To help prepare for public health emergencies, medical countermeasures (MCMs) may be stockpiled by governments and even by some private sector partners.

For example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)  Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) oversees the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), which has large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency (for example, a terrorist attack, flu outbreak, or earthquake) severe enough to cause local medical supplies to run out.  Some state and local governments and private sector entities also stockpile MCMs to have ready access to them if an emergency were to occur. 

A medical product is typically labeled by the manufacturer with an expiration date.  This reflects the time period during which the product is expected to remain stable, or retain its identity, strength, quality, and purity, when it is properly stored according to its labeled storage conditions.  Expiration dating can present challenges to MCM stockpilers because MCMs that have reached their labeled expiration date in most cases cannot be used.  While this is important to ensure patient safety, it also means that the MCMs, some of which might still be stable, must be replaced regularly, which can be very costly. 

In some cases, testing has shown that certain properly stored medical products can be used beyond their labeled expiration date if they retain their stability.  Recognizing stakeholders’ MCM stockpiling challenges, FDA is engaged, when appropriate, in various expiration dating extension activities as described below. 

On this page:

• Approaches to Drug Product Expiration Date Extensions
  • Initiated by the Manufacturer
  • Shelf-Life Extension Program
  • Emergency Use Authorities (including stockpiler-initiated)
  • Enforcement Discretion
• MCM Expiration Dating Extensions
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19 Therapeutics
  • COVID-19 In Vitro Diagnostics
  • Antivirals
  • Doxycycline
  • Nerve Agent Auto-Injectors
  • Potassium Iodide (KI)
• Additional Information

Approaches to Drug Product Expiration Date Extensions

Initiated by the Manufacturer

The manufacturer of an approved drug product may extend the expiration date for the drug product based on acceptable data from full, long-term stability studies on at least three pilot or production batches in accordance with a protocol approved in the NDA or ANDA. For additional information, consult the Guidance for Government Public Health and Emergency Response Stakeholders: Extending Expiration Dates of Doxycycline Tablets and Capsules in Strategic Stockpiles, page 3, or Guidance for Industry: Changes to an Approved NDA or ANDA.

Shelf-Life Extension Program

Stockpiling drugs, vaccines, and medical products is critical to ensure public health emergency preparedness for both the U.S. military and civilian populations.  To avoid the need to replace entire stockpiles every few years at significant expense, and because it was recognized through testing that certain products remained stable beyond their labeled expiration dates when properly stored, the Shelf-Life Extension Program (SLEP) was established in 1986.

SLEP is the federal, fee-for-service program through which the labeled shelf life of certain federally stockpiled medical materiel (e.g., in the SNS) can be extended after select products undergo periodic stability testing conducted by FDA. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Through expiration dating extensions, SLEP helps to defer the replacement costs of certain products in critical federal stockpiles.  Program participants are U.S. Federal agencies that sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Defense, and SLEP remains limited to federal stockpiles at this time.

Primarily FDA-approved prescription drug (not biological) products are nominated by program participants as SLEP candidates. Current testing focuses on military-significant or contingency use products, drugs that have limited commercial use (e.g., nerve agent antidotes), and drugs that are purchased in very large quantities, such as ciprofloxacin and doxycycline.

FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) Field Science Laboratories centrally manages the program, including interacting with DoD and coordinating laboratory work. The FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Division of Product Quality Research analyzes the data and makes decisions regarding shelf life extensions. The Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats (OCET) collaborates with FDA Centers and federal partners to facilitate access to MCMs. This includes working to ensure that MCM-related policy supports programs like SLEP.

Emergency Use Authorities (including stockpiler-initiated)

In addition to SLEP, there are other ways that, when appropriate, FDA can allow certain medical products to be used beyond their manufacturer-labeled expiration dates. 

One way is through issuing an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) under section 564 of the FD&C Act since use of a product beyond its labeled expiry date is considered unapproved.  However, before FDA can issue an EUA, a specific type of determination must be in place, the HHS Secretary must issue a declaration to justify the issuance of the EUA, the section 564 statutory criteria for issuing an EUA must be met, and FDA must determine that it is safe to use the product beyond its labeled expiration date.  This authority is limited to medical products for CBRN emergencies.

