The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has
issued final changes to the premerger notification rules that
require companies in the pharmaceutical industry to report certain
proposed acquisitions of exclusive patent rights to the FTC and the
Department of Justice for antitrust review. The revised rules
clarify when a transfer of exclusive rights to a patent in the
pharmaceutical industry results in a potentially reportable asset
acquisition under the Hart Scott Rodino Act.
The FTC assumes that the rule
will increase the number of non-index filings from 1,428 to 1,500
per year, which at 37 hours each would yield an incremental burden
of 2,664 hours ((1,500 - 1,428) x 37 hours per non-index filing).
Thus, added to the existing base of 53,759 hours, cumulative burden
under the final amended HSR Rules totals 56,423 hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.