The European pharmaceutical market is expected to reach USD 432.12 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.4%.
Cancer therapeutics is predicted to increase at the quickest rate due to the rising prevalence of cancer and the introduction of innovative compounds into the market.
Generic medications are predicted to be the fastest-growing product segment over the projection period, owing to increased consumer demand for generic drugs due to their cost-effectiveness.
Pharmaceutical regulations in the European Union (EU) are governed by a comprehensive framework aimed at ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines by the central regulatory authority, European Medicines Agency (EMA). It is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and plays a critical role in the authorization and ongoing monitoring of medicines within the EU.
The Regulatory framework for pharmaceutical products in the European Union (EU) is primarily governed by three main sets of regulations and directives:
Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, a centralized procedure for the authorization of medicinal products in the EU. Under this procedure, certain types of medicines, such as biotechnology products, orphan medicinal products, and products for certain diseases, must be evaluated and authorized centrally by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Decentralized Procedure and Mutual Recognition Procedure (Directive 2001/83/EC) - The mutual recognition procedure allows a pharmaceutical company that has obtained a national marketing authorization in one EU member state to apply for mutual recognition in other member states on meeting the necessary criteria. The decentralized procedure allows a company to apply for marketing authorization simultaneously in multiple EU member states, with one member state acting as the "Reference Member State" coordinating the evaluation, and other member states acting as "Concerned Member States" recognizing the reference member state's decision.
The Pharmaceutical Legislation Package:
Directive 2001/83/EC and Directive 2001/82/EC: These directives are part of the pharmaceutical legislation package and lay down the rules for the authorization, distribution, and pharmacovigilance of human and veterinary medicinal products, respectively.
Regulation (EC) No 726/2004: This regulation also forms a part of the pharmaceutical legislation package and provides the legal basis for the centralized procedure.
Application types of Pharma drugs:
The three legal categories are discussed below, along with examples of drugs from each:
Biosimilars: A biosimilar is a biological drug that is very similar to another medicinal product that is already approved in the European Union (EU) but its marketing authorization may have expired. Before biosimilar medicines can be approved and marketed in the EU, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) must evaluate the majority of applications.
Generic and Hybrid applications: Generic/Hybrid medicines combine elements of both generic and originator medicines. They contain a previously authorized active substance (reference medicinal product) and may be developed for a new therapeutic indication or a new pharmaceutical form. Hybrid medicines must demonstrate that they are bioequivalent to the reference medicinal product in the same way as generic medicines.
Orphan Medicine are pharmaceutical products developed to treat rare diseases or conditions that affect a small population. In the European Union (EU), an orphan medicine is defined as a medicinal product intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of life-threatening or debilitating diseases that affect no more than five in 10,000 people.
Pediatric medicine refers to the branch of medicine focused on the medical care and treatment of infants, children, and adolescents, typically up to the age of 18 years. Pediatric medicine is a specialized field that addresses the unique healthcare needs of young patients, encompassing a wide range of medical conditions and preventive care.
Other types include Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are medicines for human use that are based on genes, tissues, or cells. They present revolutionary new prospects for disease and injury therapy. And, for medicines intended for use outside the European Union, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), may provide scientific views on high-priority human medicines, including vaccines, intended for markets outside the European Union (EU).
Clinical trial requirements:
Clinical trials for pharmaceutical drugs in the European Union (EU) are subject to strict regulatory requirements aimed at ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of the investigational products. These requirements apply to all stages of drug development, from initial testing in humans to post-marketing studies. The primary regulations governing clinical trials for pharmaceutical drugs in the EU are as follows:
Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR):
Regulation (EU) No 536/2014: The Clinical Trials Regulation, which was adopted in 2014, aims to harmonize and streamline the approval process for clinical trials across EU member states. EMA Management Board confirmed that the EU Portal and Database were fully functional. CTR has replaced the older directive 2001/20/EC and introduced several important changes to the clinical trial authorization process. [Directive 2001/20/EC, the earlier legal framework for conducting clinical trials in the EU until the Clinical Trials Regulation becomes fully applicable.]
Key Requirements for Clinical Trials in the EU:
Ethical Approval: All clinical trials conducted in the EU must receive approval from an independent ethics committee (IEC) or ethics review board (ERB) before they can commence. The IEC/ERB ensures that the trial design, participant recruitment, and informed consent process meet ethical standards.
Regulatory Approval: Clinical trials must also obtain approval from the competent national regulatory authorities in each EU member state where the trial is conducted. For multinational trials, a single application may be submitted to the "Reference Member State" for evaluation, and other member states may recognize the decision in a "Mutual Recognition" or "Decentralized" procedure.
Informed Consent: Participants must provide informed consent before participating in a clinical trial. The informed consent process ensures that participants are fully aware of the trial's risks and potential benefits.
Good Clinical Practice (GCP): Clinical trials in the EU must be conducted in compliance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice, which sets international ethical and scientific standards for designing, conducting, and reporting clinical trials.
Pharmacovigilance: During the trial, adverse events and safety data must be collected and reported in adherence to pharmacovigilance regulations to ensure participant safety.