Another way FDA can approach expiration dating challenges is through FDA’s expiration dating extension authority under section 564A(b) of the FD&C Act, which was established by PAHPRA in 2013.  Before PAHPRA, the distribution, dispensing, or use of products with extended expiry, and any related labeling adjustments, were possible through an EUA or FDA enforcement discretion.  PAHPRA provides FDA with the explicit authority to extend the expiration dating of eligible FDA-approved MCMs stockpiled for use in CBRN emergencies. In addition to the identification of specific lots, batches, or other units covered and the duration of the extension, FDA can require appropriate conditions related to any extensions under this authority, including appropriate storage, sampling, recordkeeping, periodic testing or retesting, product disposition, and labeling. 

Enforcement Discretion

If appropriate, FDA can also choose to not take enforcement action with respect to products that are held or used beyond their labeled expiration date.  However, when enforcement discretion is used for medical product dating extensions, MCMs are not covered under applicable Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act liability protections.

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MCM Expiration Dating Extensions 

FDA acknowledges the stockpiling challenges of federal and SLTT stakeholders (for example, related to doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, Tamiflu, and certain auto-injector products) and remains committed to finding appropriate solutions to address such challenges.  Following are several examples of how FDA has addressed expiry dating challenges following PAHPRA’s enactment and before PAHPRA:

COVID-19 Vaccines

Vaccines authorized for emergency use – as products that are not approved under a biologics license application and are still being studied under investigational new drug applications– do not have fixed expiry dates. For those doses that are close to expiry, if they are being held under appropriate conditions for ensuring their integrity for use, they can potentially be quarantined to see if data on new stability studies warrant extension of the initial expiry date according to appropriate policies and procedures.

• On April 26, 2022, FDA granted an extension (PDF, 179 KB) for the shelf life of the authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and on June 1, 2022, FDA concurred (PDF, 162 KB) with Pfizer's request to add two additional dates to the table (marked with * below), and update the fact sheet for health care providers (PDF,  1.3 MB). FDA is extending the expiration date of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine PBS/Sucrose formulation (supplied in multiple dose vials with purple caps) from 9 months to 12 months when stored between -90°C to -60°C.

  Printed Expiry Date	Updated Expiry Date
  October 2021	April 30, 2022
  November 2021	May 31, 2022
  December 2021	June 30, 2022
  January 2022	July 31, 2022
  February 2022	August 31, 2022
  March 2022	September 30, 2022
  June 2022*	September 30, 2022
  July 2022	October 31, 2022
  August 2022	November 30, 2022
  September 2022	December 31, 2022
  October 2022	January 31, 2023
  November 2022	February 28, 2023
  December 2022*	March 31, 2023

• On April 13, 2022, FDA granted an extension (PDF, 374 KB) for the shelf life of the authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. FDA is extending the expiration date of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the two presentations of the Tris/Sucrose formulation (supplied in multiple dose vials with orange caps and labels with an orange border and in multiple dose vials with gray caps and labels with a gray border). The frozen vials may be stored in an ultra-low temperature freezer at -90°C to -60°C (-130°F to -76°F) for up to 12 months from the date of manufacture.

  Printed Manufacturing Date	12-Month Expiry Date
  June 2021	May 31, 2022
  July 2021	June 30, 2022
  August 2021	July 31, 2022
  September 2021	August 31, 2022
  October 2021	September 30, 2022
  November 2021	October 31, 2022
  December 2021	November 30, 2022
  January 2022	December 31, 2022
  February 2022	January 31, 2023

• On April 7, 2022, FDA authorized an extension (PDF, 136 KB) for the shelf life of the refrigerated Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, allowing the product to be stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius for 11 months. The vaccine was previously authorized to be stored for up to 9 months (see March 2022 entry below). This shelf life extension applies to all batches that have been released to the U.S. market, and that have been held in accordance with the manufacturer’s storage conditions. Vaccines that are authorized under an EUA do not have fixed expiration dates, and their expiration dates may be extended based on data submitted by the manufacturers.  Health care providers administering the vaccine should check the company’s website (https://vaxcheck.jnj) to obtain the most up-to-date expiration dates for specific lots of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 Therapeutics

