Laboratory Data Integrity issues once again caused a Warning Letter
In February 2023, the U.S. FDA issued a Warning Letter (WL) to the US American company "Dunagin Pharmaceuticals Inc. dba Massco Dental" after having inspected its site in Arkansas in August/September 2022.
The International Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Int.) is available online. It has legal status, whenever a national or regional authority refers to it in appropriate legislation. Now, the 11th Edition of the Ph. Int. has been published.
The formerly named "CEP of the future" is now named "CEP 2.0", as recently reported on the website of the EDQM. The new design of the CEP shall support stakeholders in handling CEPs and shall increase the transparency of the provided information.
USP: New General Chapter Supplier Qualification <1083>
On August 01, 2023, the new USP Chapter "<1083> Supplier Qualification" will officially enter into force. In the USP Forum, the draft chapter could be viewed and commented on until the end of November 2021.
Another FDA Warning Letter to US Manufacturer of Hand Sanitizers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has once again published a Warning Letter to a US manufacturer of hand sanitizers. During an inspection, several CGMP violations were found. In addition to inadequate release testing in general, the finished products are likely to be contaminated with methanol.
EDQM: Supplement 11.2 of the European Pharmacopoeia available
Supplement 11.2 of the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur.) is now available. This supplemental edition lists several updated monographs that will be implemented on 01 July 2023. All CEP holders (Certificate of Suitability of Monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia holders) are encouraged to align their specifications and thus the respective CEPs to the new monographs.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a Warning Letter to a drug manufacturer in Istanbul. During an inspection, several CGMP violations were found. Among other things, this concerns identity testing of incoming components, process validation and stability testing.
On the website of the EDQM (European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare), the list of available reference standards is updated at regular intervals. It indicates which reference substances have been replaced by new batches and which standards have been removed from the list of reference substances (since January 2023) or will be deleted in the future (as of April or July 2023).
EMA's Q&A on Medicinal Cannabis & Call for Scientific Data
The HMPC adopted a Question & Answer (Q&A) document regarding medicinal products. The document aims to clarify the basic regulatory requirements for stakeholders that may not have extensive experience with the EU pharmaceutical regulatory system. In addition, the EMA started a call for scientific data in order to establish an EU herbal monograph.
GDP in the US: Consent Decree of Permanent Injunction against Importer and Distributor of APIs
A federal court has entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against a Florida-based drug importer and distributor. It prohibits the company from distributing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) not manufactured, processed, or held in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). This was preceded by a legal dispute with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Denmark provides further Guidance on Medical Cannabis
The Danish Medicines Agency has prepared a new guidance for the pilot programme on cannabis products. Amongst others, the document contains GMP and other quality requirements for Danish-made cannabis products.
Comments on FDA Draft Guidance for Industry on Statistical Approaches for Assessing Bioequivalence published
In December 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled "Statistical Approaches to Establishing Bioequivalence". Comments and suggestions could be submitted until 04 February. After this deadline, the comments received have now been published.
Public Consultation on two Ph. Eur. Chapters on Pharmaceutical Technology Procedures
The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) issued a press release indicating that public consultation on two Ph. Eur. chapters on pharmaceutical technology procedures has been started. These are the revised general chapter 2.9.3 "Dissolution of tablets and capsules" and the new general chapter 2.9.55 "Characterisation of powder behaviour during compression".
FDA Warning Letter: Acetaldehyde and Acetal Impurities in Hand Sanitizers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published two Warning Letters to manufactures of hand sanitizer drug products. In both cases, acetaldehyde and acetal impurities at unacceptable levels were found in several lots. The agency is concerned, because acetaldehyde is considered to be genotoxic, and potentially carcinogenic.