range of products, including vaccines, blood components, allergenic products, and cellular and genetic therapies.

The BLA is typically submitted after extensive research and clinical studies have been completed under an Investigational New Drug (IND) or an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE).

The BLA process ensures that biologic products meet stringent safety, purity, and potency standards, safeguarding public health. Navigating this process requires meticulous planning, coordination, and expertise across various domains. This guide concisely explains the BLA process, highlighting the critical steps and considerations involved.

Our team offers unparalleled regulatory consulting services for those seeking expert guidance to help you successfully navigate the complexities of the BLA submission.

Contact us if you'd like to discuss expert consulting assistance from some of the top regulatory talent across the industry. We've helped many big and small companies plan and navigate the BLA process successfully—on time and on budget. 

Key Differences from New Drug Applications (NDAs)

While similar in many ways to NDAs for small-molecule drugs, BLAs have some key differences:

• Depending on the product type, BLAs are submitted to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) or the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). NDAs go to CDER.
• Manufacturing processes and controls are especially critical for biologics, as small changes can significantly impact the final product. The concept that "the product is the process" is fundamental for biologics.
• Characterization of the final product is often more complex for biologics compared to small molecule drugs.
• BLAs may require more extensive immunogenicity and comparability studies.

1. The Pre-BLA Phase

Before submitting a BLA, sponsors must complete extensive research and development, including preclinical studies and clinical trials under an IND application. As the clinical development program nears completion, attention turns to preparing for the BLA submission.

A crucial step in this phase is the pre-BLA meeting with the FDA. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss the format and content of the planned BLA, address potential issues, and align expectations. To make the most of this meeting, sponsors should prepare a comprehensive briefing document summarizing the product's development history, key efficacy and safety findings, and proposed labeling. It's also beneficial to develop a list of specific questions focusing on areas of uncertainty or potential controversy.

Concurrent with meeting preparation, sponsors must finalize and compile all the necessary components of the BLA. This includes:

Clinical Data

The backbone of any BLA is robust clinical data demonstrating the product's safety and efficacy. This involves finalizing the statistical analysis plan, conducting primary efficacy analyses, performing comprehensive safety data analyses, and preparing integrated summaries of efficacy and safety. Sponsors should be prepared to present data from all phases of clinical development, from early phase I studies through pivotal phase III trials.

CMC Information

For biologics, the manufacturing process is integral to the product. The CMC section must provide a detailed account of the manufacturing process, including process validation runs, stability testing, and analytical method validation. This section should also include detailed descriptions of facilities, equipment, and quality control procedures.

Nonclinical Data

While much of the nonclinical work is completed earlier in development, the BLA must include a comprehensive summary of all relevant nonclinical studies. This includes pharmacology studies demonstrating the product's mechanism of action, toxicology studies assessing safety, and any special studies required for the specific biologic (e.g., reproductive toxicity studies).

Labeling

Draft labeling is a critical component of the BLA. This includes the proposed prescribing information, which details the product's approved uses, dosing, warnings, and other essential information for healthcare providers. It also includes any required patient labeling, such as Medication Guides, and carton and container labels.

2. BLA Submission

The actual submission of the BLA is a significant undertaking. The cornerstone of the submission is Form FDA 356h, which serves as the official application to market a new biologic. (The FDA provides an instruction sheet for this form, too.) This form includes basic information about the applicant and product, as well as a high-level summary of the data included in the submission. Pay attention to the details in Form FDA 356h; this form is crucial for the FDA's initial processing. Errors or omissions here can lead to delays. Double-check all information for accuracy and completeness.

The BLA itself is typically organized into several modules, following the structure of the Common Technical Document (CTD):

In addition to these core components, the BLA must include case report forms for pivotal studies, financial disclosure information, and patent information.

BLAs are now submitted electronically through the FDA's Electronic Submissions Gateway, using the Electronic Common Technical Document (eCTD) format. This process requires careful attention to formatting and technical specifications to ensure the submission is accepted and can be reviewed efficiently.

Some components, particularly in Modules 4 and 5, can be very large. Make sure your submission strategy accounts for file size limitations and includes appropriate use of cross-referencing to manage large datasets.

