Creating a task force to implement regulations about making medicines safe for citizens
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Big data use for public health: publication of Big Data Steering Group workplan 2022-25July 28, 2022 Show
The Big Data Steering Group set up by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) has published its third workplan that sets key actions to be delivered between 2022–25. The new workplan will allow to further enhance the efficient integration of data analysis into the evaluation of medicinal products by regulators. Using novel technologies and the evidence generated from big data will benefit public health by accelerating medicine development, improving treatment outcomes and facilitating earlier patient access to new treatments. The former Big Data Task Force carried out a thorough assessment of the challenges and opportunities posed by big data in medicines regulation, which culminated in 2020 in the publication of priority recommendations for regulators on the best approaches to use and generate data. The joint HMA-EMA Big Data Workplan 2022–2025 follows the key recommendations and includes mainly activities related to medicines for human use. However, the scope of some activities covers veterinary aspects, and a separate section in the workplan is fully dedicated to veterinary medicines. The workplan lays out deliverables and timelines including for the following areas:
Big data are extremely large, rapidly accumulating datasets captured across multiple settings and devices, for example through wearable devices and electronic health records. Coupled with rapidly developing technology, big data can complement the evidence from clinical trials by filling knowledge gaps on a medicine, and can help to better characterise diseases, treatments and the performance of medicines in individual healthcare systems. The work carried out by the Big Data Steering Group builds on the Regulatory Science Strategy to 2025, published in March 2020, and will support the European Medicines Agencies Network Strategy to 2025.
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A Big Data strategy for veterinary medicines in the EUJune 13, 2022 The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) have adopted a Veterinary Big Data strategy to 2027 outlining their vision for the regulation of data-driven, digital innovations in the veterinary medicines’ domain in the EU. Building upon key objectives of the recently implemented Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/6), the strategy proposes concrete steps to converge traditional regulatory practise with innovative digital solutions. As part of the implementation of the veterinary legislation, EMA and the EU Veterinary Medicines regulatory network have already made significant investments in implementing new IT systems that generate and centrally collect an increased amount of data. The strategy sets up a framework for managing and using these data to support key regulatory activities to enhance consistency, transparency and responsiveness by providing accurate and reliable information to promote public and animal health. The Veterinary Big Data strategy proposes implementation in phased steps:
It impacts different business areas, such as pharmacovigilance, antimicrobial resistance, environmental risk assessment, regulatory submission, innovation of veterinary medicinal products development, demonstration of efficacy/effectiveness. This strategy also proposes approaches to identify relevant use cases, existing and additional data sources, critical infrastructures and methods to foster an environment that encourages innovation.
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CTCG recommendation to sponsors on managing the impact of the war in Ukraine on clinical trialsApril 4, 2022 In view of the specific circumstances linked to the war in Ukraine, the Clinical Trials Coordination Group (CTCG) developed recommendations to sponsors on managing the impact of the war in Ukraine on clinical trials. CTCG recommendation to sponsors on managing the impact of the war in Ukraine on clinical trials | pdf
Accelerating Clinical Trials in the EU (ACT EU): for better clinical trials that address patients’ needsJanuary 13, 2022 Today, the European Commission (EC), the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have launched an initiative to transform how clinical trials are initiated, designed and run, referred to as Accelerating Clinical Trials in the EU (ACT EU). The aim is to further develop the EU as a focal point for clinical research, further promote the development of high quality, safe and effective medicines, and to better integrate clinical research in the European health system. Building on the application of the Clinical Trials Regulation and the launch of the Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) on 31 January 2022, ACT EU will strengthen the European environment for clinical trials, whilst maintaining the high-level of protection of trial participants, data robustness and transparency that EU citizens expect. The ACT EU strategy paper published today lists ten priority actions for 2022/2023, including enabling innovative trial methods, establishing a multi-stakeholder platform, and supporting the modernisation of good clinical practice. Together, they will contribute to achieving the ambitious goals for innovation in clinical trials set out in the European medicines agencies network strategy (EMANS) to 2025 and the European Commission’s Pharmaceutical Strategy. ACT EU will be co-led by the EC, EMA and the HMA, who have also collaboratively developed the initiative. The proposal to establish ACT EU was endorsed by HMA in November and by EMA’s Management Board in December 2021. Further information will be made available on EMA and HMA webpages.
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Contacts European Commission Heads of Medicines Agencies Permanent Secretariat European Medicines Agency Press Office
Data standardisation strategyDecember 17, 2021 The European medicines regulatory network's data standardisation strategy sets out principles to guide the definition, adoption and implementation of international data standards by the network. It aims to:
EMA and HMA published the strategy in December 2021 and will maintain it over time to reflect any changing priorities or new requirements. European Medicines Regulatory Network Data Standardisation Strategy
New HMA PS email addressJanuary 1, 2021 Starting from January 1, 2021 new email address is . Please note, that your email will not be automatically forwarded, thus kindly change HMA PS address on your records and send any communications to the new address after abovementioned date. If you continue to send to the old email address , your email will either fail to reach us or it will be received with a significant delay. The old addresses will continue to work for a limited period only.
Joint strategy sets direction for EMA and EU medicines regulatory agencies to 2025December 8, 2020 EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) have published their joint strategy for the next five years, following its recent adoption by the HMA and EMA Management Board. The strategy details how the European medicines regulatory network can continue to enable the supply of safe and effective medicines that meet patients’ needs in the face of challenges posed by ever-accelerating developments in science, medicine, digital technologies, globalisation as well as emerging health threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. "The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the pivotal role of medicine regulation for the protection of public health," said Emer Cooke, EMA’s Executive Director. "Lack of availability of medicines, either because they are not marketed or due to supply disruptions, has shown to pose serious threats to patient and animal health, animal disease control programs and sustainable livestock production. This strategy ensures that we join forces across the EU to effect tangible improvements for citizens." The European medicines agencies network strategy to 2025 outlines six priority areas for the network:
It identifies strategic goals for each of these areas, which will be translated into concrete actions in the detailed work plans of EMA and the national competent authorities in EU Member States in the coming five years. It also considers some of the recent developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further learnings from the pandemic have been incorporated into the strategy and will be taken into account in subsequent work plans on an ongoing basis. "We must keep pace with societal changes and developments so that we can continue to fulfil our mission successfully, with the most efficient use of the resources and knowledge available to us," said Thomas Senderovitz, Chair of the Heads of Medicines Agencies Management Group. "This strategy document, which is a living document, will help us to work together across the network to achieve this goal." The joint EMA//HMA strategy was open for public consultation from July to September 2020. The extensive and helpful feedback from the public consultation, which captured input from a full range of stakeholder groups, was carefully analysed and reviewed in order to refine and finalise the strategy. More detail on the comments received and the network’s analysis of these comments is available in a separate document. The European medicines agencies network strategy was developed in consultation with the European Commission and the key themes are aligned with those covered in the Commission’s Pharmaceutical Strategy that will set the tone of future pharmaceutical policy for human medicines in the EU. The network will review the strategy after 18 months to consider if the goals and objectives remain appropriate, and to adjust them if necessary, in the light of the changing environment and ongoing engagement with stakeholders.
