Changes in industry regulations are now viewed as one of the top three disruptive business trends facing pharmaceutical and life sciences organizations today. These same pressures are extending to the medical device market. In this article, the authors explore how perception of regulatory compliance is evolving due to a variety of driving forces. They outline the role digital transformation can play in helping pharmaceutical companies meet new regulatory compliance demands...

FDA has released three device-specific guidance documents detailing performance criteria in support of its Safety and Performance Based Pathway. The texts cover magnetic resonance (MR) receive-only coils, spinal plating systems and non-spinal metallic bone screws.   Last year, FDA published guidance on the optional Safety and Performance Based Pathway. The text set out the agency’s thinking on a pathway intended to enable companies to show a new product is as safe ...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relies mainly on direct reports and regulator-initiated surveillance to flag safety concerns around medical devices, a system that may delay detection of adverse events (AEs), according to a new analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine . “These data highlight the importance of proactive identification of postmarketing device-related safety issues to provide health care professionals with more complete data regarding potenti...

Updated 29 September to add comment from CDRH official The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued final guidance on improving patient information regarding breast implants on 28 September. The final guidance largely echoes draft labeling guidance issued in October 2019, with some clarifications surrounding the relationship between implants and systemic disease, language to improve the readability of the patient device card, and information on specific registries...

Lessons learned from a digital health software pilot pre-certification program have readied the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test an updated version of the continuous evaluation program for developers of software as a medical device (SaMD).   The precertification (Pre-Cert) pilot “will help inform the development of a future regulatory model that will provide more streamlined and efficient regulatory oversight of software-based medical devices,” said FDA in...

This article provides an overview for writing up the biological drug substance manufacturing process and process controls. The authors provide an example for the manufacturing of biological drugs consisting of a cytokine. They cover several complex manufacturing steps and details expected to be included in Section 3.2.S.2.2 (Description of Manufacturing Process and Process Controls) of the Common Technical Document (CTD) for the Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Us...

This article presents the key highlights of the current clinical pathways for registering medical devices in China and discusses when the various clinical pathways should be used, based on the country's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) regulations and guidances. Introduction The NMPA, 1 formerly known as the China Food and Drug Administration, is the Chinese agency responsible for regulating drugs and medical devices. In addition to the national NMPA, ...

The BREAST-Q Reconstruction Module now is qualified as a medical device development tool (MDDT) to aid sponsors and investigators in developing feasibility, pivotal and post-approval studies of medical devices used in breast reconstruction, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced. “An MDDT is scientifically validated and can be qualified for use in device evaluation and to support regulatory decision-making,” according to the announcement , which noted its ...

A finalized guidance gives direction for sponsors on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of medical products that contain both medical and non-medical functions.   The guidance addresses provisions of the 21 st Century Cures Act ( Cures Act) that excluded some software functions from being considered medical devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The new document follows an April 2018 draft guidance and clarifies just how – an...

This article reviews important steps in the manufacture of biologics. The authors provide planning steps for compliance with current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) to readiness for chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC). They pose important questions manufacturers should address, from facility issues to working with a contract development manufacturing organization. They conclude that trends toward reducing the time to market put considerable stress on all aspect...

This article examines regulatory considerations for emergency use authorizations for medical device manufacturers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors summarize the four phases of issuance as:  phase 1 ‒ in vitro diagnostic products; phase 2 ‒ personal protective equipment; phase 3 ‒ ventilators and components; and phase 4 ‒ other relevant medical devices. They emphasize the EUA is subject to statutory limits tied to the end of the public health emergency and ...

The World Health Organization (WHO) this month issued guidance detailing its expectations and flexibilities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for manufacturers, laboratories and contract research organizations taking part in the agency's prequalifications programs. Localized adjustments in processes and procedures may be necessary for manufacturing, clinical trial and testing organizations due to the coronavirus pandemic, but should aim to minimize the risk of ...