Quality/GMPs

Expanded interest in advanced drug manufacturing and continuous production methods calls for more flexible production systems and regulatory policies.

Susan J. Schniepp, distinguished fellow at Regulatory Compliance Associates, answers some commonly asked questions about regulatory filings.

ISPE’s latest guide ISPE Good Practice Guide: Knowledge Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry focuses on how knowledge management allows for a more effective pharmaceutical quality system.

The guidance addresses implementation of amendments made by the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017.

The final guidance document provides recommendations for regulatory, quality, nonclinical, and clinical considerations for bispecific antibody development programs.

The agency’s human medicines committee concluded sotrovimab can be used to treat COVID-19 in adults and adolescents who do not require supplemental oxygen therapy and are at risk for severe COVID-19.

Developing and manufacturing a therapy in a regulated environment demands careful adherence to quality practices.

The agency is authorizing extending the time undiluted, thawed vaccine vials can be stored in the refrigerator to one month.

The guidance provides a framework for the management of postapproval chemistry, manufacturing, and controls changes.

The guidance document gives recommendations to support biopharmaceutics classification of drug substances and the Biopharmaceutics Classification System-based waiver of the in-vivo bioequivalence study requirement for drugs.

The agency has published multiple guidance documents and policy initiatives for updating and advancing the clinical research process.

The agency’s human medicines committee has recommended extending the approved storage period of unopened thawed vials at 2–8 0C from five days to 31 days.

Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline reported that their adjuvanted recombinant COVID-19 vaccine candidate demonstrated strong immune responses across all adult age groups in a Phase II trial.

Assessing biosafety using NGS-based tests requires a continuum of skills in molecular biology, biocomputing, virology, and quality systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered additional considerations to supplier oversight of contract manufacturing facilities.

Preparation is key for remote vendor and contract partner audits.

FDA expects to conduct only a small portion of scheduled facility visits in 2021 due to continued limitations on travel imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adolescents are now eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-29 vaccine under expanded EUA.

The agency released a report that outlines inspectional activities conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and discusses plans for future inspection operations.

The EC’s approval of GSK’s Benlysta (belimumab) marks the first and only biologic approved for both systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis.

The European Commission has approved an additional indication for Roche’s Tecentriq (atezolizumab) as a first-line monotherapy treatment for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Sandoz will soon begin enrolling patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration in a Phase III study with its proposed biosimilar to aflibercept.

FDA is threatening enforcement action against a clinical trial sponsor that has ignored requirements to post study results on the ClinicalTrials.gov website.

Combating COVID-19 is bolstering efforts to limit patent protections on innovative medicines and vaccines.

ISPE’s virtual events will center around the sustainable implementation of and shared responsibility for quality risk management, while providing a space for regulators and industry leaders to share lessons and maintain transparency.

Both the European Commission and FDA have granted approval to GlaxoSmithKline’s Jemperli (dostarlimab) for treating endometrial cancer.

A best practices approach to pharma’s most challenging-to-inspect container.

Bio/pharma can learn ways to prevent recurring events and ineffective CAPA from the nuclear power sector.

Updates to user fee programs that fund FDA operations are being finalized by industry stakeholders for approval by Congress.

System documentation should include a system description, history, validation information, and references, according to Siegfried Schmitt, Vice President, Technical at Parexel.