Featured Pharma Online Editorial

61. Best Practices For Use Of Risk Registers In Bio/Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Operations 10/12/2023

    Risk registers can be a valuable risk management tool, and having a risk register is increasingly becoming a regulatory expectation. It can be structured as a database or spreadsheet and ensures decision makers have key information about risks. Discussion also includes pitfalls to avoid.

62. FDA Announces 1-Year “Stabilization” Period For DSCSA Compliance — Don't Mistake It For An Enforcement Delay 10/4/2023

    On August 30 in a new guidance document, the FDA announced the establishment of a one-year stabilization period with regard to the enhanced security and unit-level electronic traceability requirements of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) that go into effect on Nov. 27, 2023. The FDA makes it clear that this is not an opportunity to delay implementation; rather, it is an opportunity to refine, improve, and stabilize your systems and processes.

63. FDA Seeks Comment On New Draft Guidance On Peptide Drug Product Pharmacology 10/3/2023

    The FDA has announced a new draft guidance titled Clinical Pharmacology Considerations for Peptide Drug Products. This guidance describes recommendations related to hepatic impairment, drug–drug interactions, assessing QTc prolongation risk, and more. The public comment period ends December 11, 2023.

64. FDA Gives More Time To Comply With Certain DSCSA Requirements 9/27/2023

    To the relief of pharmaceutical companies and their trading partners, the FDA has paused enforcement of some Drug Supply Chain Security Act requirements. The agency warns that it's not an excuse to delay compliance.

65. FDA Introduces Quality Management Maturity Program 9/26/2023

    The FDA program described in a new document, CDER’s Quality Management Maturity (QMM) Program: Practice Areas and Prototype Assessment Protocol Development, is a next logical step to drive better quality, more predictable outcomes, and supply chain assurance.

66. Understanding The FDA's Current Focus On Risk Evaluation And Mitigation Strategies 9/21/2023

    The FDA recently asked for comments about how the government handles vendor change requests from drug sponsors with risk evaluation and mitigation strategies. So, we asked a REMS expert to help us understand why the agency is focusing on the broad-reaching program and what it could mean for drug manufacturers with REMS products in their portfolios.

67. Risk Tool Selection With ICH Q9(R1) In Mind 9/19/2023

    This article focuses on the formality concept discussed in the revision of ICH Q9 Quality Risk Management released earlier in 2023. The authors provide a helpful overview of what risk tools are appropriate to use during certain types of scenarios, and what the team composition should look like.

68. Your Best Chance At Regulatory Compliance For Combination Products: Integrated Development 9/14/2023

    The FDA now defines a prefilled syringe, a product that was at one point considered “packaging” for a drug, as a constituent part of a combination product. The ultimate combination of the drug, its package, and its delivery device means that during development and manufacturing you need to combine both drug and device current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) and quality approaches.

69. Comparing FDA And EMA Approaches To AI/ML In Drug Development & Manufacture 9/13/2023

    Considering the feverish pace of innovation in the field of AI/ML and the inevitable impact on drug development, we outline the documents and guidances that the FDA and EMA have released thus far, comparing and contrasting their areas of focus and concern. 

70. An Overview Of The 9 FDA Special Designations For Pipeline Drugs 9/8/2023

    The FDA employs special designations to streamline and incentivize the advancement of drugs addressing medical gaps. Some designations can accelerate FDA timelines for NDAs and BLAs, others may abbreviate the duration of clinical trials. What scenarios or drugs/therapies are best suited for each?