In 2019, the US Food Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to 19 Indian pharma giants. The number has drastically increased from 10 companies in 2018. The USFDA issues warning letters to pharma companies if the products do not meet specific regulatory requirements. The warning letter makes clear that the company must correct the problem and plan in a timeframe to inform FDA for its correction, according to USFDA.
Some of the key reasons for receiving warning letters include data integrity, insufficient documentation, misleading claims about the efficacy and risks associated with the use of a drug product, significant violations of current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for finished pharmaceuticals and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (APIs), commercialization of unapproved or misbranded drugs.
Indian companies are at paramount of receiving warning letters owing to the rise in an inspection by the USFDA. Sharing his views on this Sudarshan Jain, Secretary-General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), Mumbai says “There is an increase in FDA inspections in India from earlier 13 percent in 2018 to 17 percent YTD 2019 of global inspections this year. This is obvious given India’s contribution to the US healthcare system as every third tablet sold in the US is from India.” The USFDA which has established its office in India in 2008 has increased its inspections. In 2017, USFDA has 147 inspections which have gone up to 192 in 2018. In 2016 the number inspections done by USFDA were 176.
“India is crucial for the US market as India has got the highest number of FDA approved manufacturing facilities. Hence, vigilance on India would always be high and any issues related to quality in the US due to Indian players will bring FDA vigilance under criticism as well”, says Prashant Khadayate – Practice Head, Healthcare, GlobalData.
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Bio Spectrum.
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This story is from the February 2020 edition of Bio Spectrum.
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