Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of Remimazolam in Schedule IV

On July 2, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug application for BYFAVO (remimazolam) for intravenous use. Remimazolam is chemically known as 4H-imidazol[1,2- a][1,4]benzodiazepine-4-propionic acid, 8-bromo-1-methyl-6-(2- pyridinyl)-(4S)-methyl ester, benzenesulfonate (1:1) and also, methyl 3-[(4S)-8-bromo-1-methyl-6-pyridin-2-yl-4H-imidazo[1,2- a][1,4]benzodiazepin-4yl]propanoate benzenesulfonic acid. The Department of Health and Human Services provided the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with a scheduling recommendation to place remimazolam and its salts in schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In accordance with the CSA, as amended by the Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act, DEA is hereby issuing an interim final rule placing remimazolam, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible, in schedule IV of the CSA.