GMP News

The EMA/CMDh nitrosamine Q&A document "Questions and answers for marketing authorisation holders/applicants on the CHMP Opinion for the Article 5(3) of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 referral on nitrosamine impurities in human medicinal products" was updated again in January 2024 and is now available in revision 20. Like the three appendices, the Q&A document is published on the EMA website and can be viewed under "Questions and answers".

The updated text of the monograph "2.5.42. N-Nitrosamines in active substances and medicinal products" has been published on the website of the EDQM in the Pharmeuropa section and can be commented on until 31 March 2024, along with several other new drafts.

The protection concept in pharmaceutical cleanrooms is realised by the different cleanroom classes, zones and their separation by pressure levels. A frequently asked question here is: where and how should the reference, i.e. the 0 value, be measured?

The FDA wants to encourage drug manufacturers to implement quality management practices that go beyond current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements!

"Bracketing" in process validation has become common practice. In the USA, bracketing has been practiced for some time, and the topic was included in the Annex 15 revision in 2015 (Chapter 5.4.). However, the bracketing concept must be well justified. This is shown by a recent Warning Letter issued by the US FDA.

Following the draft guideline published in March 2022 the FDA issued the final guidance that provides industry, investigators and others with recommendations on the use of digital health technologies (DHTs) to acquire data remotely from participants in clinical trials.

Following a good clinical practice (GCP) inspection which showed irregularities in study data, the EMA has recommended the suspension of marketing authorizations of a number of generic medicines tested by a contract research organisation (CRO) located in India.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety has entered a new GDP Non-Compliance Report into the EudraGMDP database. This affects an active substance (API) distributor.

According to Chapter 3 of the EU GDP Guidelines, wholesale distributors must have suitable and adequate premises, installations and equipment, so as to ensure proper storage and distribution of medicinal products. In this article, you will find a checklist to verify the minimum implementation.

In January 2024, the U.S. FDA issued a Warning Letter to the company "Prime Lab LLC" after having inspected its site in July and August 2023. According to the WL, the firm failed to do proper incoming control tests for identity of their raw materials.

Even with increasing distance to the pandemic situation, manufacturers of disinfectant products still seem to be relying on less stringent controls. After a large number of Warning Letters regarding hand sanitizers with contaminated or poorly analyzed products in the Americas and Southeast Asia, a Turkish company is now affected. The company Sudesan in Istanbul received a Warning Letter from the FDA listing several deviations.

The new Ph. Eur. Cannabis Flower and CBD Monographs require the use of specific reference standards/substances. These reference standards/substances are now available.