GMP NEWS 2021

Cannabis Glossary and GACP Revision

EMA´s Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products published the 2021 HMPC Work plan. Amongst others the HMPC plans to establish a Cannabis glossary and to revise the GACP guidelines.

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Sartan Medicinal Products: EMA's Assesment Report defines Nitrosamine Limits and Reporting Deadlines

In a final assessment report, the CHMP has published recommendations for marketing authorisation holders of medicinal products containing sartan. Read more here about the requirements for limit values of nitrosamine impurities and for risk assessments, as well as the deadlines to be met.

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New THC Threshold for Hemp Products

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has issued a new statement recommending that the assessment of hemp-based food products be based on the EFSA-derived acute reference dose of 1 microgram Δ9-THC/kg body weight.

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Pharmacovigilance Inspection Metrics

The MHRA GVP inspectorate recently published their latest inspection metrics for the period from April 2019 to March 2020. The highest number of all findings in the reporting period related to risk management followed by quality management systems.

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Brexit: Pharmacovigilance Requirements for UK MAHs

The MHRA posted an updated guidance to become familiar with the pharmacovigilance requirements for UK marketing authorization holders.

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EU accepts MHRA inspections

The EMA has updated its Q&A document on the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and clarified the recognition of inspections.

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FDA stops another Delivery of Hand Sanitizer at the US Border

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has once again stopped a delivery of hand sanitizers with too low alcohol content. The Mexican manufacturer received a Warning Letter.

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Is Medical Cannabis a Medicinal Product?

The Higher Regional Court (OLG) of Hamburg has decided, in the context of proceedings aimed at the issuance of an interim injunction against a wholesaler, that medical cannabis (cannabis flowers) is not (yet) a medicinal product at the wholesale level.

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New FDA Guidance for COVID-19 Packaging Changes: Glass Vials and Stoppers

COVID-19 injectable products may need some changes to the primary packaging components (e.g., glass vials and stoppers) due to supply chain issues affecting their availability. Therefore, the FDA has issued a new guidance with recommendations for the appropriate reporting category and the content of postapproval change submissions.

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What is the FDA's Position on Concurrent Validation?

In the FDA Guidance for Industry on process validation, there is also a short section on concurrent validation. Concurrent validation should be used rarely, but may be possible if, for example, products are manufactured infrequently or medically necessary products are needed for short-term market supply. A recent Warning Letter underlines the guideline's statement that concurrent validation should be used rarely.

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Medical Gases: WHO publishes Draft Guideline

In February 2021, the WHO published the new Guideline "GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES FOR MEDICAL GASES" on the manufacture, testing, storage and distribution of medical gases for comment. The reason for the WHO to create this new guideline is the increased demand for oxygen for ventilation due to the Corona pandemic.

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COVID-19 Vaccines, Tests and Therapeutics - Recommendations for Handling Emerging Virus Variants

The new variants of SARS-CoV-2 are now occupying the minds of scientists around the world. The FDA is responding with a series of updated guidelines and recommendations for developers and manufacturers of vaccine tests and therapeutics.

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Judgement of Federal Administrative Court of Germany on the Required Expertise of the Responsible Person for GDP

The Federal Administrative Court of Germany (Bundesverwaltungsgericht - BVerwG) has dealt with the question of what requirements are to be placed on the expertise of the Responsible Person for GDP. In a recently published judgment, the court has clarified that knowledge of pharmacy comparable to that taught in a pharmaceutical (vocational) training is not required. Rather, the knowledge can also be gained through practical experience.

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European Anti-Fraud Office warns against Fraudsters Offering COVID-19 Vaccines

The European Anti-Fraud Office (Office européen de lutte antifraude - OLAF) has warned governments from dubious offers to provide them with COVID-19 vaccines.

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Questions & Answers on Good Distribution Practices (GDP) - Part 2

In October 2020, the ECA Academy offered the Live Online Training "The GDP Compliance Manager". During the Q&A sessions, many interesting questions were posed to the speakers' team. The ECA would like to share a selection of these Q&As sorted by topic. Part 2 deals with questions related to the role of the Responsible Person for GDP.

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EMA Guidance on Adjusting Vaccines to COVID-19 Variants

Authorisation requirements for adjusted COVID-19 vaccines: the EMA publishes recommendations for vaccine developers and manufacturers.

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FDA's Strategies for Bacterial Safety of Platelets

In December, the FDA updated its guidance on bacterial safety strategies for platelets and platelet preparations, particularly in light of the current implementation difficulties faced by facilities under pandemic conditions.

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How to Characterize Viscoelastic Properties of Semisolids

The USP General Chapters - Physical Analysis Expert Committee revised the general chapter <1912> Measurement of Hardness of Semisolids. Amongst others, a definition for "yield stress" has been added.

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APIC: Annual Update of the ICH Q7 "How to do" Document

Version 14 of the "How to do" Document - Interpretation of the ICH Q7 Guide and "Review form" for APIs, which has been available since the beginning of the year, mainly includes additions and updates in the chapters 11, 15 and 16. The How to do document is intended to facilitate the implementation of the ICH Q7 Guide and lists recommendations on how to interpret it.

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Ph. Eur. Adopts New General Chapter on Contaminant Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

The Ph. Eur. Commission adopted a new Ph. Eur. general chapter on contaminant pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The chapter will be implemented on 1 January 2022.

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