1. Introduction The European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a qualification opinion following a request concerning proprietary eSource DDC (Direct Data Capture) technology. This technology allows the capture of clinical study source data electronically by investigator site staff at the point of care. In its opinion, EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) does
Tag Archives: EMA
New drug marketing applications: how do EMA and FDA compare?
1. Introduction A newly-published study has compared more than a hundred new drug marketing applications at both the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the period 2014-2016. The study examined the differing outcomes of individual applications at the Agencies in terms of marketing approval, type of approval, and approved
European Medicines Agency’s clarification regarding re-testing exemption for imported advanced therapy medicinal products
1. Introduction On 21 August 2019, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published questions and answers regarding imported advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP). The document focuses on the possibility of batch controls exemption for ATMP imported into the European Union from a third country. It provides guidance concerning grant of the exemption, data to be submitted
FDA and EMA Address Quality and Manufacturing Challenges for Breakthrough Therapies Undergoing Expedited Approval
On July 31, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published a joint report on their efforts to support the development of and expedite access to breakthrough therapies that address unmet medical needs. In addition to outlining the tools currently available to manufacturers seeking expedited approval of breakthrough
The EMA has published a Concept paper for a Guideline for the development of medicinal products containing allergens to treat rare allergic diseases
Introduction On 13 December 2018, the EMA published a “Concept paper on a Guideline for allergen products development in moderate to low-sized study populations”. Four EMA guidelines concerning medicinal products containing allergens are currently applicable. They provide guidance for the clinical development and quality control of medicinal products containing allergens. All of these guidelines start
EMA publishes draft Guideline on clinical investigation of haemophilia B medicinal products
Introduction The EMA has published a draft Guideline on clinical investigation of recombinant and human plasma-derived factor IX products.[1] The purpose of this guideline is to provide applicants and regulators with harmonised requirements for applications for marketing authorisation of haemophilia B medicinal products. In July, a similar guideline was adopted concerning haemophilia A medicinal products.
EMA publishes draft guideline on the quality of water for pharmaceutical use
Introduction The EMA has published a draft Guideline on the quality of water for pharmaceutical use. The draft is intended to provide guidance to the industry. It concerns the pharmaceutical use of different grades of water in the manufacture of active substances and medicinal products for human and veterinary use. New methods that are equivalent
The EMA launches a public consultation on eSource Direct Data Capture in clinical trials
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published a draft qualification Opinion[1] concerning the use of eSource Direct Data Capture (DDC) in the conduct of clinical trials in the EU. The draft Opinion was adopted by the Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). It presents CHMP’s views on the “regulatory acceptability” of eSource
EMA launches public consultation on the use of patient disease registries for regulator purposes
Introduction On 5 November 2018, the EMA published a discussion paper concerning the use of patient disease registries for regulator purposes. The discussion paper was published within the context of the EMA’s Patient Registries Initiative (PRI). The consultation period is open to stakeholders until 29 June 2019. It has been published to allow stakeholders to
The EMA has adopted new guidelines on good pharmacovigilance practices in paediatric populations
Introduction The EMA Good Pharmacovigilance Practices consist of several chapters of the Notice to Applicants that are regularly updated. A new GVP Considerations Chapter (IV) regarding specific considerations for the paediatric population came into effect on 8 November 2018. The Considerations Chapter addressed pharmacovigilance issues that frequently arise with the paediatric population and related pharmacovigilance
The EMA publishes a reflection paper on the use of extrapolation in the development of medicinal products for paediatrics
The reflection paper and extrapolation The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published a reflection paper regarding the use of extrapolation when developing medicinal products for paediatric use. The main focus of the reflection paper is to provide a framework and guidance for the use of extrapolation in the development of medicinal products in paediatric patients.
A broader definition of “unmet needs” has been proposed to support the development of anti-bacterial medicinal products
The concept paper The EMA has published a “Concept paper on preparation of a revised guideline on the evaluation of medicinal products indicated for treatment of bacterial infections.” In the Concept Paper, the EMA proposes to merge the “Guideline on the evaluation of medicinal products indicated for treatment of bacterial infections (CPMP/EWP/558/95 Rev 2)” with
The FDA now offers cGMP Declarations
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Export Certificate office, introduced a new online application. The online application makes it possible to request a cGMP Declaration (Current Good Manufacturing Practice). A cGMP Declaration can be issued by the FDA to a foreign regulator, such as the competent
HMA-EMA’s work programme on availability of authorised medicines for human and veterinary use includes measures for Brexit
On 23 August 2018, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), the network of the National Competent Authorities in the European Economic Area (EEA), published the work programme of their joint task force regarding the availability of authorised medicines for human and veterinary use. The HMA-EMA task force was created
Access to documents held by EMA: access requests by non-EU applicants to cease
The EMA has announced that, from 15 June 2018. The Agency will cease to accept requests for access to documents by non-EU applicants. The EMA announced that the Agency’s decision was a result of the high volume of access requests and the related excessive administrative workload.
EMA provides guidance on the sponsor’s role in validating electronic systems used in clinical trials
The European Medicine Agency (EMA) has updated its Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guideline[1] to clarify the level of validation/qualification that needs to be performed by a sponsor in a clinical trial setting when using an electronic system previously qualified by a vendor. The updated Guideline, issued in the form of a Q&A document, provides that
The EMA opens a draft guideline for handling and shipping of investigational medicinal products for human use for public consultation.
On 23 May 2018, the European Medicine Agency (EMA) launched a public consultation for a draft guideline concerning the responsibilities of trial sponsors for handling and shipping of investigational medicinal products for human use in accordance with Good Clinical Practice and Good Manufacturing Practice. The draft guideline provides the principles for the two step release
New version of EMA’s pre-authorisation procedural advice for the centralised procedure released
On 4 May 2018, the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) published another updated version of the guidance document on pre-authorisation for users of the centralised procedure. The document contains revisions regarding the EMA marketing authorisation application numbers. It also includes changes related to oral explanations during the assessment procedure of the marketing authorisation application. Background The
eCTD Format Required for all Mutual Recognition Procedure Submissions
Despite earlier recommendations to the contrary, as of 1 January 2018 all types of EU mutual recognition procedure (“MRP”) submissions should be made in electronic Common Technical Document format (“eCTD format”).
EMA provides essential considerations to be taken into account for successful qualification of novel methodologies
The European Medicines Agency has published a checklist for applicants seeking qualification of novel methodologies.
EMA published an assessors’ guidance document in connection with explanatory note to GVP module VII
The European Medicines Agency has published a guidance document for assessors written in questions-and-answers. It should be read in combination with the explanatory note to GVP module VII.
FDA to Rely on Drug Inspections Performed by Certain European Regulatory Authorities Beginning November 1, 2017
Earlier today, FDA announced that it has determined that the regulatory authorities of Austria, Croatia, France, Italy, Malta, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are “capable of conducting inspections of [pharmaceutical] manufacturing facilities that meet FDA requirements,” and that the Agency will begin relying “on the inspectional data obtained by these eight regulatory agencies” immediately.
EMA senior officer: pharmaceutical companies encouraged to prepare for Brexit
Agnès Saint-Raymond, MD, Head of International Affairs at the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”), recently urged pharmaceutical companies to be “proactive” in preparing for Brexit, as there is still uncertainty around a potential Brexit transition period.
EMA publishes external guidance for clinical data publication
On 22 September 2017, the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) published an external guidance document concerning the implementation of Policy 0070 on the publication of clinical data for medicinal products for human use.