GMP News

In the Pharmeuropa Bio & Scientific Notes, a free online journal of the EDQM, a new scientific article entitled "Weighing according to the European Pharmacopoeia: general considerations and new general chapter 2.1.7. Balances for analytical purposes" was published.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Form 483 after an inspection at an Indian drug manufacturing side. The lack of control over compression machines settings led to not meeting the dissolution specifications. As the investigations were limited to the directly affected batch only, it is not excluded that other products may be affected by the same problem. Furthermore, the stability program was not followed to complete the testing within the predefined time frame.

Already in April 2022, the "Frequently asked questions about parallel distribution" were revised and published on the EMA website - as already reported recently. Now, the Q&As have been updated again and supplemented.

With the application of the EU Clinical Trials Regulation some labelling requirements for IMPs have changed, in particular regarding the expiry date. Now an initiative eliminates the obligation to include an expiry date on the immediate packaging of IMPs in specific circumstances.

Following the previously published list of documents needed during GCP inspections, the EMA issued a set of updated documents on planning and conducting GCP inspections on its website. The annexes compile specific items that may be verified at the sponsor / CRO / investigator site and clinical laboratories.  

The Dosage Forms Expert Committee intends to revise USP General Chapter <711> Dissolution. Based on the comments received, the previously proposed revision, published in Pharmacopeial Forum 48(2) in March 2022, has been canceled. It is expected that a new proposed revision will be published as an Interim Revision Announcement in Pharmacopeial Forum 48(6) in November 2022.

In a Warning Letter addressed to a US-American pharmaceutical manufacturer, the FDA points out various deficiencies in aseptic production. Among other things, deficiencies are described in the design of equipment and rooms, airflow and visual inspection.

Following the USP Draft Monograph for Cannabidiol (CBD) published earlier this year a draft Ph. Eur. Monograph for CBD has now been published in Pharmeuropa 34.3. The comment deadline is 30 September 2022.

The competent authority of Portugal (National Authority of Medicines and Health Products, I.P.) has entered a new GPD Non-Compliance Report into the EudraGMDP database. According to the authority, the wholesaler concerned does not comply wth the GDP principles of cold chain products.

The issue of mixing uniformity has been a validation-required topic in the field of solids for years. This is even explicitly required in the US regulations (21 CFR 211.110). In a recent Warning Letter, requirements for the mixing uniformity of an active ingredient were also addressed. What did the FDA criticise?

In PF46(2), the United States Pharmacopoeia has published a Stimuli article addressing the planned revision of chapters relevant to microbiological control of non-sterile products.