• May 20, 2022: FDA and HHS/ASPR announced the authorization of an extension to the shelf-life from 12 months to 18 months for specific lots of the refrigerated Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody, bebtelovimab, which is currently authorized for emergency use. FDA granted this extension following a thorough review of data submitted by Eli Lilly. As a result of this extension, some batches may be stored for an additional 6 months from the labeled date of expiry (see Table 1 here). This extension applies to all unopened vials of bebtelovimab that have been held in accordance with storage conditions detailed in the authorized Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers (PDF, 433 KB) and the EUA Letter of Authorization (PDF, 111 KB) for bebtelovimab. As required by the EUA, unopened vials of bebtelovimab injection, 175 mg/2 mL, must be stored under refrigerated temperature at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the original carton to protect from light.

• May 12, 2022: Statement Regarding Shelf-Life Extension of Sotrovimab (from HHS/ASPR and FDA) – On September 21, 2021, FDA and ASPR authorized an extension of the shelf-life from 12 months to 18 months for all lots of the refrigerated GSK monoclonal antibody, sotrovimab. Due to the high frequency of the omicron BA.2 variant, sotrovimab is not currently authorized in any U.S. region. Therefore, this drug may not be administered for treatment of COVID-19 under the EUA until further notice by the Agency. However, it is the recommendation of the U.S. Government that product be retained in the event that future SARS-CoV-2 variants, which may be susceptible to sotrovimab, emerge and become prevalent in the United States. Retained product must be appropriately held in accordance with storage conditions detailed in the authorized Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers (PDF, 1.38 MB) and the Letter of Authorization (PDF, 488 KB). 

  Evaluation of a future extension of shelf-life for sotrovimab is ongoing. FDA will continue to evaluate the available data and provide updated information as soon as possible. All sotrovimab vials may continue to be retained regardless of the current labeled expiry date or the previously provided extension dates, unless otherwise notified by the Agency. 

• May 4, 2022: FDA and HHS/ASPR announced the authorization of an extension to the shelf-life from 18 months to 24 months for specific lots of the refrigerated Eli Lilly monoclonal antibodies, bamlanivimab and etesevimab. Due to the high frequency of the omicron variant, bamlanivimab and etesevimab are not currently authorized in any U.S. region. Therefore, these drugs may not be administered for treatment or post-exposure prevention of COVID-19 under the EUA until further notice by the Agency. However, it is the recommendation of the U.S. Government that product be retained in the event that future SARS-CoV-2 variants, which may be susceptible to bamlanivimab and etesevimab, emerge and become prevalent in the United States. Retained product must be appropriately held in accordance with storage conditions detailed in the authorized Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers (PDF, 773 KB) and the Letter of Authorization (PDF, 488 KB). 
• October 22, 2021: FDA and HHS ASPR announced the authorization of an extension to the shelf-life from 12 months to 18 months for the refrigerated Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody, etesevimab, which is currently authorized for emergency use only when administered together with bamlanivimab.  As a result of this extension, unopened vials of etesevimab, injection, 700 mg/20 mL, should be stored under refrigerated temperature at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F), and may be stored for an additional 6 months from the labeled date of expiry (See Table 1 here). FDA granted this extension following a thorough review of data submitted by Eli Lilly. This extension applies to all unopened vials of etesevimab that have been held in accordance with storage conditions detailed in the authorized Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers (PDF, 737 KB) and the Letter of Authorization (PDF, 488 KB) for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) 094 for bamlanivimab and etesevimab, administered together.

COVID-19 In Vitro Diagnostics

Reagent stability studies are needed to support shelf-life expiration dates for in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) authorized under an EUA for emergency use during the COVID-19 pandemic, however they generally do not need to be completed at the time of initial review of the EUA request and/or EUA issuance, but should be initiated immediately following authorization, if not before. 

In the absence of real-time stability data, initial reagent stability claims typically do not exceed a four-to-six-month expiration date. Following initial FDA authorization, FDA has extended and authorized shelf-life expiration dates after reviewing real-time data generated by the IVD manufacturer. Shelf-life expiration dates have been extended multiple times as additional data becomes available. When shelf-life expiration dates are extended for devices that have already been distributed, the IVD manufacturer typically sends a notice to customers to inform them of the extension so they are aware of how long they can continue to use in-stock devices.  