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Contacts Heads of Medicines Agencies Permanent Secretariat European Medicines Agency
HMA/EMA statement on approval of vaccinesNovember 20, 2020 Development and deployment of safe and effective vaccines is seen as an essential element in the management and solution of the COVID-19 pandemic. In continuation hereof, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) have prepare a joint statement on how COVID-19 vaccine applications should be assessed. Read the joint HMA/EMA statement here or on EMA's website.
HMA, EMA and the European Commission working against COVID-19July 13, 2020 HMA supports the development and approval of treatments and vaccines to combat coronavirus since the start of the outbreak. Therefore, our colleagues in National Competent Authorities, the European Medicines Agency and the European Commission are working in partnership and contributing their knowledge. Together we support the development and approval of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Our common goal is to protect the citizens of the EU.1 Find out more on Twitter: #MedicinesAgenciesAgainstCorona
Launch of public consultation on joint network strategy to 2025July 6, 2020 EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) have developed a joint strategy for the next five years that is released for a two-month public consultation today. The draft strategy details how the European medicines agencies’ network can continue to enable the supply of safe and effective medicines that meet patients’ needs in the face of challenges posed by ever-accelerating developments in science, medicine, digital technologies, globalisation as well as emerging health threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Medicines Agencies Network Strategy to 2025, which builds on the HMA/EMA strategy to 2020, outlines six priority areas for the network:
It identifies high-level goals and supporting recommendations for each of these areas, which will guide and shape the detailed work plans of EMA and the national competent authorities in EU Member States in the coming five years. Input on the draft strategy document is welcome from all stakeholders, including members of the public, until 4 September 2020 via an online questionnaire. The draft strategy was developed in consultation with the European Commission (EC) and the key themes are aligned with those covered by the EC’s roadmap for a new
Pharmaceutical Strategy. It also takes into account some of the recent developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further learnings from the pandemic will be incorporated into the strategy and subsequent work plans on an ongoing basis. The strategy is intended to be a living document which will be periodically reviewed, and detailed actions to implement it will be further developed by EMA and the national authorities in their multi-annual work plans. For most of these actions the work will be shared between national authorities and EMA and will involve close collaboration. Following the public consultation, comments from stakeholders and the public will be analysed and considered in the final draft of the document. The strategy will be considered for adoption by the HMA and EMA Management Board towards the end of 2020. A summary of comments will be published at the time of publication of the final strategy. A short video to highlight the public consultation has also been published. European medicines agencies network strategy to 2025 released for public consultation can be found here or on EMA's website. Notes
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European regulators make recommendations drawing on lessons learnt from presence of nitrosamines in sartan medicinesJune 23, 2020 The European medicines regulatory network has issued recommendations on impurities in medicines following the conclusion of an exercise to draw on lessons learnt from the presence of nitrosamines in a class of blood pressure medicines known as sartans. The recommendations aim to clarify the roles and responsibilities of companies involved in the manufacture of medicines and to amend guidance on controlling impurities and good manufacturing practice. The recommendations also cover the management of impurities once detected, communication with patients and healthcare professionals, and international cooperation. The full recommendations are available on EMA’s website. The network noted that nitrosamines were not previously recognised as potential impurities in sartan medicines, and these recommendations will help both regulators and companies better prevent and mitigate the risks of these and other impurities in the future. Nitrosamines are classified as probable human carcinogens (substances that could cause cancer) based on animal studies. Regulators in the EU first became aware that they were present in some sartan medicines in mid-2018. The discovery led to swift regulatory action, including the recall of medicines and measures to stop the use of active substances from certain manufacturers. A subsequent EU review, which concluded in April 2019, established the sources of nitrosamines and set out new manufacturing requirements for sartans. Although the exercise focused on nitrosamines in sartans, the recommendations will help reduce the risk of impurities being present in other medicines and ensure that regulators are better prepared to manage cases of unexpected impurities in the future. In September 2019, EMA launched an Article 5(3) procedure to provide additional guidance to companies that make and market medicines in the EU. The recommendations of the lessons learnt exercise will complement the outcome of this Art 5(3) procedure which will provide the key scientific opinion on the presence of nitrosamine impurities in human medicines containing chemically synthesised active substances. Reviewing practices on the basis of experience is one of the ways the authorities in the EU ensure that medicines in the EU are of the highest quality. EU authorities will continue working closely with the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare and international partners and will take necessary measures to protect and reassure patients.
European medicines regulatory network fully mobilised in fight against COVID-19May 28, 2020 The development and availability of medicines and vaccines for all patients in the European Union, including those with COVID-19, is the number one priority for the European medicines regulatory network. EMA, together with EU Member States and the European Commission, has published a plan outlining principles for how the network will ensure that core public and animal health regulatory activities, such as the authorisation, maintenance and supervision of human and veterinary medicines will continue to be carried out during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This includes, in the first instance, procedures related to potential treatments for COVID-19 and vaccines against the virus, those related to medicines needed to treat COVID-19 patients (including crucial medicines used in intensive care units) and procedures to minimise shortages due to COVID-19. The plan also ensures that the EU regulatory system continues to address all other patients’ needs. It therefore sets out how the assessment of non-COVID-19-related medicines will be undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when challenges are encountered, for example, with the unavailability of experts due to illness or the need to look after family members. The plan aims to support the continued functioning of the network as a whole through a consistent approach for all medicines, irrespective of whether they are centrally or nationally authorised. It includes how Member States could provide back-up for each other, if the disruptions caused by COVID-19 affects their ability to carry out assigned assessments. Under no circumstances can the assessment of medicines used to treat or prevent COVID-19 be delayed, and Member States must consider their resources and capacity, when putting themselves forward to deal with such an assessment on behalf of the EU. Notes1. This press release, together with all related documents, is available on EMA's website. Contact our press officersEuropean Medicines Agency European Commission Heads of Medicines Agencies Permanent Secretariat
