Quality Systems

US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg outlined last week six initial steps designed to improve the effectiveness and timeliness of FDA's regulatory and enforcement system.

On August 6, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) filed an amicus brief asking the US Supreme Court to overturn Bilski v. Doll, a decision of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

The US Food and Drug Administration released its Guidance for Industry titled Pharmaceutical Components at Risk for Melamine Contamination.

Also, EMEA gives public access to GMP data; SOCMA speaks out on toxic substances; more...

The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) reported in late July that Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, recently published a baseline study or the first snapshot of REACH policy in the preregistration phase.

Also, Pfizer forms two research agreements in China; NanoInk appoints John Kubricky to its scientific advisory board; more...

The Energy and Commerce Committee of the US House of Representatives approved H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act, last Friday.

The US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency (EMEA) launched this week a joint initiative to collaborate on international good clinical practice (GCP) inspection activities.

South Africa was the first country on the African continent to become a PIC/S member. The country's Director of Inspectorate and Law Enforcement describes the 10-year process.

Biotech firms must first close the gaps between science and biology on the path toward QbD.

The author of an ambitious book about quality control falls short of reaching his goals.

The authors applied near-infrared (NIR) spectrophotometry to assess whether eight drug products were authentic or counterfeit.

Individuals and companies at the top seem to have no problem short-circuiting their success.

Pressure to reduce healthcare spending has put drug rebates, price cuts, and tax hikes on the table.

An ounce of contamination usually leads to a mountain of investigation.

Industry is taking a step forward by addressing supply-chain integrity through the formation of Rx-360. PhamTech's podcast explores the subject.

The authors explain waivers and deferrals for pediatric studies of drugs and biologics as provided by the Pediatric Research Equity Act of 2007.

A summary of recent changes to European regulatory requirements for pediatric formulations.

The number of alliances between diagnostics companies and pharmaceutical companies is set to rise because of the growth of personalized medicine, according to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

A new report from the European Commission show a significant increase in the amount of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringements between 2007 and 2008, including a 57% increase in the number of counterfeit medicine cases between the two years.

The US Food and Drug Administration last week posted the final version of its Guidance for Industry, ANDAs: Impurities in Drug Substances.

Two years ago, the US Food and Drug Administration's Office of Generic Drugs (OGD) developed and implemented a program to test question-based reviews for abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs). OGD is reviewing the benefits and challenges faced by pharmaceutical firms involved in the initiative to see what changes need to be made going forward.

Also, Lonza and Medarex sign agreement; Covance appoints VP and chief scientific officer of global analytical services; more...

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a draft guidance for industry, Incorporation of Physical-Chemical Identifiers into Solid Oral Dosage Form Drug Products for Anticounterfeiting, on July 13.

The pharmaceutical industry is paying more attention to less well-known tropical diseases, according to a report from the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA).