Guidelines

China adopts ICH guidelines and collaborates with UK

As of 1 February 2018, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) will be adopting five safety and regulatory guidelines from the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). China became the eighth member of ICH in June 2017, which marked a significant expansion of ICH’s impact and aim to promote global public health.

FDA agrees to meet GAO demands on revised guidance for complex generics

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on 16 January 2018, in which it stated that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should release plans to issue or revise guidance for complex generic drugs. FDA made an official response in which it laid out its plans for the future which address many of the GAO's concerns.

China FDA issues draft guidance on drug review and approval transparency

China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) announced on 16 January 2018 that it had issued draft guidance on the public disclosure of information related to its review and approval of drug applications.

EMA regulatory guidance update to prepare for Brexit

In preparation for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU), set to take place on 29 March 2019, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission have issued regulatory guidance to pharmaceutical companies. The EU wants to ensure that pharmaceutical companies plan for Brexit to avoid any impact on the continuous supply of medicines within the EU.

FDA updates its list of drugs without generics

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in December 2017 that it had updated its list of drugs without generics.

FDA guidance aims to encourage abuse-deterrent generic opioids

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new guidance intended to encourage generics makers to make abuse-deterrent formulations of opioids.

Australian guidelines for biosimilars

Last update: 5 January 2018

The regulatory body for therapeutic goods in Australia is the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Indian guidelines for ‘similar biologics’

Last update: 5 January 2018

The regulatory bodies responsible for approval of ‘similar biologics’ in India are the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology through its Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Stakeholders comment on FDA’s draft statistical biosimilarity guidance

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance on statistical approaches to evaluate similarity for biosimilars in September 2017 [1]. Comments from stakeholders on the guidance indicate that they want it to be more specific and narrower in scope.

FDA publishes new draft guidance for ADHD generic

In October 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new product-specific draft guidance for generic methylphenidate oral extended-release tablets.