MHRA to No Longer Require Payment in Advance for License Applications
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Friday announced changes to how it handles payments for license applications for drugs and clinical trials.
Beginning on 1 April 2017, MHRA will allow drug sponsors and clinical investigators to "pay on invoice" for license applications, rather than having to pay in advance and show proof of payment as part of the application process.
According to MHRA, "The benefits of the new process include removing the need to work out complex fees and reducing the chance of applications being rejected for incorrect payment details."
"We hope the new process will reduce the regulatory burden and reduce unnecessary delays, "says Richard Humphreys, MHRA's deputy director of finance, noting that the change is a result of feedback from agency stakeholders.
Going forward, MHRA says the new payment process should save companies time and money when preparing license applications.
However, the agency cautions that it has not changed any other terms related to payments, and says that invoices "must be settled on receipt," or else sponsors could face fees or the suspension of a license.