GMP NEWS 2020

The webinar on semi-automated visual inspection of parenteralia on June 16, 2020 met with great interest. In addition to many basic questions regarding visual inspection, specific questions about semi-automated inspection were asked and answered during the webinar. Here you can find a short selection.

In the last newsletter you could already read about a new Aide-Memoire of the PIC/S for the inspection of health-based exposure limits (HBEL). At the same time, the PIC/S has published a Q&A document on HBEL and cross-contamination. What is behind this Q&A paper?

The "Good Distribution Practice for Active Substances Guidance on interpretation and implementation" has been published recently as a joint publication of the ECA Foundation's GDP Association and the Pharmaceutical Quality Group of the Chartered Quality Institute. An interactive PDF of the document is now accessible free of charge in the member's area of the European GDP Association.

Safety features may be applied by external manufacturers and suppliers. This has now been clarified in a Question and Answer document.

Data integrity issues remain at the focus of FDA inspections. Insufficient or missing controls to ensure the integrity of electronic test data were one of the reasons for the Warning Letter issued to the American company Stason Pharmaceuticals.

The annual metrics report for GCP referrals has been published by the MHRA. In 2019, the MHRA received a total of 112 serious breach notifications.

The topics data integrity/audit trail generate a multitude of questions. Current questions are addressed in a loose sequence of News. Question 8: What is the procedure for devices with standard audit trail functions if only a fraction of the data is relevant for the audit trail review?

Quality Risk Management (QRM) is a fundamental requirement in the Good Distribution Practice (GDP) environment. It is applicable to a variety of activities and processes, such as temperature mapping studies, supplier qualification, deviations, and change control. In this context, a new post, entitled "A Practical example of applying Quality Risk Management in GDP - Transportation Risks", has been published in the MHRA Inspectorate blog.

The EMA has updated the Q&As on their Good Clinical Practice (GCP) page. In particular, a new Q&A Nr. 13 clarifies the responsibilities of sponsors and investigators regarding data entered into the eCRF and PI oversight.