Featured Pharma Online Editorial

91. Computerized Systems Validation And Audit Trail Requirements 10/18/2021

    A plug-and-play approach can significantly impact how we design, build, and operate biopharma facilities. Yet, innovative developments create industry adoption  challenges. This article summarizes two recently released BioPhorum standards: Plug-And-Play Computerized Systems Validation Strategy and Plug-And-Play Audit Trail Requirements.

92. 9 Pitfalls To Avoid In Data Integrity in Pharmaceutical and Device Development & Operations 9/22/2021

    The first article in this series examined 5 common misconceptions in data integrity (DI). In this article, the author now shares 9 example areas where he has seen significant DI implementation problems in pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

93. How To Find & Manage Biotech Consultants Effectively 9/6/2021

    The roles being filled by biotech consultants have grown considerably, as companies are becoming more familiar with working with consultants and more people are interested in pursuing a consultant career. But how do we find good consultants, and how do we ensure that our consultants are as committed and engaged as our full-time employees? Here's how to accomplish that.

94. What's The Role Of Interim Consultants In The Life Sciences & How Do We Use Them Effectively? 9/3/2021

    When life sciences companies need new talent, they typically have two options: bring in a consultant or hire a full-time employee. Usually, this decision is dictated by the permanence of the role, but sometimes, timelines complicate things. In this situation, an interim consultant can be the solution. But what is the interim consultant's role, really, and how do we use them effectively?

95. Best Practices For Raw Material Supplier Change Notifications: New BioPhorum Guidance 8/27/2021

    Managing the large volume of supplier change notifications while safeguarding the continuity and compliance of a complex and tightly regulated supply chain is a resource-intensive task. To address the challenges, the BioPhorum Raw Material Variability Workstream has developed a guidance document designed to streamline the process without straying from essential and strict risk mitigation procedures.

96. Update On Regulatory Strategies To Mitigate Mutagenic Impurities In Prescription Drugs 8/11/2021

    Addressing small molecule woes with nitrosamine and similar impurities is becoming patient critical. Recent questions and answers from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) provide clarity for the pharmaceutical industry. This article also delves into additional mutagenic impurities that are emerging.

97. Why Should We Rescue The Legislative Intent Of The BPCIA? 7/28/2021

    What happens when regulatory ambiguity displaces sound scientific guidance, deterring the legislative intent of Congress? This is precisely the situation regarding the FDA changing the regulatory rules of the road regarding a biosimilar’s strength versus its potency.

98. Data Integrity In Supply Chain Risk Management During Zero Trust 6/21/2021

    Due to the pandemic, we have had to reconsider our approaches to supply chain risk management and to develop new and creative risk management strategies and tactics in response. This article examines how data integrity principles mitigate ALCOA concerns during this period of zero trust.

99. FDA's Longtime Approach To New Chemical Entity Designations Now Codified 6/14/2021

    New chemical entity (NCE) designations are extremely important to small molecule pharmaceutical developers: they provide a five-year exclusivity period assuring no competition to a new drug product from generics, with or without patent protection. Recently, President Biden signed into law the Ensuring Innovation Act to clarify when a new drug may be granted NCE status.

100. Statistical Methods For Comparing Small-Scale Models To At-Scale Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing 5/26/2021

     As the final article in a three-part series that summarizes the discussions and exchanges of a BioPhorum Development Group workstream on small-scale model (SSM) justification, this article discusses statistical methods for comparing SSM outputs to at-scale outputs and covers descriptive statistical methods, inferential methods, difference tests, equivalence tests, and more.