Final answer:
The main impact of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) on the drug approval process is a shortened average time from New Drug Application (NDA) filing to FDA decision, facilitating faster access to new treatments for patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) has had a significant impact on the drug approval process.
One of the main effects of the PDUFA is that the average length of time from a New Drug Application (NDA) filing to an FDA decision has been significantly shortened.
This means that new therapies can reach the market more quickly, which is beneficial for patients awaiting new treatments.
The PDUFA enables the FDA to collect fees from drug manufacturers, which in turn are used to fund additional reviewers and resources to expedite the review process without compromising the safety and efficacy standards required for drug approval.