Articles by Tim Sandle

  1. Getting Generic Drugs Right: FDA Revises ANDA Guidance 2/14/2024

    To improve the quality of abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) and to ensure improved consistency, the FDA has developed a new guidance to assist applicants in preparing and submitting amendments to tentatively approved ANDAs or in seeking final approval. This new guidance replaces the previous September 2020 version.

  2. WHO Guidance Seeks To Reduce Antimicrobials In Pharmaceutical Liquid Waste 1/11/2024
    While most nations have regulations and emission standards regarding industrial waste containing antimicrobials, there is no globally accepted framework. This new WHO guidance seeks to establish an independent, scientifically derived framework for applying targets to manage discharges from antibiotic manufacturing facilities. The public comment period ends Jan. 26, 2024.
  3. Designing Facility Monitoring Systems For Cleanrooms 12/4/2023

    Let's examine the features and advantages of facility monitoring systems, system architecture considerations, and overall system considerations.

  4. Using Automation For Antimicrobial Screening 10/5/2023

    A major challenge with antimicrobial drug development is the necessity to test millions of drug compounds in the hope of finding one that will kill a given microbial pathogen. Laboratories are using robotic machines and automated solutions to try growing previously unculturable organisms that might be sources of antimicrobial compounds — and these efforts are finding success.

  5. New ISO 14644-21:2023 Addresses Reducing Sampling Errors With Airborne Particle Counters 9/11/2023

    The new ISO 14644 Part 21 addresses optimizing particle counter accuracy in cleanrooms, focusing on reducing sampling error and particle loss. Discussion includes the use of airborne particle counters, tubing, and isokinetic probes.

  6. CGMP Requirements For Automated Facility Monitoring Systems 8/15/2023

    To assess facility control, most organizations use facility monitoring systems to monitor the manufacturing workspaces continuously. Let's take a deeper look at current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements for the design and operation of such automated systems, including a look at total particle counting.

  7. FDA Finalizes Guidance On Nonclinical Evaluation Of Pharmaceutical Immunotoxicity 7/18/2023

    The FDA has now finalized a guidance document on the immunotoxic potential of pharmaceuticals. The FDA builds on current ICH guidance and proposes a two-stage approach. Central to the guidance is using a risk framework.

  8. Key Considerations In Selecting A Robotic Solution For Endotoxin Testing 7/6/2023

    The U.S., European, and Japanese Pharmacopoeias require testing for bacterial endotoxin in pharmaceutical products, water, intermediates, and medical devices. This article shares key criteria for those of us who are looking to select an automated/robotic endotoxin detection system.

  9. Not All Plate Counting Technologies Are The Same 5/18/2023

    While rapid microbiological methods have advanced, most microbiology lab tests remain reliant upon assessing microbial growth on agar plates. Discrepancies with plate counting, together with the limitations of human vision, have led to regulatory concerns. This article shares the advantages of automated colony counters. Keep in mind that not all automated plate counters are the same, though — you'll want to look for important functionality.

  10. 5 Characteristics Of The Automated Microbiology Lab Of The Future 4/24/2023

    The modern microbiology laboratory is starting to look very different from the laboratory of 10 years ago, and it will continue to evolve in the next few years. There are a number of innovations being implemented now or are in progress that can signal the path that many microbiology laboratories will follow.