Upon FDA’s authorization of a shelf-life extension, the labeling is updated by the IVD manufacturer to reflect the updated expiration date, which is calculated from the original manufacturing date of the device. Specific shelf-life information for IVDs authorized under an EUA can be found on the outer packaging, and reagent vials and containers for the product, or by contacting the IVD manufacturer directly with the catalog number, lot number, and manufacturing date for the specific reagent in question. When FDA grants or authorizes a shelf-life extension, that information may be found either in the granting letters or re-issued letters of authorization available in the listing of EUA authorized products on FDA’s website.

Antivirals

• June 3, 2020: On February 11, 2020, HHS issued a message (PDF, 162 KB) to state stakeholders holding antiviral drug products (Tamiflu and Relenza) about additional expiry dating extensions for properly held product. “…Based on FDA's review of scientific data, FDA has concluded for emergency responses that, provided the products have been stored under labeled storage conditions, it is scientifically supportable for certain lots of Tamiflu 75 mg capsules held in strategic stockpiles to be used for a maximum of 15 years beyond their date of manufacture…[and] for certain lots of Relenza inhalation powder held in strategic stockpiles to be used for a maximum of 10 years beyond their date of manufacture…” CDC has clarified that states should contact their MCM Specialist or email [email protected] to confirm extended dates for antiviral drug inventories eligible for extension. To confirm extension dates, recipients should provide the following information: Drug name, National Drug Code (NDC), strength, lot number, and original expiration date. Recipients should contact their MCM specialists with any questions regarding confirmation.

• January 17, 2013: Before PAHPRA, in addition to FDA’s June 2010 letter below, a CDC message to states in 2013 regarding spot shortages of Tamiflu for seasonal influenza noted that, “…[b]ased on FDA’s review of scientific data, FDA has concluded that, provided the products have been stored under labeled storage conditions, it is scientifically supportable for certain lots of Tamiflu capsules held in strategic stockpiles to be used for a maximum of ten [10] years beyond their date of manufacture…” 

• June 22, 2010: Before PAHPRA, following the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza response, FDA issued a letter [ARCHIVED] to CDC leadership regarding the disposition of Tamiflu and Relenza lots. The letter noted that, based on FDA-approved supplemental New Drug Applications for Relenza inhalation powder and Tamiflu capsules that provided an expiration dating period of 7 years, it would be scientifically supportable for the expiry extension (i.e., for a maximum of 7 years) to apply to certain lots of Tamiflu and Relenza that have already been manufactured. FDA also recommended relabeling of such product prior to dispensing. More information  

Doxycycline

April 2019 guidance: Extending Expiration Dates of Stockpiled Doxycycline for Anthrax Preparedness

Expiration date extensions of certain lots of doxycycline hyclate

• August 7, 2020: Additional Expiration Date Extensions of Certain Lots of Doxycycline Hyclate 100 mg Capsules Held in Strategic Stockpiles (PDF, 86 KB) - FDA issued a memo to government public health and emergency response stakeholders extending for the second time the expiration dates of certain lots of doxycycline hyclate 100 mg capsules held in strategic stockpiles for anthrax emergency preparedness and response purposes. Also see: Expiration date extensions of certain lots of doxycycline hyclate

• April 24, 2019: FDA published a final guidance for government public health and emergency response stakeholders: Extending Expiration Dates of Doxycycline Tablets and Capsules in Strategic Stockpiles. This document provides guidance to government stakeholders on testing to extend the shelf life (i.e., expiration date) under the FD&C Act of stockpiled doxycycline tablets and capsules for public health emergency preparedness and response purposes for an anthrax emergency. This finalizes the draft guidance published on April 25, 2017. (Federal Register notice) Please contact Brad Leissa at [email protected] and Brooke Courtney at [email protected] with questions regarding this guidance.

• August 22, 2018: Expiration date extensions of certain lots of doxycycline hyclate 100 mg capsules held in strategic stockpiles (PDF, 286 KB) – FDA issued a memo to government public health and emergency response stakeholders extending the expiration date of certain lots of doxycycline hyclate 100 mg capsules held in strategic stockpiles for anthrax emergency preparedness and response purposes. Also see: Expiration date extensions of certain lots of doxycycline hyclate

• September 20, 2017: CDC and FDA hosted a webinar to discuss FDA’s April 2017 draft guidance Extending Expiration Dates of Doxycycline Tablets and Capsules in Strategic Stockpiles. A recording of this webinar, slides and Q&A (under Resources tab) are available in CDC TRAIN (free account required).