Questions and answers on regulatory expectations for medicinal products for human use during the COVID-19 pandemicApril 10, 2020 The European Commission, the Coordination group for Mutual recognition and Decentralised procedures – human (CMDh) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have developed a Questions and answers document on regulatory expectations for medicinal products for human use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current COVID-19 pandemic has a considerable impact on citizens, patients and businesses. It may force MAHs and regulatory authorities to operate under business continuity mode, impacting the standard way of working. Moreover, public health needs may require quick actions or re-prioritisation of operations. The ultimate aim of the EU legislation on medicinal products is to ensure a high level of public health. The COVID-19 pandemic is posing unprecedented challenges and ensuring continuity of supplies of medicines is a priority for public health. Therefore, it is necessary to articulate appropriate measures to minimise risks of shortages while ensuring that the high standards of quality, safety and efficacy of medicines made available to patients in the EU are maintained. This document provides guidance to marketing authorisation holders of medicinal products for human use (MAHs) on regulatory expectations and flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. The document will be updated to address new questions and to adjust the content thereof to the evolution of the pandemic. For queries related to specific products that are not specifically addressed in this document, MAHs are invited to address the EMA (for centrally authorised products) or the relevant national competent authorities (for nationally authorised products). Questions and answers document on regulatory expectations for medicinal products for human use during the COVID-19 pandemic
Guidance to sponsors on how to manage clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemicMarch 20, 2020 The European Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and national Head of Medicines Agencies (HMA) have published new recommendations for sponsors on how to manage the conduct of clinical trials in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on European health systems and more broadly on society, will make it necessary for sponsors to adjust how they manage clinical trials and the people who participate in these trials. The guidance provides concrete information on changes and protocol deviations which may be needed in the conduct of clinical trials to deal with extraordinary situations, e.g. if trial participants need to be in self-isolation or quarantine, access to public places (including hospitals) is limited due to the risk of spreading infections, and healthcare professionals are being reallocated. This guidance includes a harmonised set of recommendations, to ensure the utmost safety of trial participants across the European Union while preserving the quality of the data generated by the trials. It also advises how these changes should be communicated to authorities. There is specific advice on the initiation of new clinical trials for treatments of COVID-19, and in particular on the need for large, multinational trial protocols. This is in line with the call issued on Thursday by EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) for robust trial methodology in clinical trials for potential COVID-19 treatments or vaccines. The guidance was agreed by the Clinical Trials Expert Group (CTEG) of the European Commission supported by EMA, the Clinical Trials Facilitation and Coordination Group (CTFG) of HMA and the GCP Inspectors’ Working Group. It provides a harmonised approach in the conduct of trials, in order to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic. In the EU, clinical trials are authorised and supervised at national level. Sponsors are advised to also check whether there might be specific national legislation and guidance in place to complement or in some cases to take priority over this new guidance. Notes
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Updated - European authorities working to avoid shortages of medicines due to Brexit – questions and answersJanuary 31, 2020 Updated version of the document "European authorities working to avoid shortages of medicines due to Brexit – questions and answers" has been prepared by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The document provides answers to potential questions on the supply of medicines in the EU in the context of Brexit. Likewise, it explains what EMA, the European Commission and national competent authorities in the Member States are doing to prevent potential medicine supply shortages due to Brexit. "European authorities working to avoid shortages of medicines due to Brexit – questions and answers"
The EU-Innovation Network (EU-IN) announces the introduction of a pilot for Simultaneous National Scientific Advice (SNSA)January 29, 2020 The EU-Innovation Network (EU-IN) announces the introduction of a pilot for Simultaneous National Scientific Advice (SNSA) to further strengthen early regulatory support for innovation, featuring:
Start of the pilot to develop a best practice model is February 1st, 2020 with as many different NCA pairs as possible and potential extension planned to the participation of more than two NCAs beyond 2020 pending on a positive outcome of the pilot evaluation at the end of 2020. Guidance for applicants on a pilot for SNSA
Key principles for the use of electronic product information for EU medicinesJanuary 29, 2020 EMA, the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) of EU Member States and the European Commission (EC) have published today key principles outlining a harmonised approach to develop and use electronic product information (ePI) for human medicines across the European Union. The product information (PI) of a medicine includes the package leaflet for patients and the summary of product characteristics (SmPC) for healthcare professionals. These documents accompany every single medicine authorised in the EU and explain how it should be prescribed and used. The package leaflet is provided in the medicine’s box and can also be found, often as a pdf document, on the websites of EU regulators. However, digital platforms open additional possibilities to disseminate the PI electronically. This can address some of the current limitations (e.g. the current PI is not interoperable with other electronic health systems such as e-prescription and electronic health records) and better meet patients’ and healthcare professionals’ needs for accessible, trustworthy and up-to-date information on medicines available at the right time. The ePI initiative was launched to support the digital transformation of healthcare across the EU, and the commitment laid out by the European Commission to prioritise innovations that will empower citizens and build a healthier society. It is also in line with EMA’s current digitalisation efforts aiming to make best use of available resources and prepare for future challenges. The key principles describe the benefits ePI can deliver for public health and the efficiencies it may introduce in regulatory procedures. They explain how ePI will be provided as open access information that complements the paper package leaflet. They also outline a flexible, harmonised approach to implementation across the EU, and describe how ePI will work in the EU’s multilingual environment and will interact with other ongoing digital initiatives at EU and global level. The key principles derive from extensive discussions and consultations carried out in 2018 and 2019 by EMA, HMA and the EC with representatives of all stakeholder groups concerned, from patients, healthcare professionals and regulators to the pharmaceutical industry. In particular, during a public consultation that took place from January to July 2019, 71 contributions from all stakeholder groups were received, including over 500 comments which were considered for the final version. A summary of the main points raised in the consultation and the submissions are also published today. The key principles were endorsed at the end of 2019 by EMA’s Management Board and by the HMA. They are now expected to be followed by all parties involved in the process of developing and implementing ePI for medicines across the EU. Notes: Contact points: Heads of Medicines Agencies Permanent Secretariat EMA press office European Commission
Ten recommendations to unlock the potential of big data for public health in the EUJanuary 20, 2020 The joint Big Data Task Force of EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) proposes ten priority actions for the European medicines regulatory network to evolve its approach to data use and evidence generation, in order to make best use of big data to support innovation and public health, in a report published today. Big data are extremely large, rapidly accumulating datasets captured across multiple settings and devices, for example through wearable devices, electronic health records, clinical trials or spontaneous adverse reaction reports. Coupled to rapidly developing technology, big data can complement the evidence from clinical trials and fill knowledge gaps on a medicine, and help to better characterise diseases, treatments and the performance of medicines in individual healthcare systems. The rapidly changing data landscape forces regulators to evolve and change the way they access, manage and analyse data and to keep pace with the rapid advances in science and technology. “I look forward to working with the European Commission and national competent authorities to see how these concrete proposals can be implemented to better harness the potential of big data. This will help to further strengthen the robustness and quality of the evidence upon which we take decisions on medicines,” said Guido Rasi, EMA’s Executive Director. “The changes proposed will require investment to build up capacity and skills at national and EU level. This is needed if we want to establish the EU network as a reference for data-driven decision-making,” said Thomas Senderovitz, Chair of the HMA Management Group. The report makes several recommendations out of which ten are viewed as priorities. The most ambitious of these top ten recommendations is the establishment of an EU platform to access and analyse healthcare data from across the European Union (Data Analysis and Real World Interrogation Network, or DARWIN). This platform would create a European network of databases of verified quality and content with the highest levels of data security. It would be used to inform regulatory decision-making with robust evidence from healthcare practice. Other recommendations are intended to enhance guidance and resources within the EU regulatory network for data quality and data discoverability (choice of key metadata) and to build up computing and analytical capacity. The joint task force advises to develop the skills to process and analyse big data within the network through training to enhance the capacity of regulators to assess applications for the authorisation of medicines that use big data sources as part of the evidence on benefits and risks. It proposes to establish a learning initiative to track and review outcomes of these types of submissions. The report also emphasises the need to ensure data are managed and analysed within a secure and ethical governance framework, and in active dialogue with key EU stakeholders including patients, healthcare professionals, industry, Health-Technology Assessment bodies (HTAs), payers, device regulators and technology companies. All these activities should be done in collaboration with international initiatives on big data. Established in 2017, the HMA - EMA Joint Big Data task force is composed of experienced medicines regulators and data experts appointed by national competent authorities, EMA and the European Commission. The first phase of its work -published in early 2019- reviewed the landscape of big data and identified opportunities for improvements in the operation of medicines regulation. Published today, the practical suggestions made in the second phase of its work aim to inform strategic decision-making and planning by the HMA and EMA and to contribute to the upcoming EU Network Strategy to 2025. The implementation of the recommendations is being considered in full consultation with the European Commission services. Notes
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July 4, 2019 Medicine shortages: EU network takes steps to improve reporting and communicationThe EU task force set up to address problems with medicines supply has published two documents today:
The task force was established by European Union regulators to better address potential problems with medicines’ supply and to develop and coordinate actions to facilitate the prevention, identification, management of and communication about shortages. Both documents lay the foundations for an improved and harmonised EU approach in reporting of and communication on medicines’ shortages and availability issues, a key public health priority for the EU network. The first document provides guidance to the pharmaceutical industry, a key player in addressing shortages, to facilitate the detection and early notification to competent authorities. The guidance is based on a common definition of the term "shortages", which should enable a more harmonised and timely approach in the detection and management of issues with the supply of medicines. A proposed template for shortage notification by companies is included in the guidance. The guidance and template will be implemented in a pilot phase, which is currently planned to start in the last quarter of 2019. Further information will be provided nearer the time. The second document, addressed to EU national competent authorities and EMA, lays out principles and examples of good practices for communication on shortages to the public, including patients and healthcare professionals. These groups require timely, accurate and up-to-date information on availability issues to ensure continuity of care. The guidance is based on a survey carried out by the task force in all EU Member States to collect information on how issues related to shortages and availability of medicines are measured and communicated to the public. The documents are two key deliverables of the task force and they have undergone extensive consultation with stakeholder groups, including at a multi-stakeholder workshop in November 2018. They are listed in the work programme 2018-2020, which has been recently updated. The task force was set up by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), with representatives from the European Commission and national competent authorities, the chairs of the Co-ordination Group for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures – Human (CMDh) and Veterinary (CMDv), the GMP/GDP Inspectors Working Group, the Working Group of Communication Professionals (WGCP) and the European Surveillance Strategy Working Group (ESS WG). Shortages and availability problems are complex with no quick solutions. Medicine regulatory authorities are only one of the many actors involved in availability issues, however they play an important role in prevention and management. By bringing together experts from various EU member states, the work of the task force lays the foundations for an improved and harmonised EU approach in addressing the problems of medicines’ availability issues. Its mission is to develop and coordinate actions for better prevention, identification, management of and communication on issues that can affect the availability of medicines, in order to improve continuity of supply of human and veterinary medicines across Europe. Notes Contact points: Heads of Medicines Agencies Permanent Secretariat EMA press office
July 3, 2019 Call for all sponsors to publish clinical trial results in EU databaseThe European Commission (EC), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) have co-signed a letter reminding all sponsors of clinical trials conducted in the European Union of their obligation to make summaries of results of concluded trials publicly available in the EU Clinical Trials Database. Transparency and public access to clinical trial results, whether positive or negative, are fundamental for the protection and promotion of public health. It assures trial subjects that their voluntary participation in clinical trials is useful and that the results have been collated and reported for the benefit of all. In addition for those medicines which are placed on the market or used in further clinical trials it allows patients and healthcare professionals, or any other citizen, to find out more information about medicines they might be taking or prescribing. Transparency also enhances scientific knowledge, and helps to advance clinical research and support more efficient medicine development programmes. It is the responsibility of sponsors to ensure that the protocol information and results of all clinical trials is submitted in the EU Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT); this information is publicly available through the EU Clinical Trials Register (EU CTR). Since July 2014, sponsors are required to post results within one year after the end of a clinical trial (or 6 months for a paediatric trial). This information is also shared with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) of which EU CTR is a primary registry. As of April 2019, the EudraCT database included 57,687 clinical trials in total, out of which 27,093 were completed. Out of these completed trials, 18,432 should have had results posted; sponsors were in compliance of the publication requirements for 68.2% (12,577) of the trials, however results were still lacking for 31.8% of them (5,855). The reporting compliance of non-commercial sponsors (e.g. academia) was much lower than for commercial sponsors (i.e. companies), with 23.6% of results posted for non-commercial sponsors vs 77.2% for commercial sponsors. Academic sponsors or smaller companies often lack awareness or incentives to post clinical results, therefore the EU authorities are taking various steps to ensure sponsors are aware of their obligations and can act on them. One of these initiatives is the "letter to stakeholders regarding the requirements to provide results for authorised clinical trials in EudraCT", co-signed by Anne Bucher, Director General of the EC’s DG Health and Food Safety, Guido Rasi, Executive Director of EMA, and Thomas Senderovitz, Chair of HMA Management Group. It will be disseminated to various stakeholder groups, with a goal in particular to reach academic sponsors. This should help to spread the word about the importance of making clinical trial results publicly available. Amongst other initiatives conducted at EU level, EMA has since September 2018 been identifying trials with missing results on a monthly basis and sending reminders to the sponsors of those trials to ensure compliance with the transparency rules and their follow up on their results reporting obligations. Joint Letter by the European Commission, EMA and HMA – Letter to stakeholders regarding the requirements to provide results for authorised clinical trials in EudraCT | pdf Contact points: European Commission EMA press office Heads of Medicines Agencies Permanent Secretariat
