Blog

Remote Regulatory Assessments – Q&A: Here to Stay

February 9, 2024 || Emily Purchase
 
On January 26, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided notification of a revised draft guidance on Remote Regulatory Assessments (RRAs).  The FDA has updated its guidance on remote regulatory assessments (RRAs), emphasizing that they differ from inspections and outlining new powers granted by a recent spending bill. The…

Implementing a Risk-based Approach to Calibration 

February 9, 2024 || Joe Leuser
 
How does your organization determine calibration test points, tolerances, and frequency? A simple rule of thumb to calibrate instruments at 10, 50, and 90% of full-scale range and use a tolerance of 1.5 or 2 times the manufacturers’ tolerance. Many companies standardize frequencies to calibrate all critical instruments every six…

FDA Quality Management Maturity Program

January 15, 2024 || Martina McDonagh
 
Drug shortages in the pharmaceutical industry is a significant concern that has far-reaching consequences for the industry, the regulators, the healthcare system, and ultimately the patients. These shortages can be for a variety of factors including manufacturing and quality issues. To this end the FDA embarked on the Quality Management…

The Readiness Stage of Technology Transfer 

January 15, 2024 || Robert Ossig
 
During a pharmaceutical technology transfer (TT) project, the Readiness Stage plays a pivotal role by establishing the groundwork for a successful transition. This phase involves meticulous planning, coordination, and execution of key activities across various functions, each contributing to the readiness of the Receiving Unit (RU) for Process Performance Qualification…

The Future of FDA Regulatory Inspections:   

December 27, 2023 || Connie Leech
 
The Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently buzzing with activity and exciting developments. Here’s a snapshot of what happened in the last 24 months:  In June 2023, the FDA updated its new model for the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA). This…

Bridging the Gap: Role Clarity, Skill Investment, and the Battle Against Drug Shortages 

December 20, 2023 || Chris Spiak
 
As advancements in medical science continue to expand the array of available treatments, the demand for pharmaceuticals has surged.  This surge has caused an alarming increase in drug shortages.  Complex factors, including regulatory hurdles, supply chain disruptions, and unforeseen global events, have converged to create a landscape where the availability…

Challenges Implementing a Dark Factory in Biotechnology Manufacturing

December 11, 2023 || David Shenberger
 
The concept of a “dark factory” conjures images of secrecy and clandestine operations, but in the world of biotechnology manufacturing, it represents an innovative approach to production that promises increased efficiency, quality, and safety. A dark factory is an automated facility that minimizes human intervention, and the operations are primarily…

CAI: Evolving Past Commissioning  

December 7, 2023 || David Shenberger
 
In the dynamic world of life sciences, companies that embrace change and adapt to changing market needs are the ones that thrive. Our journey began in 1996 with a singular purpose: to change how the life sciences industry delivers facilities through robust commissioning. As we have grown and gained valuable…

Emerging Therapeutics and Personalized Medicine 

December 6, 2023 || Robert Ossig
 
A Personalized Medicines Overview  Personalized medicine, also known as precision medicine, represents a paradigm shift in healthcare, emphasizing the customization of medical treatments to individual characteristics and challenging the existing pharmaceutical manufacturing paradigm. Within this evolving field, various categories of personalized medicines have emerged, each aiming to optimize therapeutic outcomes…

Unlock the True Potential of Project Management: Power Skills Edition

December 6, 2023 || Patrick Hayes, Ph.D.
 
Introducing the Game-Changing Power Skills for Project Managers In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world of project management, technical expertise alone is no longer enough. The true difference-maker lies in harnessing Power Skills – the secret sauce that propels project managers to new heights of success! The Evolution of Soft Skills:…