For the medtech industry, 2019 is going to be marked by a slew of regulatory changes, beginning with Canada’s requirement of Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP), which took effect on Jan. 1.
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Quality assurance and quality control functions in the manufacturing process may share some similarities but they’re actually quite different animals. Learn about the purpose of each and their relationship to each other in enabling life sciences and other regulated manufacturers to maintain a high level of quality and compliance for their products.
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One trap regulated startups should try to avoid is having unrealistic assumptions about what it takes to achieve compliance. Part 3 of this article series features several members of the BraveHeart team discussing their views and expectations for quality throughout the Wearable Life Sensor’s life cycle.
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We all seek quality in goods and services, but how can that quality be assured? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Device and Radiological Health (CDRH), as part of its Case for Quality initiative, last year launched the Voluntary Medical Device Manufacturing Product Quality pilot program based on a maturity model as an alternative to the traditional path of a routine FDA inspection. Find out if the program might be the right step to boost your company’s quality and compliance.
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Venture capitalists have pumped $2.8 billion into biotechnology startups in the first two months of this year alone. This means two things if you’re a startup. First, expect fierce competition because a huge capital pool attracts the very best in the industry. Second, this kind of investor confidence requires that you hit the ground running.
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In the fierce arena of medtech startups, competition is intense and investor confidence is high. A recent Ernst & Young report shows that early-stage medtech firms captured 52 percent of seed funding last year and surpassed the total amount for later-stage companies, the first time it has happened in 10 years. If you’re a startup, is it time to sit back and relax? Hardly.
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The emergence of new guidelines on data integrity, and the interpretation of that data via audits and inspections, doesn't detract from pre-existing elements of regulation, particularly Annex 11 of the European Union’s (EU) good manufacturing practice (GMP) guidelines.
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Business is booming for nutraceuticals as consumers turn to vitamins, minerals, herbs, innovative foods and other natural products to improve their health. The industry has expanded its focus to not just provide natural, clean products but also innovative, high-quality ones. The five biggest trends for 2018 reflect this, bringing new steps and creativity to the product development process.
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First the bad news. As long as health care-related data remains a valuable commodity, security breaches and data theft will persist. The good news is global regulatory agencies are ramping up their cybersecurity measures in an effort to restore relevance to the “protection” component of protected health information (PHI).
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Probably one of the most significant concerns for anyone responsible for implementing, deploying and maintaining a quality management system is the prioritization of resources. Trend analysis is one technique that can help determine if something has changed with a process (quality, production, or service). Trend analysis can be used to monitor a process, especially non-manufacturing processes such as complaints, nonconformances and deviations to aid in the decision for escalation for corrective and preventive action (CAPA).
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It’s that time of year when we get together with family and friends and enjoy holiday festivities. Sure, all the mingling and merriment of a holiday party can be fun, but organizing an event—not so much. If you happen to be the designated planner/host of your holiday soiree, you may want to consider using an electronic quality management system (eQMS).
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Industries and manufacturers are increasingly approaching the challenge of digital transformation, some with caution, some with great anticipation, yet perhaps still others with unease. However, the message in a recent analyst report “Quality 4.0: Get Educated Get Involved, and Build a Successful Strategy” is clear—transform your company’s operations and efforts digitally or risk digital disruption. Forty percent of companies have already started a digital transformation initiative while another 17 percent kicked off initiatives in 2017, according to the report, which was co-sponsored by LNS Research and MasterControl.
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The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been around since 1996. The components of HIPAA cast a wide net over regulations involving insurance coverage, medical records and tax rules. However, rapidly advancing technology and security threats are pointing a spotlight on the Privacy and Security rules that apply to electronic protected health information (ePHI).
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Corrective action and preventive action (CAPA) policies and procedures have now been a mainstay for years in most life science companies’ quality management systems due to regulation adherence to standards. With impressive technological advances, it is natural that companies are starting to develop products that span multiple sectors, and even multiple regulatory pathways. The question is, what standard/regulation do you use for your CAPA system and how do you cover all the others?
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Just in the nick of time at the end of August, Congress reauthorized the Medical Device User Fees (MDUFA) ensuring that FDA received vital funding to properly staff submission reviews and other activities. While the user fees for all submissions increased, de novo submissions saw the most significant increase. Historically, de novo submissions did not have a user fee. However, with FDA’s expansion of the de novo submission options to include direct de novo rather than conversion from a non-substantially equivalent 510(k) determination, the FDA was understaffed to accommodate the additional review burden. As a result, de novo submission review times could drag out 10 to 12 months.
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You use computers on a daily basis, and you may even use the system that needs to be audited. But you don’t spend your day thinking about where all the system components are located, how services and software are combined, and what Part 11 requirements apply.
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When you think about it, FDA's general regulatory paradigm for regulating medical devices has enjoyed a tremendous run. The overarching statutory and regulatory foundation was started in 1976 and largely in place in its current form by 1997. (Think 510(k)/MDR/Part 806 and QSR procedures for the postmarket phase.)
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Writing and developing solid operational procedures is a skill that develops over time. Procedures are usually fairly technical and often describe complex subjects. These procedures are reviewed by subject-matter experts, as well as by internal and external auditors and by employees at all levels of the organization. Therefore, it is important to consider the language used when communicating an idea.
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This paper addresses the fundamentals of writing and enforcing your SOPs not only for compliance and in accordance with internal company policies and requirements but certainly for ensuring compliance with FDA requirements as well.
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The word "audit," in the broadest sense, refers to a variety of activities. It may refer to an accounting firm examining the financial statements of a public corporation, or a consultant checking the process of lid sealant dispensing in a semiconductor package assembly line. It may even refer to a mystery shopper testing the patience of sales clerks in an upscale department store.
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