Tag Archive for: guidance update

Brexit – because it affects you too…

The European Union is arguably the world’s most powerful bloc and very soon it’s about to lose the United Kingdom, one of its biggest members. How and when the UK leaves the EU will have further implications that ripple around the globe.

So if you’ve heard about Brexit but haven’t been keeping up with every twist and turn of the developments, no worries! Ivowen team will provide you with everything you need to know to have your products designed for UK and Brexit affected markets authorised successfully.

What is happening?

EMA

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will physically relocate to the Netherlands in early March 2019.

https://www.ema.europa.eu/documents/press-release/ema-relocation-updates_en.pdf

EMA will leave its premises in London on 1 March 2019.

It was confirmed that from 4 to 8 March, the Agency will operate on the basis of extended teleworking. During the course of the following week  EMA staff will gradually move into the Spark building.

From 4 March 2019 onwards the official address of EMA will be that of the permanent building, located in Amsterdam Zuidas:

European Medicines Agency, Domenico Scarlattilaan 6, 1083 HS Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Meetings and visits will take place at the Spark building:

Orlyplein 24, 1043 DP Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

UK guidance on Brexit

Following the outcome of the EU referendum, MHRA still feels responsible for playing a crucial role in medicines and devices regulations as well as vigilance and market surveillance.

As part of the MHRA response to exiting the EU the following Brexit guidance was issued:

Technical information on what the implementation period means for the life science sector

Update on negotiations and further guidance for pharmaceutical companies planning in advance of the final negotiated settlement

Further guidance note on the regulation of medicines, medical devices and clinical trials if there’s no Brexit deal

If you need any clarification or support to complete variations to support changes needed as a result of Brexit, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.  Contact us for more information or to make an enquiry.

 

MHRA guidance on Brexit

Bearing in mind the worst-case scenario if the UK leaves the EU with no deal, the UK would no longer be part of the EU medicines and medical devices regulatory networks and  consequently submissions related to human medicines would need to be submitted directly to the MHRA.

The webinar below is relevant for all pharmaceutical companies involved in making medicines regulatory submissions and vigilance activities. It also ensures that stakeholders can be informed of any IT plans and preparations. There is also a section on how all medicines related clinical trial sponsors will register and submit:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/772918/Making_submissions_to_the_MHRA.pdf

If you need any clarification or support to complete variations to support changes needed as a result of Brexit, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.  Contact us for more information or to make an enquiry.

 

UK legislation on medicines and medical devices

Legislation has been published which, in the event of the UK leaving the EU with no agreement, will cover the regulation of medicines, medical devices and clinical trials and allow for the continued sale.  The Brexit guidance is available here:

  1. Human Medicines Regulations 2012, as amended by the Human Medicines (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
  2. The Medical Devices (amendment) (EU exit) Regulations 2019
  3. The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (amendment) (EU exit) Regulations 2019

The 2012 Regulations (as amended by the 2019 Regulations) make reference to various pieces of EU guidance, as that stood immediately before the exit day (29 March 2019).

If you need any clarification or support to complete variations to support changes needed as a result of Brexit, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.  Contact us for more information or to make an enquiry.

 

EU Commission and EMA Q&As

The EU Commission & EMA have published an updated list of questions and answers related to the UKs withdrawal from the EU on the 1st February:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/medicinal_products_for_human_and_veterinary_use-qa_en.pdf

This confirms that dual labelling between UK & Ireland is acceptable where the labels meet the requirements of the Directive and reflect the SPC in Ireland (see Q24).

The focus of this Q&A is on the regulation of medicinal products  within the centralised procedure.

If you need any clarification or support to complete variations to support changes needed as a result of Brexit, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.  Contact us for more information or to make an enquiry.

 

Brexit Stakeholder Event

Brexit Stakeholder Event – Ivowen was there

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the HPRA, together with medicines agencies in Europe, is making preparations to ensure continuity to deliver on patient and animal health remits even if the UK fully exits the current systems as scheduled. There are potential implications for the European network as a whole and particularly for Ireland with its shared marketplace, see meeting agenda below:

Agenda for Brexit Stakeholder event 1 Feb 2019

Contact us if you would like some more information on this event or Brexit in general

 

KD

Written by Karolina Dobrychłop

Brexit – extension, extension, extension

Brexit extension date is now 31 October 2019, but there’s not time to be complacent.