We can't stress this enough: A well-organized, technically sound submission sets the stage for an efficient review process. Investing time and resources in getting the submission right can pay dividends in smoother interactions with the FDA throughout the review process.

3. FDA Review Process

Once the BLA is submitted, the FDA begins its review process. This starts with an initial 60-day review period during which the FDA determines whether the application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review. If it is, the FDA will "file" the application and assign a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date, the target date for the FDA to complete its review.

The substantive review is conducted by a multidisciplinary team of FDA reviewers, including experts in clinical medicine, statistics, pharmacology, chemistry, manufacturing, and other relevant disciplines. During this time, reviewers may issue information requests to the sponsor, seeking clarification or additional data.

• Around the midpoint of the review cycle, typically month 5 for standard reviews, the FDA provides a mid-cycle communication to the sponsor. This update identifies potential review issues and allows the sponsor to address concerns or provide additional information.
• For novel products or those raising significant questions, the FDA may convene an advisory committee meeting. These meetings, which are open to the public, allow for discussion of key issues by a panel of independent experts. While the committee's recommendations are not binding, they often heavily influence the FDA's final decision.
• As the review nears completion, a late-cycle meeting is held between the FDA and the sponsor. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss any remaining application issues, review proposed labeling, and discuss potential post-marketing requirements or commitments.

Throughout the review process, the FDA will also conduct pre-approval inspections of manufacturing facilities to ensure compliance with cGMP.

4. FDA Decision and Post-Approval Phase

At the conclusion of the review process, the FDA will issue either an approval letter or a complete response letter. An approval letter authorizes the sponsor to market the product and may include any specific conditions of approval. A complete response letter outlines deficiencies that must be addressed before the product can be approved.

If approved, the sponsor can proceed with launching the product, but their work is far from over. Post-approval responsibilities include implementing any required post-marketing studies, submitting periodic safety reports to the FDA, and maintaining compliance with cGMP. Any significant changes to the product, manufacturing process, or labeling must be submitted to the FDA as supplements to the original BLA.

Checklist: A Few Key Questions to Ask Before Submitting Your BLA to the FDA

Here are seven key questions you should ask to ensure your BLA is ready for FDA review, along with explanations to guide your team through each step.

1. Have all commitments to the FDA during the development process been completed?

Throughout the years of developing a new biologic, multiple commitments are made to the FDA—whether during IND applications, meetings, or even informal communications. These commitments could cover clinical, nonclinical, and CMC aspects of the product.

If even one commitment is missed, the FDA will likely issue an Information Request (IR) seeking clarification, which can delay your approval. Worse, missing a key commitment could lead to a CRL, significantly pushing back your timelines for commercialization.

Conduct a thorough review of all regulatory interactions, focusing on commitments made and ensuring they have been fulfilled.

2. Have you documented and submitted evidence of completed commitments to the FDA?

Completing a commitment is one thing, but proving to the FDA that it has been completed is another. Without proper documentation, the FDA may assume the commitment was not met, leading to further requests for clarification and potentially delaying approval. Failure to submit proof of completion can trigger unnecessary IRs or force you to resubmit sections of your CTD. This can waste valuable time and resources, pushing back your submission timeline.

Make sure that for every commitment fulfilled, corresponding evidence is documented and submitted to the FDA as part of your application.

3. Are the drug substance and drug product specifications aligned across all relevant CTD sections?

The BLA process requires consistency across all sections of your CTD. Misaligned specifications can lead to conflicting information in different sections of your application. The FDA may flag these discrepancies, leading to additional review rounds and corrections requests.

Make sure that the sections of your CTD covering specifications (e.g., M.3.2.S.4.1 for drug substances and M.3.2.P.5.1 for drug products) are fully aligned before submission.

4.  Have you reviewed all early commitments made during the development process?

Product development is rarely a linear process. Commitments made in the early stages—whether related to CMC, nonclinical studies, or clinical trials—can sometimes fall off the radar as new challenges emerge, such as clinical holds or manufacturing hurdles.

