Working in the pharmaceutical industry, you can sometimes hear science and compliance talked about as if they are separate and unrelated. Two examples of what can be heard: “Oh well, that is more of a compliance risk than a scientific concern.” “You need to consider the compliance aspect of that change and then the scientific […]
Although the FDA’s regulatory requirements for acceptance of vendor test results in lieu of testing is clearly specified in 21 CFR 211.84 for incoming raw materials and container closures, the FDA has not put forth specific regulations for the acceptance of single-use consumables. Biologics manufacturers may use dozens or even hundreds of different single-use consumables […]
The development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) typically involves using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) “linked” to a cytotoxic drug and used as a specific targeting mechanism to deliver highly potent drugs to a surface antigen present only on tumor cells. Think of it as the biologics version of a smart bomb, with a targeting system able to […]
If I told you that over 50% of the new novel drugs approved in 2023 are used to treat rare conditions, would you believe me? Well, you should as the chart below shows that 51% (28 of 55) of the novel drugs approved by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) last year were […]
We have written extensively about the attack on the section viii label carve-out that is permitted under the Hatch-Waxman Act (H-W); this carve-out allows certain changes to a generic drug’s labeling to avoid patent infringement or certain exclusivity protection (here, here, here, here, and here). This so-called section viii label carve-out was part of the delicate balance […]
Based on a Federal Register (FR) notice issued in December 2023 (here), the FDA has determined that ciprofloxacin 100 mg tablets taken in a three-day regimen to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections are ineffective based on resistance developed over time to E. coli, the primary causative agent for uncomplicated UTIs (see previous post here). Since that time, […]
On May 1, 2024, the first version of USP General Chapter <1079.4> on Temperature Mapping for the Qualification of Storage Areas became official, and it is the fourth part of USP General Chapter <1079> on Risks and Mitigation Strategies for the Storage and Transportation of Finished Drug Products, which also includes: USP General Chapter <1079.1> on Storage and Transportation […]
Yesterday’s pre-publication Federal Register Notice (here) announced the Prescription Drug User Fees Act (PDUFA) program fees to be charged to fee-paying new drug applications for FY 2025. As you will note from the chart below, the application fees increased, but the program fee decreased. It is interesting that the magnitude of the application fee increases were […]
Dealing with different product requirements is often difficult, especially when the regulation office or center may differ as well. Over the years, individual post-approval change requirements have been scattered in documents from different centers and, if you have a good enough memory, then maybe you picked the right reporting requirement based on the product and […]
In pharmaceuticals, maintaining product quality and safety is paramount. Visual inspection plays a vital role in detecting particulate matter and/or container/closure defects, though it may fall short in pinpointing the root cause of defects or material origins. To fortify visual inspection programs effectively, a comprehensive risk assessment serves as the foundational pillar. This blog delves […]
