Regulatory Oversight and Compliance

FDA seeks more efficient testing to spur development of less costly biotech therapies.

EMA, the leading driver behind GMP inspection collaboration schemes, will be cutting back its involvement because of the need to concentrate on its relocation to Amsterdam.

Knowing and addressing regulatory expectations early on can avoid unexpected delays later, says Siegfried Schmitt, principal consultant at PAREXEL.

Pharmaceutical Technology spoke with Sharon Ayd, executive vice-president of Pre-approval Pharmaceuticals and chief scientific officer at Regulatory Compliance Associates, about developing a corrective action and preventive action (CAPA) plan.

Maintaining good quality control practices throughout the entire manufacturing process requires robust development, a drive toward product and process understanding, and pre-established, comprehensive written procedures that are consistently reviewed and updated.

Vendors are offering template-based models and direct data-filing services to help smaller companies meet imminent deadlines.

FDA sent a warning letter to Henan Lihua Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. after inspectors found the company failed to ensure the accuracy of its data.

GW Research’s Epidiolex, which treats two forms of epilepsy, receives FDA’s approval; spurs FDA reminders about unapproved products.

The agency published guidance about requests for Prescription Drug User Fee Act waivers, refunds, and reductions in user fees.

The approval is intended to increase patient access to treatment for opioid addiction.

FDA, EMA, and senior officials from the European Commission met to discuss the EU-US mutual recognition agreement for inspections, the development of advanced therapies, the requirements for approving generic drugs, and Real-World Evidence used for post-authorization monitoring.

The contract development and manufacturing company has received an additional approval from Health Canada to manufacture monoclonal antibody drug substance at its first plant in Icheon, South Korea.

Legislators have requested that FDA do more to prevent drug shortages.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, released a statement on new agency efforts to involve the patient voice in medical product development and FDA regulatory decision-making.

Regulatory authorities have published draft guidance on strategies to facilitate pharmaceutical lifecycle management.

The agency is encouraging team-based reviews and streamlined processes that will make the oversight process more efficient and consistent.

The International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) is field-testing the design principles of a comprehensive, industry-led program of self-evaluation of pharmaceutical quality that will align with the purpose of FDA’s quality metrics.

The agency has approved Mylan’s Fulphila (pegfilgrastim-jmdb) as the first US-approved biosimilar to Amgen’s Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) to reduce infection risk during cancer treatment.

The agency has recommended approval of three biosimilar adalimumab products from Novartis, referencing AbbVie’s Humira, and a biosimilar trastuzumab from Pfizer, referencing Roche’s Herceptin.

EMA has recommended marketing authorization for Aimovig (erenumab), a new treatment for migraine.

PDA reviews an industry survey of concerns and best practices regarding the EU GMP’s required PUPSIT test for filters used in sterile filtration.

Open communication channels between all the parties involved is key when outsourcing analytical methods, says Susan Schniepp, distinguished fellow at Regulatory Compliance Associates.

FDA and Congress seek to limit the production and distribution of pain medicines.

Pharmaceutical companies and their contractors are reorganizing their manufacturing lines and logistics to ensure compliance with the serialization requirements, but many SMEs are struggling to meet the deadline.

The company’s new UV-1900 UV-VIS spectrophotometer incorporates features that improve usability, regulatory compliance, and performance.

The agency published two guidance documents to address brand drug makers’ use of REMS to block generic-drug development.

The new draft guidance addresses the premarketing assessment of a drug’s effect on blood pressure.

FDA sent a warning letter to Jilin Shulan Synthetic Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. after an inspection found CGMP violations including a lack of data integrity.

This marks the third FDA approval for the company’s second biomanufacturing plant in Incheon, Korea.

The European Commission has approved Zessly (infliximab), a biosimilar to Johnson & Johnson’s blockbuster Remicade (infliximab).