February 26, 2019 HMA - EMA Joint Big Data Task Force Summary Report and public consultation on core recommendationsRecommendations for a path towards understanding the acceptability of evidence derived from ‘big data’ in support of the evaluation and supervision of medicines by regulators were published today as part of a summary report of the HMA (Heads of Medicines Agencies) -EMA Joint Big Data task force. The recommendations and associated actions set out what needs to be addressed, but the mechanisms by which this may be achieved requires further focussed work over the coming year. Stakeholders are invited to submit feedback and observations on the recommendations to inform the upcoming work of the group. Massive amounts of data are generated on a daily basis through wearable devices, electronic health records, social media, clinical trials or spontaneous adverse reaction reports. There is no doubt that insights derived from this data will increasingly be used by regulators to assess the benefit-risk of medicines across their whole lifecycle. However, in order to benefit from and make prudent use of the data collected, regulators need a deeper understanding of the data landscape. The HMA - EMA Joint Big Data task force is composed of experienced medicines regulators from 14 national competent authorities and EMA. In preparing the report, it assessed the generation of ‘big data’, their relevant sources and main formats, the methods for processing and analysing big data and the current state of expertise across the European medicines regulatory network. A crucial step was defining ‘big data’ itself, a widely used term that is lacking a commonly accepted definition. The definition adopted by the task force reads as follows: “extremely large datasets which may be complex, multi-dimensional, unstructured and heterogeneous, which are accumulating rapidly and which may be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations. In general, big data sets require advanced or specialised methods to provide an answer within reliable constraints.” Six subgroups of data sources relevant to regulatory decision making were considered by the taskforce: genomics, bioanalytical ‘omics (proteomics, etc.), clinical trials, observational data, spontaneous adverse drug reactions data and social media and mobile health data. Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to submit their comments on the core recommendations in the summary report (not to exceed 1,000 words) to until 15 April 2019. In particular, views on prioritisation of future actions would be welcomed. The feedback received will be taken into account in the next phase of the work of the task force. A newly refined mandate for the group is in place for the next year to define next steps and prioritisation of actions. HMA contact: Heads of Medicines Agencies Permanent Secretariat
Withdrawal of the UK and EU rules for Quality testing of medicinal productsFebruary 25, 2019 Letter of European Commission | pdf, 21 February 2019
Towards electronic product information for EU medicinesNovember 21, 2018 EMA, the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) and the European Commission (EC) are organising a workshop on 28 November 2018 in London to agree with various stakeholders on common EU key principles to pave the way for implementing electronic product information (ePI) in the EU. The product information (PI) of a medicine in the EU includes the package leaflet for patients and the summary of product characteristics (SmPC) for healthcare professionals. These documents accompany every single medicine authorised in the EU and explain how it should be used and prescribed. The workshop follows up on an EC report highlighting that, despite efforts to make the PI easy to read and useful, there is still a need to improve how information on medicines is conveyed to patients and healthcare professionals. One of the key areas of this report is to explore how electronic formats can be used to improve citizens’ access to medicines' information. The package leaflet is currently provided in the medicine’s box and can also be found, mainly as a pdf document, on the regulators’ website. However, novel digital platforms open additional possibilities to disseminate the package leaflet electronically. This can enhance access to up-to-date information and offer new opportunities to better tailor this information to the needs of patients. In addition, ePI will support patients with visual impairments and citizens with low literacy levels. The workshop offers a platform for healthcare professionals, patients and consumers, academics, non-profit organisations, regulators and the pharmaceutical industry to discuss:
The outcome of the workshop will serve as a basis to draft key principles for the use of ePI in the EU, which will be released for a six-month public consultation in January 2019. The workshop will be live streamed on EMA’s website. No registration or password is required. Participants interested in tweeting about this event are invited to use the hashtag #ePI4Medicines. Progress on using electronic means for a better dissemination of product information in Europe is one of the key priorities of the action plan that EMA published in 2017 to address the shortcomings identified in the EC report and to improve the PI for EU medicines. In addition to electronic formats for the PI, other initiatives focus on:
The timelines of these activities may need to be adjusted in view of EMA's business continuity plan in the context of Brexit and the Agency's upcoming relocation to the Netherlands. EMA and the European Commission are committed to working together with EU Member States to successfully implement the action plan. All relevant stakeholders will be involved as their input is crucial to ensure that their needs are addressed. Contact our press officers European Commission EMA press office Heads of Medicines Agencies Permanent Secretariat
Working with stakeholders to improve availability of medicines in the EUNovember 8, 2018 The Task Forceset up by EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) on availability of authorised human and veterinary medicines is organising a two day-workshop (8-9 November 2018) at EMA in London to gather stakeholders' perspectives on how to better address potential problems with the supply of medicines and how to avoid shortages of medicines. Improving the availability of human and veterinary medicines authorised in the EU is a key priority of the EU Medicines Regulatory Network. The aim of the Task Force is to develop and coordinate actions for better prevention, identification, management of and communication on issues that can affect availability of medicines, in order to improve continuity of supply of human and veterinary medicines across Europe. In the context of the potential supply disruption of medicines following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the Task Force is serving as a platform to facilitate and coordinate actions between Member States, EMA and the European Commission. The Task Force’s work programme for the coming two years was published in August 2018. Day 1 of the workshop is a technical meeting with industry stakeholders to focus on the pharmaceutical industry’s critical role in the prevention and management of medicine shortages. Industry stakeholders are invited to give their feedback on the technical implications of some of the actions set out in the work plan of the Task Force in the field of human medicines and to present best practices already developed for the prevention of shortages. Day 2 of the workshop will bring together regulators, industry representatives, healthcare professionals, patients and consumers, academia and NGOs. The purpose of this second day is to obtain the views of all stakeholders on the work of the Task Force and to discuss how the different stakeholder groups can contribute to the actions in the workplan. The workshop will mainly focus on human medicines; however, issues common to both human and veterinary medicines will be addressed in the context of Brexit. The workshop is by invitation only but day 2 will be broadcast live on EMA’s website. Link to live broadcast of the HMA/EMA multi-stakeholders workshop on 9 November can be found here. Agendas for both days are available. The Task Force consists of representatives from EMA, the European Commission and National Competent Authorities, the chairs of the Co-ordination Groups for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures – Human (CMDh) and Veterinary (CMDv), the GMP/GDP Inspectors Working Group, the HMA Working Group of Communication Professionals (WGCP) and the European Surveillance Strategy Working Group (ESS WG).
