The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, Dr. Robert Califf, recently testified in front of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee about core programs for the 2025 budget process. Executives at FDA are asking for a $341 million increase in the annual budget (currently proposed at $7.22 billion) compared to the previously approved FY 2024 budget.

 

Drug Shortage

 

One topic that received significant interest was drug shortages. Dr. Califf confirmed there are still over 200 drugs classified as in shortage. FDA has requested over $12 million to help rectify the problem and bring greater predictability to supply chain problems. Additionally, the ability to clarify pharmaceutical manufacturing problems that may arise appears to be a priority to FDA.

 

Regulatory Affairs

 

The Office of Regulatory Affairs (FDA ORA) has asked for an additional $2.7 million to be added to the proposed budget. Specifically, ten new full-time employees are proposed as headcount to address issues with both drug shortages and problems inside the supply chain. $3 million is specifically proposed to recruit new FDA inspection resources who can help identify these types of scenarios in advance during routine FDA inspections.

 

Further, continued growth in regulatory applications for both medical device manufacturing and biologic manufacturing facilities was mentioned as critical to keep pace with the industry’s need for FDA approval inspections. For life science industry employees, the slowdown in FDA inspections has had mixed reactions.

 

Michael Rogers, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs at the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs, has also recently commented about the need for more FDA auditors due to investigators who have recently retired. According to Rogers, FDA investigators “have been underrecognized and underappreciated”, which may have led to attrition over time at the agency.

 

Avian Influenza Virus

 

Dr. Califf continued the discussion with lawmakers about the potential dangers of avian influenza (or bird flu) and vaccine production. Commentary revolved around how prepared the United States government is in responding to virus mutations if bird flu could spread to humans. Further, Dr. Califf elaborated on how investments in personal protective equipment (PPE) & funding for vaccine manufacturing could help the potential problem.

 

Finally, short-term solutions focused on the safety of dairy workers if the virus infected the U.S. milk supply, and new research options to study how quickly the avian influenza virus may evolve. 

 

IT Infrastructure

 

Finally, FDA has requested over $8 million to improve critical infrastructure and upgrade technology across the agency. The goal is to modernize many of the legacy workflows the regulatory agency uses and increase the analytical potential of data analysis.

 

The entire presentation can be found at this link. 

 

Pharmaceutical Consultant & Pharma Consulting Services

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates (RCA) has helped thousands of pharmaceutical companies meet regulatory, compliance, quality assurance, and remediation challenges. With more than 20 years of experience with FDA, Health Canada, EU and global regulatory agencies worldwide, Regulatory Compliance Associates^® offers leading pharmaceutical consultants. We’re one of the few pharma consulting companies that can help you navigate the challenges associated with industry regulations.

 

Our pharmaceutical consulting firm includes over 500 seasoned FDA, Health Canada & EU compliance consultants and regulatory affairs experts who understand industry complexities. It’s a pharma consultancy founded by regulatory compliance executives from the pharmaceutical industry. Every pharmaceutical industry consultant on the Regulatory Compliance Associates team knows the unique inner workings of the regulatory process. 

 

Client Solutions

 

Whether you’re in the product planning, development or pharmaceutical lifecycle management stage or need a remediation strategy for a compliance crisis, Regulatory Compliance Associates will guide you through every pharmaceutical consulting step of the regulatory process. Our pharmaceutical consulting Experts will create a customized approach depending on your product and company’s individual needs. Our regulatory compliance clients include:

 

• Companies new to FDA, Health Canada or EU regulations and regulatory compliance
• Start-up organizations with novel submissions to 510(k) submissions from multi-national corporations
• Investment firms seeking private equity due diligence for pre-acquisition and post-deal research
• Law firms seeking pharmaceutical consulting firm expertise in the remediation of warning letters, consent decrees, 483’s or import bans

 

Regulatory Affairs

 

Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates backbone. We exceed other pharma consulting companies with industry experts experienced in the complexities of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. Our pharma consulting expertise spans all facets and levels of Regulatory Affairs. Additionally, we specialize in Regulatory Support for New Products to Life Cycle Management, Outsourced Regulatory Affairs, Submissions, Training, and more.

