Pharmaceuticals approval process

This disjunctive between costs and benefits resulting from the regulation of the pharmaceutical approval process can be dealt with by means of economic evaluation. The various projects can be represented using a decision tree as shown in simplified form in Figure 8.1. 

Reasons for chopping clinical candidates at any stage of the drug approval process included (1) stability, formulation, or other pharmaceutical development issues, (2) renal toxicity or neurotoxicity, and (3) insufficient advantage over current chugs. Since 1997, the NCI has also operated a screen for compounds active against the cytotoxic effects of HIV in CEM cells. Of 80,000 compounds tested, 4050 (or about 5%) were active. Of the compounds tested, 2291 have included metals. Of those, 136 (about 6%) were active, and two became clinical candidates. Both were chopped due to toxicity problems. One clinical candidate was a polyoxometallate, and therefore about 80 other similar molecules were tested. These were found to be strongly active in vitro, but too toxic in animal models in vivo. If a way around the toxicity problem can be found, interest in these... 

Drugs are separated into three categories in China Western drugs are reviewed by the Division of Pharmaceuticals, biologies by the Division of Biological Products, and traditional Chinese medicine by the Division of TCM (Section 7.5). The approval process is described in Section 8.5. 

Drug approval processes go through IND and NDA procedures in Japan. The MHLW of Japan has set up the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Agency (PMDA), which provides technical consultation services for clinical trials. There are four types of consultations before IND, at the end of Phase II studies, before NDA, and consultation on individual protocols. 

An NDA submitted to the MHLW is reviewed by the PMDA. PMDA personnel have the authority to inspect the drug manufacturing facility and clinical trial sites to assess comphance. In the process, the PMDA consults the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council (PAFSC). Results of the review are forwarded to the Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau (PFSB), which prepares the final approval through the Minister of the MHLW. Figure 8.10 shows the drug approval process in Japan. The procedure for manufacturing and distribution of drugs for overseas manufacturers is presented in Fig. 8.11. 

Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. New Drug Development and Approval Process, http //www.jpma.or.jp/12english/guide industry/new drug/new drug.html [accessed August 8, 2002]. 

Delays to the entry of services into the healthcare system, such as a separate approval process for the reimbursement of a pharmaceutical by the healthcare system after the approval of the safety, efficacy and quality of... 

In 1996, about 10 years after the introduction of the first recombinant DNA product for human use, the FDA modified and streamlined the approval process for biotechnology products considered to be well characterized. These modifications, in essence, established the direction of how biologic macromolecules are researched and developed today in biotechnology-based and traditional pharmaceutical companies [2]. Well-characterized biotechnology products include (1) synthetic peptides consisting of fewer than 20 amino acids, (2) monoclonal antibodies and derivatives, and (3) recombinant DNA-derived products. Anticipating future developments, the FDA is also prepared to consider DNA plasmid products as well-characterized when the first medicinal in this class is submitted for approval. CBER now approves well-characterized biopharmaceuticals under the BLA process [3]. 

Guarino RA New drug approval process. In Drugs and The Pharmaceutical Sciences, vol. 100. Marcel Dekker, 2000. 

Ronald Reagan, Republican president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Consistent with his free-market and pro-business ideology and policies, his term coincided with expanding use of prescription drugs and increasing success of pharmaceutical companies. His administration supported DTC advertising and a quicker approval process for new drugs. 

Hypoalgesia ICH (International Conference on Harmonization) Diminished sensitivity to a noxious stimulation. The International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) brings together the regulatory authorities of Europe, Japan and the United States and experts from the pharmaceutical industry in the three regions to harmonise scientific and technical aspects of product registration. They make recommendations which will be adopted by the national / EU authorities after an approval process. 

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