EMA announces streamlining of activities of Committee for Advanced Therapies

To improve and strengthen the efficiency of the European Medicines Agency in the field of modern medicinal products, especially ATMP, the activities of two working parties, the Cell-based Products Working Party (CPWP) and Gene Therapy Working Party (GTWP) were replaced with ad-hoc drafting groups. The CPWP and GTWP both existed prior to the establishment of the CAT in 2009, when they belonged to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). The working parties were transferred once the CAT had started its operational activities.

From now on, the CAT will take the lead responsibility for the development of guidelines and organisation of workshops, setting up drafting groups whenever needed to develop specific guidance documents. This is intended to strengthen the role of the CAT as the reference body dealing with all aspects of the development of advanced-therapy medicines in Europe.

Guidance documents already under development by the CPWP or GTWP will be taken over by ad-hoc drafting groups.

Please see the "News: Committee for Advanced Therapies' activities streamlined" for more details.