 

As your partner, we can negotiate the potential assessment minefield of regulatory compliance services with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our breadth and depth of knowledge and regulatory compliance consulting. We offer the following pharma consulting regulatory affairs services for pharmaceutical companies.

 

• New Product Support
• Product Lifecycle
• Other Regulatory Services
• Combination Products

 

Compliance Assurance

 

The regulations process surrounding pharmaceutical companies can be tricky for even the most experienced industry veteran to understand. Just one misstep could mean significant and lasting consequences for your business. At Regulatory Compliance Associates, we offer the pharma consulting experience and pharma consultants necessary to guide you through the quality compliance process.

 

• Assessments
• Audits
• Regulatory Agency Response
• Preparation and Training
• Inspection Readiness
• Data Integrity

 

Quality Assurance

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates Quality consulting includes assessments, strategy, implementations, staff augmentations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement. Our pharma consultants understand the strategic thinking needed to align your business needs and goals. Regulatory Compliance Associates quality assurance services include quality experts with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. Our pharmaceutical consulting firm knows firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality. Finally, our regulatory compliance services team excels in transferring continuous improvement knowledge to your organization.

 

• 21 CFR Part 11
• Data Integrity
• Manufacturing Support
• Facility Support
• Quality Metrics

 

Remediation Services 

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates has a proven remediation services approach to managing FDA Warning Letters, Consent Decrees, Remediation and other serious regulatory situations. Our pharma consultants know how to partner with executive, legal, and communication teams. Each RCA pharma consulting Expert will develop a response that will be accepted by the regulatory agency and be realistic to execute.

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates pharma regulatory consultants will develop a comprehensive proof book of documented evidence demonstrating the corrective action taken to remediate non-compliant issues. In addition, each Regulatory Compliance Associates pharma consulting Expert understands compliance enforcement. We’ll prepare a comprehensive pharma consulting strategy to assist in your remediation efforts, drive continuous improvement, and maintain regulatory compliance with the regulations.

 

• Regulatory Action
• Regulatory Compliance
• Regulatory Enforcement
• Warning Letter
• 483 Observation
• Oversight Services
• Risk Management Plan

 

About Regulatory Compliance Associates

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates^® (RCA) provides pharmaceutical consulting to the following industries for resolution of life science challenges:

 

• Life Sciences
• Pharmaceutical
• Biologic & Biotechnology
• Sterile compounding
• Medical device
• Lab Testing

 

We understand the complexities of running a life science business and possess areas of expertise that include every facet of R&D, operations, regulatory affairs, quality, and manufacturing. We are used to working on the front lines and thriving in the scrutiny of FDA, Health Canada, MHRA and globally-regulated companies.

 

As your partners, Regulatory Compliance Associates can negotiate the potential minefield of regulatory compliance and regulatory due diligence with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience.

 

• Founded in 2000
• Headquartered in Wisconsin (USA)
• Expertise backed by over 500 industry subject matter experts
• Acquired by Sotera Health in 2021

 

About Sotera Health

 

The name Sotera Health was inspired by Soteria, the Greek goddess of safety, and reflects the Company’s unwavering commitment to its mission, Safeguarding Global Health^®.

 

Sotera Health Company, along with its three best-in-class businesses – Sterigenics^®, Nordion^® and Nelson Labs^®, is a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry. With a combined tenure across our businesses of nearly 200 years and our industry-recognized scientific and technological expertise, we help to ensure the safety of over 190 million patients and healthcare practitioners around the world every year.

 

We are a trusted partner to 5,800+ customers in over 50 countries, including 40 of the top 50 medical device companies and 9 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

 

Commitment to Quality

 

Our Certificate of Registration demonstrates that our Quality Management System meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, an internationally recognized standard of quality.

 

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