Over time, earlier commitments may be forgotten, especially if attention shifts to resolving more immediate issues. This could result in incomplete submissions or late actions, both of which will hurt your credibility with the FDA.

We always emphasize performing regular reviews of all commitments made early in the process to ensure that none are overlooked. If a study or action has been delayed, start it as soon as possible. It’s better to ask for forgiveness for a late action than to explain why nothing was done.

5.  Have you set up a secure system for tracking all FDA communications, including a chronological log of documents?

Managing a BLA submission often involves multiple departments and consultants. Keeping track of FDA communications can become a challenge, especially as the program evolves. Inconsistent or missing records can create communication gaps, particularly if team members or consultants change over time. These gaps can lead to miscommunication, missed commitments, and unnecessary delays in your submission.

Establish a secure system for storing all regulatory communications, including a Chron Log—a chronological record of all documents with descriptions and dates. This system ensures that even if team members change, nothing is lost in the transition.

6.  Do you maintain an updated communications tracker for FDA commitments?

Over the years, multiple commitments are made during interactions with the FDA. Tracking each of these commitments and ensuring they are fulfilled is critical to a successful submission. Without a proper tracker, it’s easy to overlook critical actions.

We suggest creating a simple communications tracker—such as an Excel spreadsheet—that logs all commitments, their date, and their current status. Regularly update this tracker to ensure that no obligations are missed or delayed.

7.  Have you performed a readiness gap assessment prior to submitting the BLA?

Many sponsors conduct mock preapproval inspections to identify weaknesses in manufacturing before FDA site visits. However, it’s equally important to conduct a gap assessment for your documentation to ensure all commitments and requirements are met.

Always conduct a thorough readiness gap assessment prior to submitting your BLA, ensuring that all commitments made to the FDA have been completed and that supporting documentation is in place.

How Our RA/QA Consultants Support BLA Preparation and Submission

Consultants play a crucial role in helping companies navigate the complex BLA process. Here's a brief summary of how we typically deploy them with our own clients.

In each of these areas, consultants bring specialized expertise and an external perspective that can be crucial to success. They help bridge knowledge gaps, provide surge capacity during critical periods, and offer strategic insights based on broad industry experience.

For many companies, especially those navigating their first BLA or working in novel therapeutic areas, these consultants are not just valuable but often necessary for successfully bringing a biologic product to market and maintaining its regulatory compliance throughout its lifecycle.

Join hundreds of firms navigating the BLA process with The FDA Group.

The regulatory landscape is constantly changing. Our large staff of former FDA and industry experts ensure you stay on top of it all. Whether you need help preparing submissions or need to staff your internal team with an experienced expert, we help you navigate complex regulatory challenges, bring your products to market, and keep them there.

We'll work with you in both pre- and post-marketing drug safety regulations, regulatory filings, marketing authorization applications, variations and renewals, and carefully develop due diligence strategies. Our regulatory experts manage the entire registration process for new drugs, biologics, generic products, and medical devices.

• Review of client technical dossiers and developmental plans
• Research and interpretation of regulations
• Determination of regulatory status
• Pre-submission review of technical documents
• Critical writing and review of documentation
• Clinical trial applications and notifications (IND, IDE, CTX, etc.)
• Marketing Application Support (NDA, BLA, ANDA, 510(k), PMA, etc.)
• Orphan Drug, Treatment Use, and ANDA Suitability petitions

Our experts prepare all major regulatory submissions and provide extensive quality control review for all trial-related documentation, such as:

• Regulatory Agency and IRB/EC submissions
• Procurement of Import/Export license
• Initial submissions, amendments, notifications, and closeout submissions

Working collaboratively, our regulatory specialists coordinate all aspects of your trial’s document collection and submissions, including:

• Managing all regulatory documentation as part of the start-up, conduct, and close-out phases
• Coordinating clinical trial application filings to regulatory agencies
• Ensuring submissions comply with regulations
• Managing submissions and document storage processes
• Staying abreast of all regulations to ensure documentation compliance

Our team of experienced regulatory scientists can write the nonclinical, clinical, and CMC sections in CTD and traditional format for your new drug and biologic applications.