FDA Launches Program to Fast Track drug reviews, Aims to Improve Role in National Health
Updated June 18, 2025
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is initiating a pilot program designed to incentivize the development of new drugs addressing critical national health interests. This initiative, centered around a new voucher system, aims to significantly reduce the time required for regulatory reviews, perhaps accelerating access to vital medications.
The new program, called the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) program, could shorten drug reviews to just one or two months, the agency said. This speed is achieved through enhanced collaboration within the FDA.
Under the CNPV process, experts from various FDA offices will convene for a team-based review, similar to a tumor board in cancer care.This multidisciplinary team of physicians and scientists will meet to determine the best course of action for a given drug application,the FDA said.
FDA Commissioner Martin Makary unveiled the CNPV program at the BIO International Conference in Boston. Makary, a surgical oncologist, emphasized the need for innovative approaches to medication evaluation.the CNPV program, he said, offers a way to expedite the FDA review process.
“We need to keep innovating and we cannot be satisfied,” Makary said. “We have got to modernize the agency, start using AI in the review, start thinking about the unnecessary steps and the delays… We have to think differently.”
Unlike the existing priority review voucher program (PRV) for rare diseases, CNPVs are not transferable between companies and expire two years after being awarded. The rare disease PRVs, which can be sold for around $150 million, do not expire, but the program itself requires renewal by Congress.
To qualify for a CNPV, companies must submit the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls portion of their application, along with draft labeling, at least 60 days before the final application. Ongoing interaction with the FDA is also required to address questions promptly. The agency retains the right to extend review times if data is insufficient, trial results are ambiguous, or the review is particularly complex.
The FDA can direct CNPVs toward specific investigational new drugs or grant them as undesignated vouchers,allowing companies to use them for any new drug aligned with the program’s objectives.
The FDA plans to award a limited number of vouchers in the program’s first year to companies working on drugs aligned with U.S. national priorities. The use of a CNPV does not preclude the use of other regulatory pathways, such as accelerated approval, if the drug meets the necessary requirements, the agency said.
What’s next
The FDA will begin accepting applications for the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program, with the first vouchers expected to be awarded later this year.The program’s impact on drug development and access will be closely monitored.