It is essential to note that regulations are subject to updates and changes, so researchers and sponsors should always refer to the latest guidance from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the competent national regulatory authorities for up-to-date information on clinical trial requirements in the EU.
Key aspects of the labeling requirements for pharmaceutical products in the EU
Product Information - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)
Package Leaflet - Patient Information Leaflet (PIL)
Packaging and Labeling Requirements: The outer packaging of pharmaceutical products must include specific information, such as the product name, strength, pharmaceutical form, batch number, expiry date, storage conditions, and the name and address of the marketing authorization holder. Braille text on the packaging is required for certain medicines to enhance accessibility for visually impaired patients. Tamper-evident features must be incorporated into the packaging to ensure the integrity of the product.
Legal and Administrative Information: The marketing authorization number must be displayed on the packaging to indicate that the product is authorized for sale and use in the EU. The product must be labeled with its classification (e.g., prescription-only medicine, over-the-counter medicine) to inform appropriate dispensing practices.
Multilingual Labeling: The labeling, including the package leaflet, must be provided in the official language(s) of the EU member states where the medicine is marketed.
Registration Process
Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) Preparation: After successfully completing clinical trials, the pharmaceutical company compiles all the data from pre-clinical and clinical studies to prepare the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA). The MAA includes comprehensive information about the pharmaceutical product, its quality, safety, and efficacy.
Submission of MAA: The pharmaceutical company submits the MAA to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMA is responsible for the centralized procedure, through which certain medicines are assessed and authorized for all EU member states. The key documents typically required for the registration of a pharmaceutical drug in the EU are
Common Technical Document (CTD) –
Module 1: Administrative and prescribing information.
Module 2: Overall quality summary.
Module 3: Quality data on the drug's composition, manufacturing, and controls.
Module 4: Nonclinical study reports (preclinical data).
Module 5: Clinical study reports (clinical data)
Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)
Package Leaflet (Patient Information Leaflet - PIL)
Risk Management Plan (RMP)
Pharmacovigilance Plan
Legal and Administrative Documents: Application form, authorization letter, and any required declarations or commitments.
Validation of MAA: The EMA reviews the submitted MAA to ensure it is complete and contains all the necessary data.
Evaluation by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP): The CHMP, a scientific committee of the EMA, evaluates the MAA and assesses the quality, safety, and efficacy data. The CHMP prepares a recommendation on whether to grant marketing authorization.
European Commission Decision: Based on the CHMP's recommendation, the European Commission makes the final decision on whether to grant marketing authorization for the pharmaceutical product. If approved, the decision is valid for all EU member states.
Typically, marketing authorization (MA) is valid for a period of five years from the date of communication of the Commission Decision to the marketing authorization holder (MAH), and can be renewed by the MAH upon application. A renewal application must be filed to the Agency at least 9 months before the MA's expiration date. A renewal application must also be submitted for a suspended MA. If an MAH does not file a renewal application, the MA will expire on the expiration date.
Applicable charges:
Pharma products approved in the US or other countries ease the registration process of pharma drugs in the EU. Approval from a regulatory authority such as USFDA may lead to Expedited Review. In the EU, the "Decentralized Procedure" or "Mutual Recognition Procedure" can be used to leverage data from a previous approval to support the EU application.
Post Marketing Surveillance
Key aspects of Post-Marketing Surveillance for pharma drugs in the EU:
Pharmacovigilance System: Marketing authorization holders (MAHs) are required to establish a pharmacovigilance system to collect, evaluate, and report adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and any other safety-related information for their products. The system includes processes for gathering reports from healthcare professionals, patients, and other sources.
EudraVigilance: EudraVigilance is the EU's centralized database for the collection and management of pharmacovigilance data. MAHs are required to submit periodic safety update reports (PSURs) to EudraVigilance, summarizing safety data at regular intervals.
Signal Detection and Evaluation: Regulatory authorities and MAHs continuously analyze the collected safety data to detect potential safety signals, which are signs of new or changing safety concerns. Signal detection involves statistical methods and data mining techniques.
Risk Management Plans (RMPs): Some medicines, particularly those with special safety concerns, may require the development and implementation of Risk Management Plans (RMPs). These plans outline measures to minimize and manage known or potential risks.
Post-Authorization Safety Studies (PASS): In certain cases, the EU may require MAHs to conduct Post-Authorization Safety Studies (PASS) to further investigate a medicine's safety profile in real-world settings.
Rapid Alert System: The EU has a Rapid Alert System for drug safety (Rapid Alert System - Medicinal Products) to facilitate communication and cooperation among member states in case of safety concerns.
Safety Communications: Regulatory authorities issue safety communications, such as Direct Healthcare Professional Communication letters (DHPC), to inform healthcare professionals and the public about important safety information related to specific medicines.
Risk-Benefit Assessments: Regular risk-benefit assessments of medicines are conducted based on the latest available evidence to ensure the benefits of medicine continue to outweigh its risks.
References:
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/marketing-authorisation
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/overview/fees-payable-european-medicines-agency
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medicines-reclassify-your-product
https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/labelling-and-packaging
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