Are you planning to submit a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for a Non-Prescription Medicine?

If you are preparing an MAA for a Non-Prescription Medicine for a Decentralised (DCP) or Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) you will need to prepare a ‘Justification for Non-Prescription Classification’ document in accordance to CMDh best practice guide issued in January 2019 (CMDh/250/2012, Rev 1).

 https://www.hma.eu/fileadmin/dateien/Human_Medicines/CMD_h_/procedural_guidance/Application_for_MA/CMDh_250_2012_Rev.1_2019_01_clean_-_BPG_for_NPM_in_DCP_MRP.pdf

Ideally this document should be submitted as part of the initial MAA.  Otherwise, you will be requested to provide it at the validation stage.

This document should be titled, “Justification for Non-Prescription Classification” and should be provided in Module 1.2.  It should contain all the supporting data and evidence required to justify classification of the medicinal product as not subject to medical prescription as set out in the Guideline on Changing the Classification for the Supply of a Medicinal Product for Human Use [https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/files/eudralex/vol-2/c/switchguide_160106_en.pdf].

If you need any clarification or advise to prepare a justification for Non-Prescription classification report to support a Marketing Authorisation Application, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner. Please contact us.

 

Related news in relation to Brexit

The current Brexit extension date is 31 October 2019.  The UK remains an EU Member State for the duration of the extension, with all the rights and obligations set out in the treaties and under EU law.

Nevertheless, all pharmaceutical companies in the EU are reminded to continue their preparedness for the UK’s withdrawal.

Based on the European Council decision, the deadline of 29 March 2019 referred to in Brexit related guidance should be understood as referring to 31 October 2019.

 

  • The MHRA have updated guidance on Exporting active substance manufactured in the UK in a no deal scenario on 03/06/2019.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exporting-active-substance-manufacturer-in-the-uk-if-we-leave-the-eu-without-a-deal

A template for the Written Confirmation can be found on the European Commission website,

https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/files/gmp/2013_01_28_template.pdf

In the event of a no deal EU exit, the UK will be recognised as a Third Country for the export of active substances for human use to the EEA.

In the event of a no deal scenario, the UK will continue to accept importation of active substances into the UK without a Written Confirmation from the same list of countries as currently (namely the European Economic Area (EEA) countries, USA, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Israel and Switzerland).

A Written Confirmation will then be required for each shipment of active substances manufactured in the UK that is exported to the EEA.

Please contact us if you need any clarification or support to supply Written Confirmation(s) for the orderly import of Active Substances, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.

  

  • The MHRA have issued a guidance on the Handling of Active Substance Master Files and Certificates of Suitability in the event of no deal published 18 March 2019.

After Brexit, the UK will no longer participate in ASMF work-sharing procedures with EU Member States or have access to the EU Communication and Tracking System (CTS) assessment report repository. Any reference in the above guideline to the CTS ASMF assessment repository or to EU/ASMF/XXXXX reference numbers will not be applicable to UK national applications after the UK leaves the EU.

Certificates of Suitability (CEPs) are not affected by the UK leaving the EU as they are issued by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM), which is a Directorate of the Council of Europe and a body that is independent of the EU. On leaving the EU, the UK will remain a member of the Council of Europe and a signatory to the Convention on the Elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia.

Please contact us if you need any additional information or if you need any clarification or advise on ASMFs or CEPs, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.

 

marian

 

 

Written by Marian Winder

 

 

 

 

 

 

BREXIT – EVERYTHING stays the same for 2020

skynews brexit eu illumination 4907728 recd 10 02 20

 The United Kingdom has formally left the EU as of 31 January 2020 and has become what is referred to as a third country.

On 1 February 2020 a transition period started which is due to end on 31 December 2020.

During the transition period, EU pharmaceutical law will continue to be applicable to the UK, meaning that pharmaceutical companies can continue to carry out activities in the UK until the end of 2020.

Companies have until 31 December 2020 to make the necessary changes to ensure that their authorised medicines comply with EU law and can remain on the EU market.