Safety features implementationOctober 22, 2018 The delegated Regulation on the characteristics of the safety features and the new medicine verification system will apply as of 9 February 2019. More information for the Marketing Authorisation holders, wholesalers or pharmacies can be found on the attached joint letter drafted by DG Santé, HMA and EMA. The European Commission currently do not plan to exempt additional prescription medicines or product categories from the requirements to bear features ("whitelisting"). All stakeholders must be ready to meet their obligations on 9 February 2019. For further details please see the European Commisssion website
Towards improving the availability of medicines in the EUAugust 29, 2018 EU-wide Task Force publishes work programme 2019/20 and prepares multi-stakeholder workshop The Task Force set up by European Union (EU) regulators to better address potential problems with medicines’ supply and to avoid shortages published today its work programme for the coming two years. Improving the availability of human and veterinary medicines authorised in the EU is a key priority of the EU Network. The work programme lists actions for regulators and industry alike to ensure the availability of medicines for the benefit of patients in the EU. The Task Force has been set up by the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) with representatives from the European Commission and interested national competent authorities, the chairs of the Co-ordination Group for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures – Human (CMDh) and Veterinary (CMDv), the GMP/GDP Inspectors Working Group, the Working Group of Communication Professionals (WGCP) and the European Surveillance Strategy Working Group (ESS WG). The Task Force will develop and coordinate actions for better prevention, identification, management of and communication on issues that can affect the availability of medicines, in order to improve continuity of supply of human and veterinary medicines across Europe. Key priorities of the Task Force include:
The Task Force will organise a multi-stakeholder workshop on 8-9 November 2018 to gather stakeholders’ perspectives on how to address availability issues and to include their input into the deliverables of the task force. It will bring together all stakeholders impacted, including patients, consumers, healthcare professionals, industry, wholesalers/distributors, parallel distributors, academia and regulators. The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU is also likely to affect the availability of medicines in the EU. In this context, the Task Force provides a platform to facilitate and coordinate actions between Member States, EMA and the European Commission. Work programme of the HMA/EMA task force on availability of authorised medicines for human and veterinary use | pdf EU regulatory network reflection paper on the availability of authorised medicinal products for human and veterinary use | pdf
EMA goes to: Amsterdam – congratulations from the Heads of Medicines Agencies!November 21, 2017 The decision for the new EMA location has been made: Amsterdam will be the future home of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) compliment The Netherlands on this extraordinary success. "The Amsterdam location will allow the experts from the national European agencies regulating medicines in Europe to travel to EMA and continue their important work in the EMA committees and working parties” says Prof. Cichutek, chair of the HMA Management Group. The EMA’s business procedures are crucial for the continued efficient coordination of the centralized work of the European Medicines Competent Authorities. A timely and smooth relocation is an important prerequisite. This ensures that the experts of the European medicines agencies are able to access the EMA continuously and easily allowing them to maintain and promote regulation of safe and efficacious medicines for European patients.
Big Data Industry Stakeholder SurveySeptember 20, 2017 Rapid developments in technology have resulted in the generation of vast volumes of data, creating new evidence, which has the potential to add significantly to the way benefit-risk of medicinal products is assessed over their entire life cycle. While creating huge opportunities, it is recognised that there are also significant challenges in the use of these data. The HMA/EMA Joint Task Force on Big Data was launched in March of this year as an initial response to these challenges. As part of its work, the Task Force launches an e-survey addressed to pharmaceutical companies to inform the development of a Big Data Strategy for the European Medicines Regulatory Network. The survey seeks to understand the current experience, key challenges, applicability and added value of Big Data in the context of the life cycle of a product. The e-survey can be found here The questionnaire is open until 20 October 2017. A summary report will be made publically available as an output of the Task Force. For queries on the survey, please write to .
Veterinary stakeholders meeting: Lumpy skin diseaseJuly 19, 2017 A Stakeholder focus group meeting on availability of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) vaccines attended by all National Competent Authorities was held in London on January 31, 2017. There was an unequivocal preference by all stakeholders, notably National Competent Authorities, farmers and consumers, to have access to vaccines manufactured and tested to EU standards to guarantee the quality, safety and efficacy of products used on the territories. The objectives of the meeting were to assess the situation with regard to the currently available vaccines, and to identify steps that could facilitate the authorisation of LSD vaccines to EU standards. Causes of Lumpy skin disease Lumpy skin disease is caused by a Capripoxvirus affecting cattle, but showing specific characteristics when compared to Sheepoxvirus and Goatpoxvirus. The mechanism for virus transmission is still unclear, but mosquitoes and flies seem to play an important role as mechanical vectors. The disease was first identified in Zambia in 1929, and moved subsequently to the southern part of Africa, then spread north through Africa before reaching Israel in 1989. It is now endemic in Turkey and it reached Greece in 2015 and Bulgaria in 2016. These two member states started vaccination under Article 8 of Directive 2001/82/EC with non-EU authorized vaccines, in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Although not yet infected, Croatia started also vaccination because it is neighboring the infected areas. Lumpy skin disease signs range from inapparent to severe disease, including fever, discharge from the eyes and nose, nodular, necrotic skin lesions, edema of the limbs, and swollen lymph nodes. Morbidity can be very high (up to 45%) but mortality is moderate (up to 10%). LSD is of economic importance, due to weight loss, drop in milk production, less frequently abortion and death. There are currently no approved vaccines available in the EU for prevention of LSD despite incursion of disease into some MSs since 2015. Under emergency procedures, live homologous attenuated vaccines sourced from third regions had been used in MSs to control outbreaks of the disease under the emergency provision of Article 8 of EU Directive 2001/82/EC, based on published data indicating that vaccination can have a significant impact in reducing LSD virus spread and thereby reduce the extent of culling and improve the situation for animal health and welfare. Preventive measures to avoid Lumpy skin disease In this context, the feedbacks after vaccination indicated that, although the preventive measures have been effective to limit spreading of the disease, the side effects should not be underestimated: amongst the most serious ones, it appears that the currently available vaccines can cause increased morbidity and mortality of cattle and significant reduction in milk production. It was also highlighted that the clinical diagnosis of LSD is often difficult to achieve, amongst others because the appropriate diagnostic tools are not available. With regard to the development of vaccines compliant with the EU standard levels, the focus group meeting highlighted major issues from a scientific point of view. As the basic knowledge on the virus and the disease is still incomplete, the development of vaccines is quite challenging; in particular, the morbidity and the mortality rates being low, the number of animals to be included in efficacy trials must be high to hope seeing any benefit from vaccination, and to establish onset and duration of immunity; and finally, even if the reduction in clinical signs might be beneficial for vaccinated animals, another important point would be to prevent spreading of the disease, or at least strongly limiting it. All these aspects have a deep impact on the choice of the vaccine strain and the vaccine formulation. It was also recognised that more effective collaboration between EU competent authorities and stakeholders is paramount. The French Agency for Veterinary Medicines underlined that EU regulators and animal health risk managers need to understand product development challenges, manufacturing issues (particularly GMP requirements and capacity constraints) and supply time-lines to meet customer expectations. To facilitate the development of vaccines to EU standards, a shared approach for the risks would encourage manufacturers to invest in the development of products for which the potential market was uncertain and unpredictable.
BREXITJuly 5, 2017 Following the outcome of the UK European Union membership referendum in June 2016 the HMA will have to prepare for the UK leaving the EU. The British regulatory authorities (both MHRA and VMD) expressed and demonstrated that they are committed to the work in the EU medicines regulatory network as long as it remains unclear which changeswillbe implemented. However, the United Kingdom has invoked Article 50, thereby effectuating Brexit, on 29 March 2019. The European Union has set terms for the negotiation during a Brexit-summit on 29 April 2017. The decision of the UK to leave the EU and the negotiations in the Council lead to uncertainties within the European Medicinal Regulatory Network. To ensure business continuity in case the UK cannot continue to carry out European regulatory procedures, changes in the assignment of MRP/DCP and Centralised Procedures could be implemented in the future. The HMA and the consequences of the UK leaving the EU During the HMA meeting on 11 and 12 May 2017 in Valetta during the Maltese EU Presidency all heads agreed to: 1. In cooperation with the EMA continuously supervise HMA and EMA actions in order to avoid any duplications of work. 2. Focus primarily on continuity of DCP/MRP procedures and reply on the EMA with regards to the centralised procedures. 3. Closely cooperate with CMDh, CMDv, Clinical Trial Facilitation Group and all other HMA working groups to ensure the best preperation for the UK leaving the EU. In doing so, to use the analysis and proposals presented in the draft CMD White Papers on Brexit and to invite other HMA groups if relevant to present a similar analysis. The HMA agreed to set up a Brexit Preparedness working group that will keep oversight of all consequences of Brexit for the workload of the EU medicines regulatory network (the Network) within a preventive manner. The heads reiterates the wish to have the UK as a close partner in the future and continue the collaboration with the MHRA and VMD.
