PDA: FOCUS ON QBD
The PDA held its first Single-Use Workshop in Bethesda on June 22–23, 2011. The main focus was to preview the draft PDA Technical
Report on Single-use Manufacturing, which is currently in development, and to solicit attendee feedback. As a member of the
PDA Single-use Task Force, I served on the planning committee and as a moderator and presenter on the report for this workshop.
The purpose of the new report is to provide the reader with critical concepts and topics to consider when implementing a single-use
manufacturing strategy for drug or vaccine production. The draft report discusses single-use systems that may be in direct
or indirect contact with raw materials, intermediates, intermediate products, pharmaceutical drug substances or the drug product.
The primary goals for developing a single-use manufacturing strategy are customer-based and focus on patient safety and product
availability, as well as product and process understanding and control.
The workshop program focused on QbD principles and other high-level topics to guide users on their initial decision, selection,
validation, and implementation of single-use processes. The workshop included several opportunities for Q&A and open discussion,
which gave the task force valuable feedback from attendees on the draft report. Key take away points included:
- The report should aim to help end-users move away from 'gut-feeling' to fact-based decisions.
- Control of suppliers will also come under more scrutiny and supplier audits can be expected to increase.
- More detail on materials and manufacturing methods (e.g., films) may be required.
- Partnership between the supplier and end user was stressed; those companies that truly embrace partnership will be the ones
most likely to achieve success.
- The industry will expect suppliers to have pharmaceutical standard quality systems in place, particularly with regard to having
an appropriate materials change control and change notification program.
- Training in single-use will also be a key requirement/capability from suppliers.
- Clear communication strategies encompassing quality, trust, track record, openness, and security will be in focus.
The target date for the report's publication is by the end of this calendar year. Current activities entail completion of
the manuscript incorporating the feedback from the June workshop and final technical review of completed sections. Follow-on
workshops are planned for Uppsala, Sweden, on Nov. 28, 2011 and Phoenix, AZ, on Apr. 18–19 2012 (see
http://www.pda.org/ for details).
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