thought leadership

ProPharma’s team of dedicated experts is at the forefront of both existing and emerging industry trends. ProPharma’s team inspires tomorrow by leveraging rich data insights across our service lines and functional areas to develop innovative solutions that answer the most complex needs of both existing and prospective clients.

Flywheel swoosh

From Defensible to Predictive: How High-Functioning MLR Teams Are Evolving Their Risk Assessment Approach

For several years, FDA's Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) maintained a relatively low enforcement profile. For example, between 2022 and 2024, the Agency issued only 14 Untitled and Warning Letters, leading many to view promotional enforcement as relatively predictable and infrequent....

Cleaning Disaster or True Worst Case?

How robust are your cleaning validation measures? Could your storage procedures withstand the impacts of a fire within your facility, or would such a disaster set back your production time...

Improving Computerized System Quality Through Design Verification

Unverified Design – An Example For those of us who travel routinely, one of the most sought-after treasures in the typical airport terminal is an electrical outlet. With our dependency on mobile...

Quality & Compliance

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Corporate Compliance Program: How Does Your Program Measure Up?

At the recent Pharmaceutical Compliance Congress (PCC), Zane Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania stated that one of the key questions that a company should ask about its...

Regulatory Sciences

What Can Testosterone Gels Teach Us About Abuse-Deterrent Opioids?

For most drugs, the process of developing and obtaining FDA approval of a generic version is simple and well-defined: sponsors must only prove that their product is pharmaceutically equivalent and...

Quality & Compliance

Ready for cGMP Validation: Gate Seven of the Nine Gate Transfer Process

Today, Bob Beall is back with the next gate in the Nine Gate Transfer Process. If you have missed any of the previous steps in this process, you can review them here: Gate 1: Assessment Gate 2:...

Rethinking the OTC Monograph System

When the OTC drug review was undertaken in the 1970s, it was deemed the best solution available at the time for efficiently assessing the safety and efficacy of the countless drug products being sold...

Quality & Compliance

To Requalify or to Continuously Monitor, That is the Question

Your manufacturing equipment and processes have been established, qualified and validated; all you have to do now is rake in the profits right? Think again, the process of maintaining the validated...

Example of an submission process workflow.

Words, Words, Words: The Importance of Diction in Regulatory Submissions

In continuation of its series of guidances on electronic submissions, FDA recently released a guidance for receipt dates of electronic submissions which emphasizes one important fact: word choice...

Computer System Validation: Resolutions for the New Year

How are you doing with those New Years’ resolutions? Whether or not you’re a resolution maker (or breaker), you can use this time of year to take stock of where things stand, including your validated...

Impact of Wavelength Accuracy and Precision on Spectrophotometric Measurements

A while back I was involved in a Quality Assurance project reviewing calibration specifications for analytical instrumentation. The client had implemented a new requirement that all calibrated...

Quality & Compliance

Formulation and Process Development: Gate 6 of the Nine Gate Transfer Process for Moving Production

Today, we are continuing our blog series on the Nine Gate Transfer Process for Moving Production from Site to Site, with Gate 6: Formulation and Process Development. If you have missed any previous...

Regulatory Sciences

FDA Revisits the Topic of INDs for Dietary Supplements

One of the fundamental disconnects in the dietary supplement world is that despite the fact that manufacturers of dietary supplements are not allowed to make claims regarding effects on diseases,...

Regulatory Sciences

U.S. Attorneys Send Strong Message that a Company’s Response to a Compliance Issue is Key Element of an Effective Compliance Program

A common theme among the government enforcers speaking at last week’s Pharmaceutical Compliance Congress (PCC) was the importance of putting in place an effective corporate compliance program to...

Quality & Compliance

What’s the Skinny on Dietary Supplements?

One doesn't have to spend much time in a pharmacy, grocery store or even a typical American house to see that dietary supplements have found a place in people's lives. In fact, roughly 54% of U.S....

Quality & Compliance

GMP Documentation: Gate Five of the Nine Gate Transfer Process for Moving Production

Today we’re back with the next step in the Nine Gate Transfer Process for Moving Production from site to site. So far we’ve covered the first four gates, which you can review in our last blog post....

What to Expect During the NDA Review Process

Compiling and submitting a New Drug Application (NDA) submission is a complicated and intensive activity. Once you have submitted your application to FDA, you may be curious about what can you expect...

Several business professionals talking around glass conference table

Safety Data Exchange Agreements (SDEAs) and Pharmacovigilance Agreements (PVAs) – An Overview

A Safety Data Exchange Agreement (SDEA) or Pharmacovigilance Agreement (PVA) is a legal written contract which ensures that all safety data, PV tasks and responsibilities are detailed between two or...

An Overview of the PSMF: Pharmacovigilance System Master File

What is a PSMF? The EU Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) is a legally required document created and maintained by a Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH). Essentially, the document is a...

FDA Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP)

The FDA’s homepage contains an item in the Public Health Focus section from the Office of Communications entitled “Don’t Use Expired Medicine.” Given this mandate, I recall from many years ago the...

Illustration of the Common Technical Document (CTD) Triangle

The Importance of the eCTD Structure for FDA Approval

The Importance of the eCTD To harmonize the process of regulatory reviews for global drug development, a unified structure was developed and implemented for electronic Common Technical Document...

Healthcare worker showing a woman details on a tablet device.

What are Patient Support Programs?

Patient Support Programs (PSPs)  in the pharmaceutical sector offer a range of services to help patients start and adhere to their therapies, including Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), patient...