Worksharing in the Active Substance Master File (ASMF) AssessmentIn 2011, the HMA endorsed an idea to use worksharing in the assessment of the Active Substance Master File (ASMF) for multiple procedures. The idea was to save resources and increase consistency in procedures, as the same ASMF was used in different applications for marketing authorisation and was likely to be assessed repeatedly by different assessors. During previous 6 years, the Working Group On Active Substance Master File Procedures has invested a lot of work in the preparation and execution of a worksharing pilot (e.g. updates of existing guidelines, updated assessment report templates, development of ASMF AR database in CTS, development of an EUnumbering system, training material for agencies and industry). As the pilot was successfully finalised, the Heads agreed during the HMA Meeting held in Malta on 23 February 2017 that the ASMF worksharing procedure is a standard procedure to be used. The worksharing procedure is a voluntary option for the industry. In addition, CMDh has been asked to prepare a draft paper with proposals in the direction of an independent assessment of an ASMF as a self-standing procedure and including postmarketing aspects in the further development of an ASMF.
1000th Procedure HMA Voluntary Harmonisation Procedure (VHP) for clinical trialsDecember 1, 2016 The European Voluntary Harmonisation Procedure for clinical trials (VHP) was first established in March 2009. Now, the 1000th application for the evaluation of a clinical trial has been received by several European countries. The VHP procedure fosters simultaneous initiation of the authorisation procedure for clinical trials in more than one European member state by submitting a single application. Developing new medicinal products is a long and complex process. After a pre-clinical phase of development and manufacture in conformity with GMP (“Good Manufacturing Practice”), new medicines must be evaluated in clinical trials, which asses the efficacy and safety of the product. Every country within the European Economic Area, in which such a clinical trial is to be conducted, requires a national authorisation. While a separate procedure of validation, assessment, request for information, and approval/rejection was required for each country, the Voluntary Harmonisation Procedure has for several years been a tool for the initiation of an authorisation procedure across several countries selected by the applicant for conducting the clinical trial working together in the assessment. The procedure was developed by the 'Clinical Trials Facilitation Group' (CTFG), a working group of the HMA ('Heads of Medicines Agencies'). For eight years, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute (PEI) successfully coordinated this Network effort of national competent authorities. The VHP reduced the period required for authorities to authorize a multinational trial to 60 days in all EU countries involved. Meanwhile, around 20 % of all applications for clinical trials to be conducted in more than one European country are submitted using the VHP. Professor Klaus Cichutek, head of the HMA Management Group and president of the PEI said: “The HMA is proud that the Voluntary Harmonisation procedure has in the meantime been so well accepted by applicants world-wide, simplifying and reducing the period required for the authorisation of such multinational studies importantly, the VHP served as a model for the procedure to become applicable with the new regulation on clinical trial in future for the authorisation of multinational European clinical trials in Europe."
Compassionate use programApril 14, 2016 The EU regulatory framework makes it possible for non-authorized medicines to be made available under certain circumstances. This is achieved through a compassionate use program. Relevant regulation According to article 83 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, medicinal products without a Marketing Authorisation ‘may be made available for compassionate reasons to a group of patients with a chronically or seriously debilitating disease or whose disease is considered to be life-threatening, and who can not be treated satisfactorily by an authorized medicinal product.’ National jurisdiction Compassionate use programs falls under national jurisdiction and, in most Member States under the remit of National Competent Authorities (NCA). Article 83 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, states that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has an advisory role at the request of a Member State. The individual NCA decide whether or not to approve the use of medicinal products without a market authorization. The NCA in the Member State decides if such a program fulfils an unmet medical need according to their clinical practices and available alternatives. Some Member States have a long tradition on early access programs, including compassionate use, and others have different provisions in their national legislation. Most of the compassionate use program notifications are submitted directly to the NCA within the different Member States. NCAs that publish guidance on their compassionate use programs within their Member States | List | pdf This list includes other early access schemes under article 5.
Colistin Resistance: The current human, food and animal situationMarch 4, 2016 The use of colistin in animals and people in Europe varies greatly from country-to-country. It is used as an antibiotic of last resort in human medicine, with particular heavy use in cystic fibrosis patients in the community. Colistin is the antimicrobial with the 5th highest sales for use in lifestock in the EU[i]. The pattern of use in livestock amongst MSs is not indicative of uniform adoption of EMA’s Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) best practice advice. The European Commission requested in April 2013 a scientific advice from the EMA on the impact of the use of antibiotics in animals on public health and animal health and measures to manage the possible risk to humans. This was in accordance with the Commission "Action plan against the rising threats from AMR" adopted in November 2011. The EMA advice of 2013 provided recommendations for colistin use in animals within the EU and indicated that they should be reviewed if there is a substantial increase of colistin resistance in animal bacteria and other new relevant information for public health. To date resistance in bacteria to colistin had only been demonstrated in association with chromosomal mutations. A recent scientific publication[ii]indicated that in bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae) from pigs, retail raw meat (pork and chicken) and human patients in China a gene (mcr-1) has been found which enables horizontal (plasmid-mediated) transfer of resistance to colistin (polymyxins) between bacteria. This gene has now been found also in bacteria in Europe[iii],[iv],[v],[vi]. Since then, bacteria harbouring this transmissible colistin resistance have been reported from nearly all continents, and found also in ground beef, calves, chickens and turkeys. It has been found in archived material in the EU from as far back as 2005. Based on this new evidence the European Commission requested in December 2015[vii] EMA to update its advice on colistin by 30.06.2016 at the latest. To undertake this work, EMA’s CVMP requested to reconvene the Antimicrobial Advice Ad Hoc Expert Group (AMEG), who prepared the 2013 advice.[viii] [i] Fifth ESVAC report. Sales of veterinary antimicrobial agents in 26 EU/EEA countries in 2013. www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Report/2015/10/WC500195687.pdf [ii] Liu Y-Y, Wang Y, Walsh TR, et al. Emergence of plasmid-mediated Colistin resistance mechanism MCR-1 in animals and human beings in China: amicrobiological and molecular biological study. Lancet Infect Dis 2015 (Published online November 18, 2015: dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473- 3099(15^00424-7'). [iv] Quesada, A. et al. Detection of plasmid mediated colistin resistance (MCR-1) in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica isolated from poultry and swine in Spain. Research in Veterinary science 2016; 105 pp 134-135 [v]Hasman, H. et al. Detection of mcr-1 encoding plasmid-mediated colistin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from human bloodstream infection and imported chicken meat, Denmark 2015. Euro Surveill. 2015; 20(49) [vi] Perrin-Guyomard, A. et al. Prevalence of mcr-1 in commensal Escherichia coli from French livestock, 2007 to 2014. Euro Surveill. 2016;21(6) [viii]Antimicrobial Advice ad hoc expert group (AMEG) Updating the advice on the use in animals of colistin - Mandate and rules of procedure. EMA/24480/2016