• April 25, 2017: FDA announced the availability of a draft guidance for government public health and emergency response stakeholders entitled Extending Expiration Dates of Doxycycline Tablets and Capsules in Strategic Stockpiles. [Note: this guidance was finalized on April 24, 2019.] This document provides guidance to government stakeholders on testing to extend the shelf life (i.e., expiration date) under the FD&C Act of stockpiled doxycycline tablets and capsules for public health emergency preparedness and response purposes for an anthrax emergency. This draft guidance was prepared in response to requests from States asking FDA what would be necessary to provide confidence that stockpiled doxycycline tablets and capsules have retained their original quality beyond the manufacturer’s labeled expiration date so the replacement of stockpiled product could be deferred. This guidance and any resulting expiration date extensions authorized by FDA do not apply to doxycycline available commercially or otherwise held for any other non-emergency purpose. (Federal Register notice)

• September 3, 2015: Expiry date extensions of certain lots of doxycycline hyclate 100mg capsules held in strategic stockpiles (PDF, 28 KB) - memo to state and local public health and first responder stakeholders - related: doxycycline and penicillin G procaine for inhalational anthrax (post-exposure)

Nerve Agent Auto-Injectors

FDA alerts health care providers and emergency responders of expiration date extension updates for certain auto-injectors manufactured by Meridian Medical Technologies

• July 2, 2021: FDA is alerting civilian health care professionals and emergency responders of 1 pralidoxime chloride and 5 CANA (diazepam) auto-injector lots for which the “new use date” has passed; however, FDA recommends that stakeholders retain such lots in the event that additional scientific information becomes available to support additional extensions. An additional 6 DuoDote lots are no longer useable and should be properly disposed of. Please refer to the table on this page for updates.

• October 21, 2020: FDA is alerting civilian health care professionals and emergency responders of 1 pralidoxime chloride and 5 CANA (diazepam) auto-injector lots for which the “new use date” has passed; however, FDA recommends that stakeholders retain such lots in the event that additional scientific information becomes available to support additional extensions. An additional 1 DuoDote lot is no longer useable and should be properly disposed of. Please refer to the table on this page for updates.

• June 1, 2020: FDA is alerting civilian health care professionals and emergency responders of 4 additional DuoDote lots that are no longer useable and should be properly disposed of. Please refer to the table on this page for updates.

• January 1, 2020: FDA is alerting civilian health care professionals and emergency responders of 2 additional DuoDote lots that are no longer useable and should be properly disposed of. Please refer to the table on this page for updates.

• November 26, 2019: This posting and FDA’s November 18, 2019, memorandum (PDF,  230 KB) provide expiration dating updates for health care professionals and emergency responders for certain lots of MMT AtroPen (atropine), CANA (diazepam), DuoDote, Morphine Sulfate, and Pralidoxime Chloride auto-injectors for use during nerve agent emergencies. This posting and memorandum replace FDA’s March 23, 2018, posting and all previous FDA web postings and memoranda notifying health care professionals and emergency responders about the expiration dating of such auto-injectors. Please refer to the table on this page for the new updates.

Potassium Iodide (KI)

• March 2004: Before PAHPRA, FDA issued Guidance for Federal Agencies and State and Local Governments: Potassium Iodide Tablets Shelf Life Extension for government stakeholders on testing to extend the shelf life of stockpiled KI tablets for public health emergency preparedness and response purposes for a radiological emergency.  

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Additional Information

• Drug Shortages - Drug shortages can occur for many reasons including manufacturing and quality problems, delays, and discontinuations. Manufacturers provide FDA most drug shortage information, and the agency works closely with them to prevent or reduce the impact of shortages. More information, including the FDA Drug Shortages Database.

Related Links

• Emergency Use of Approved MCMs
• Summary of Process for EUA Issuance
• Drug Safety and Availability
• Drug Shortages Database
• Search List of Extended Use Dates to Assist with Drug Shortages
• Expiration Dates - Questions and Answers (Drugs)