Audits and Inspections

The agency will use technology for “voluntary remote interactive evaluations” for pre- and post-approval and other types of inspections.

Even before Emergent disclosed that it had to discard 15 million doses of the J&J vaccine drug substance, FDA inspectors had uncovered multiple deficiencies and quality control issues.

Scrutiny of the vulnerability in the biopharmaceutical supply chain has increased pressure on FDA to renew site visits of domestic and foreign facilities.

Auditing distribution suppliers provides understanding and documentation of the services performed.

With appropriate planning and the proper use of technology, remote auditing can be as effective and informative as in-person auditing.

FDA puts applications on hold as the agency limits alternative oversight methods.

Updating the quality technical agreement will clarify any expectations and limitations, says Siegfried Schmitt, vice president, Technical at Parexel.

Virtual audits, virtual training, and more robust quality agreements may become positive impacts on the industry, says Susan J. Schniepp, distinguished fellow at Regulatory Compliance Associates.

FDA sent a warning letter to LEC Custom Products for a variety of CGMP violations including use of inappropriate equipment and processes.

The agency sent a warning letter to Kalchem International for CGMP violations found at the company’s Lindsay, OK, facility.

The agency sent a warning letter after an inspection of the company’s Sangareddy District, India found inadequate cleaning procedures.

The agency sent a warning letter to Acella Pharmaceuticals detailing CGMP violations and failures to oversee contract manufacturers.

The UK's MHRA will resume on-site risk based GxP inspections from September 2020.

A new FDA guidance provides answers to such questions about when the agency will seek to visit a site during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it will respond when a needed inspection cannot be conducted safely.

Industry should be seeking more information from FDA on how it will restart its current inspection program.

The agency is hoping to restart performing on-site domestic inspections during the week of July 20, 2020 depending on factors such as the status of COVID-19 in the state of inspection and local rules and guidelines.

483s and Warning Letters Point to Inadequate Quality Oversight

FDA can better monitor quality production of domestic versus foreign firms.

It is important to consider the feasibility, benefits, and limitations of each type of audit in advance.

Products must be manufactured in accordance with appropriate regulatory requirements, even during a pandemic, says Susan J. Schniepp, executive vice-president of post-approval pharma and distinguished fellow, Regulatory Compliance Associates.

The agency sent warning letters to three more companies for selling unapproved products claiming to treat COVID-19.

Addressing data integrity, quality culture, aging facilities, investigations/corrective actions and preventive actions, and risk management is key when conducting audits, says Susan J. Schniepp, executive vice-president of post-approval pharma and distinguished fellow, Regulatory Compliance Associates.

Risk assessments, audits, and good communication between sponsor and supplier are key elements of supplier oversight.

FDA postpones routine domestic facility inspections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With some FDA inspections on hold, will the US drug supply maintain its quality standards?

The agency is postponing the inspection of most foreign facilities through April 2020.

FDA sent a warning letter to Health Pharma USA after an inspection found the company’s quality unit was not properly overseeing its drug manufacturing operations.

The agency sent a warning letter to Henan Kangdi Medical Devices Co. Ltd after an inspection found CGMP violations that included a variety of failures of the company’s quality unit.

FDA sent a warning letter to Dercher Enterprises, Inc., DBA Gordon Laboratories, for CGMP violations and adulterated drug products.

The European Medicines Agency and its European partners have launched a pilot program for cooperation in the inspection of facilities that manufacture sterile drug products.