Multi Annual Work Plan adopted by HMAMarch 3, 2016 After finalisation of the joint HMA/EMA strategy to 2020, the HMA developed a Multi Annual Work Plan (MAWP) to bring the joint overarching strategy into operation on the HMA level with the involvement of all National Competent Authorities. The MAWP has been developed by a HMA taskforce and was debated extensively in break-out sessions during the 2015 HMA plenary meetings in Luxemburg and Dubrovnik. The MAWP has been adopted on 17 February 2016 during the 83rd HMA meeting in Amsterdam. Eleven topics were agreed as priority areas, namely:
Article 57 database – Variations – regulatory informationFebruary 1, 2016 On 17 December the EMA MB considered that the Article 57 database is functional for the purpose of notifications of changes in QPPV and PSMFL information. From 1 February 2016 Marketing Authorisation Holders no-longer need to notify EMA (for centrally authorised products) and National Competent Authorities (for nationally authorised products) of changes to the QPPV or PSMF data by submitting a type IAIN variation. Following the EMA MB decision the Commission has published the information on their webpage. Article 57 database – Variations – regulatory information
Workshop report on requirements for the authorisation of vaccinesAugust 4, 2015 The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published the outcome of a joint HMA/EMA/industry workshop which explored how to ensure the availability of veterinary vaccines in the European Union. How to improve the availability of veterinary vaccines in Europe
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)TTIP is a trade agreement to be negotiated between the European Union and the United States. The HMA Management Group send a letter to the European Commission with the request to give National Competent Authorities the possibility based on their expertise to provided their input on the chapter of PHARMACEUTICALS within TTIP. HMA MG Letter 6 May 2015 | pdf
HMA statement on the review of veterinary medicinal product legislationThe HMA provides a consensus statement on the review of the European veterinary medicinal product legislation. Letter from Klaus Cichutek, Chairman of the HMA
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HMA EMA common network strategy paper 2020Making a difference to human and animal health European Medicines Agency and Heads of Medicines Agencies consult on common network strategy to 2020 | pdf The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) have released the ‘EU Medicines Agencies Network Strategy to 2020’, a draft common strategy to 2020 for the European medicines agencies network, for a three-month public consultation. Stakeholders are invited to send their comments before 30 June 2015. The document under consultation outlines for the first time joint key priorities for the network and a high level strategy to achieve these. The need to further strengthen the collaboration between the members of the network and work together towards achieving agreed goals has become more urgent recently. Europe faces the global threat represented by antimicrobial resistance to human and animal health, and needs to be prepared for emerging epidemics, as reminded by the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa in March 2014. At the same time the healthcare needs of patients in Europe are changing. Advancements in science and medicine mean that new and more complex medicines are being developed, which may bring opportunities for personalised medicines and more treatments for rare diseases. Patients also require timely access to new, beneficial and safe medicines. The globalisation of the pharmaceutical industry means that greater collaboration with regulators beyond the European Union is essential to assure the supply of safe, effective and good quality medicines for humans and animals. The joint strategy for the European medicines agencies network is based on a coordinated approach and a strengthened collaboration within the network over the next five years, to address the challenges and make the most of the opportunities to benefit human and animal health. The network is unique in the global regulatory environment. It includes all national medicines regulatory authorities for both human and veterinary medicines from Member States of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), united in the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). By working closely together, the network can draw on the resources and expertise available across the EU, avoid duplication and share workloads. The draft strategy focuses on areas where collaboration within the network can make a real difference to human and animal health in the European Union over the next five years. It builds on the EMA roadmap to 2015 and the HMA strategy document 2011-15. The draft network strategy is arranged under four key themes focussing on: · human health · animal health and human health in relation to veterinary medicines · optimising the operation of the network · the global regulatory environment Separate multi-annual work programmes/implementation plans for EMA, HMA, and coordination groups for mutual recognition and decentralised procedures, human and veterinary (CMDh and CMDv) will be developed in order to give detailed information on the work of each component of the network, and will also describe how the strategy will be taken forward. All stakeholders are invited to send comments on the draft network strategic vision using this template to no later than 30 June 2015. Contact the HMA Permanent Secretariat Press Release | pdf Network strategy | pdf Template for comments | Word 03/25/14 Klaus Cichutek is the new chair of the HMA Management Group On 19th March 2014, the HMA Management Group appointed from among its members a new chairman, Klaus Cichutek. The HMA MG consists of 5 permanent and two alternating members, the latter are heads of national competent agencies of the current and incoming EUpresidencies (Greece and Italy). Klaus Cichutek is the head of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, the Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines in Germany. 07/03/13 Croatia - A new Member of the HMA Croatia has finished accession negotiations and on 9 December 2011 signed the Treaty of Accession to become the 28th member of the EU. The ratification process was concluded on 21 June 2013 and entry into force and accession of Croatia took place on 1 July 2013. Thus the HMA has a new member , the Head of the Croatian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medicinal Devices (HALMED), Viola Macolic Sarinic. Welcome! More information about HALMED 01/04/13 21 December 2012: HMA raise concerns about discussion on progress on health claims on botanticals used in foods The HMA express grave concerns regarding possible scenarios which are introduced in "Discussion paper on health claims on botanicals used in foods" published by the European Commission (EC). The outcome of this discussion may have a major impact on the future of the traditional herbal medicines regulatory regime, therefore every change of the current system should be evaluated very carefully to avoid any threats to public health safety. Read more 01/04/13 10 December 2012: HMA concerns regarding the adoption of the new Falsified Medicines Directive The implementation of the Directive 2011/62/EU as regards the prevention of entry into the legal supply chain on falsified medicines is to strengthen existing quality control and health protection measures for medicines and to introduce new measures aimed at preventing falsified medicines and their components from entering the legal supply chain in the European Union. It should be noted that the Falsified Medicines Directive was not transferred into Directive 2001/82 for veterinary medicinal products. Read more What statement best describes the importance of the Magna Carta?Which statement best describes the importance of the Magna Carta? Even the king must respect certain rights of the people.
What are the concepts of democracy?Cornerstones of democracy include freedom of assembly, association, property rights, freedom of religion and speech, inclusiveness and equality, citizenship, consent of the governed, voting rights, freedom from unwarranted governmental deprivation of the right to life and liberty, and minority rights.
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