  • The UK will remain on CESP for the duration of transition period (after that, if no further extension to the transition period is proposed, it will be necessary to use the MHRA portal for submissions https://pclportal.mhra.gov.uk/)
  • Marketing authorisation holders and applicants can still be established in the UK in 2020
  • Qualified Persons for Pharmacovigilance (QPPVs) and pharmacovigilance system master files (PSMFs) can still be based in the UK until the end of 2020.
  • Manufacturing sites, Quality control testing and Batch release sites can also still be based in the UK until the end of 2020
  • orphan designation holders can still be located in the UK until 31 December 2020
  • minor use/minor species (MUMS)/limited markets classification holders can still be located in the UK until 31 December 2020

The withdrawal agreement foresees that following its departure from the EU on 31 January 2020, the UK will no longer participate in EU institutions and their decision-making. For the CMDh this means that as of 1 February 2020, no one who represents the UK, or is appointed or nominated by the UK can systemically participate in the CMDh meetings.

During the transition period, the UK will not be able to act as RMS in MRP/DCP, but the UK can participate in MRP/DCP as CMS.

Ivowen are here to assist you with all your Brexit related needs and dossier amendments.

For more information on Ivowen’s services and how we can help you, contact us.

Written by Alice D’Alton

Alice Dalton

Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) – revised guideline to assess risk of human medicines for the environment…….

An Environmental risk assessment (ERA) of medicines ensures that the potential effects of pharmaceuticals on the environment are studied and that adequate precautions are taken in case specific risks are identified.

The EMA has published a revision of its guideline on the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of human medicines for a six-month public consultation. Stakeholders are invited to send their comments by 30 June 2019 to era_dg@ema.europa.eu using the template provided.

 

Dossier Expectations due to ERA revised guidance

An ERA is required for all new marketing authorisation applications for a medicinal product through centralised, mutual recognition, decentralised or national procedures.

In the case of medicinal products comprised of naturally occurring substances such as vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids, peptides, proteins, nucleotides, carbohydrates and lipids as active  pharmaceutical ingredient(s) (API), the ERA may consist of a justification for not submitting ERA studies.

For type II variations and extension applications, the ERA dossier should be updated if there is an anticipated increase in the environmental exposure. The environmental data previously submitted in the original dossier of the same marketing authorisation holder (MAH) may serve as a basis for the revised ERA for the variation or extension application.

An ERA is not required for renewals of marketing authorisations or Type IA/IB variations.

Applicants are required to submit an ERA irrespective of the legal basis. Generic medicinal products are therefore not exempted from providing an ERA. However, cross reference to the ERA dossier of the originator is permitted with consent from the originator.

In order to avoid unnecessary repetition of studies, and in particular animal studies, applicants are encouraged to share their data. If the current applicant has access to an ERA that was performed earlier by another marketing authorisation holder, this ERA (including study reports) may be submitted, including a letter of access. If the reference ERA is not complete in accordance with the current guideline (e.g. studies are missing, or increased environmental exposure may be anticipated) the applicant should conduct the missing studies and/or update the ERA.

Public Assessment Reports (PARs and EPARs) and reviews or summary data from other regulatory frameworks cannot be used in the ERA dossier without the underlying study reports. All data submitted (whether study reports or peer reviewed literature) should contain enough information to permit assessment of the reliability of the study performed.

The applicant may request scientific advice on issues related to environmental risk assessment and on possible precautionary and safety measures to be taken with respect to the use and disposal of a medicinal product.

 

Structure of the ERA report

The ERA report should be presented in Module 1.6 of the eCTD dossier.

The ERA report should start with a clear identification of the active ingredient, including company name/code, IUPAC name, CAS number, empirical formula, structural formula, SMILES code, and molecular weight.

The full study reports and references should be provided in the annex of the ERA. There may be cases in which the absence of environmental studies could be justified. In these cases, the expert should provide a rationale for the absence of studies.

A dated signature of the author, information on the author’s educational, training and occupational experience, and a statement of the author’s relationship with the applicant, must be included.

 

Are you in search of advice and support on ERA?

Please contact us, Ivowen Regulatory are available to offer advice and support on Health Product Regulatory compliance.

 

Written by Nanda Naik

Nanda Naik