Medical Device Professionals to Learn “What They Need to Know” about Manufacturing Combinations Products & FDA Regulations at MD&M East Workshop

Medical device professionals will learn what they need to know about manufacturing combinations products and FDA Regulations at a workshop to be featured at MD&M East, the world's largest medical OEM event, in Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 18, 2013.

Titled “Combination Products: What You Need to Know,” the workshop will outline a realistic approach for medical device professionals to use in navigating the regulatory standards required for the approval, marketing, and manufacture of combination products. Topics will include:

• Defining a Combination Product
• Current and pending FDA regulations re: their approval, marketing, and manufacture
• Self-assessing the Primary Mode of Action (PMOA)
• Integrating with the FDA through the Request for Designation (RFD) Guidance from the Office of Combination Products (OCP)
• GMP issues involving the manufacture of a drug component with a medical device
• Differences between medical device cGMPs and pharmaceutical cGMPs: Jargon, regulations, and general culture
• Real-world case studies
• Questions & answers

Microtest Laboratories Director of Project Management, Manufacturing, Alex Mello will lead the workshop. Microtest Laboratories is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Mello has more than 20 years of experience in Aseptic Fill/Finish, Microbiology, Method Transfer, Stability of Drug Product, Medical Devices/Combo Products, and Sterilization Sciences. He holds a graduate degree in Biological Sciences and is a Specialist Microbiologist (NRCM).

 “Combination Products: What You Need to Know” will be featured at MD&M East as part of the event’s “Innovation Briefs” series. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, June 18 at 1 p.m. in booth #957. Attendance is free for MD&M East guests and participants. For more information, contact Microtest Laboratories by phone at 1-800-631-1680 or by email at amello@microtestlabs.com.

About Microtest Laboratories

Microtest Laboratories is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA, the company provides expertise and flexible processes that enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit http://www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680. Follow Microtest Laboratories on Twitter @MicrotestLabs at http://twitter.com/MicrotestLabs.

White Paper Addresses FDA Approval Challenges Facing Combination Product Manufacturers

AGAWAM, MASS. – December 1, 2008 – Even as the combination products market continues to experience dramatic growth, the approval process facing manufacturers seeking to introduce new medical devices embedded with pharmaceutical or biologics components is expected to become even more challenging and complex.

“Given the convergence of technologies, combination product manufacturers – often either medical device or pharmaceutical companies “crossing over to the new market” – must ensure their products meet cGMP practices as well as pass muster with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and The United States Pharmacopeia (USP),” said Steven Richter, Ph.D., President & Chief Scientific Officer of Microtest Laboratories, and a former FDA official.

“The combination products market is rapidly moving forward with a new direction and emphasis regarding product safety and FDA requirements,” said Richter. “The process, already complex, is likely to become even more so,” he warned.

In fiscal 2007, the FDA received 333 original applications for combination products, a 42 percent increase over 2006. The FDA itself reports that combination product submissions “raise challenging regulatory, policy, and review management issues... (that) can impact the regulatory processes of all aspects of the product life cycle.”

In the free white paper, “Combination Products: Navigating Two FDA Quality Systems,” Richter provides a helpful overview of the challenges facing combination product manufacturers. Download the white paper at www.microtestlabs.com/combinationpaper.

“For manufacturers, the convergence of devices and drugs or biologics brings a host of new FDA testing guidelines, practices, and regulations unique to the development and production of combination products – and generally outside their original core competence in achieving regulatory approvals as either a medical device or pharmaceutical manufacturer,” he said.

In the white paper, Richter discusses: Defining the Convergence, FDA Responsibility, QC Drug Release Criteria, Biologics, New Developments in FDA Thinking, and Future Considerations.

According to the FDA, some estimate the total global value of the drug-device combination products market will grow to $11.5 billion in 2010, up more than double from $5.4 billion in 2004.

Download the free white paper at: www.microtestlabs.com/combinationpaper. For more information, visit Microtest on the Web at www.microtestlabs.com, or call toll-free: 1-800-631-1680.

About Microtest
Microtest is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA, the company's expertise and flexible processes enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.

# # #

Public Relations contact: Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/

bookmark to del.icio.us

Technorati tags: Microtest, FDA regulations, white paper, whitepaper, combo products, combination products

White Paper Advises Pharma Manufacturers on How to Select an Aseptic Fill/Finish Contractor, Avoid the Most Common Mistakes

AGAWAM, MASS. – For pharmaceutical manufacturers, the process of choosing a Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) can be a challenging task. The ramifications of making a poor decision can result in schedule delays, regulatory approval issues, and lost revenue.

The informative white paper, “Selecting An Aseptic/Fill/Finish Contract Manufacturer: Avoiding the Most Common Mistake,” focuses specifically on the unique steps involved in selecting and working with an aseptic processing CMO to produce injectable Final Drug Product (FDP). Download it at: http://www.microtestlabs.com/asepticpaper.

In addition to providing guidance on the selection process, the white paper also discusses common mistakes made by potential clients. These oversights – and their remedies – are sourced from a collective experience base that covers contract aseptic Fill/Finish (F/F) manufacturing, contract bulk drug manufacturing, and aseptic F/F outsourcing of bulk drug product.

“The white paper is authored by John Dobiecki, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations for Microtest Laboratories. Dobiecki’s experience, which spans 25 years in the manufacturing and quality control of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biologic products, includes the preparation of INDs, NDA/ANDAs, CMC sections, and Pre-Approval Inspections (PAI), as well as multiple U.S. and European Regulatory Inspections.

In the white paper, Dobiecki:

• Details the nine key components of the RFP – The First Step (in the selection process)
• Discusses the finer points of Evaluating the Contractor’s Proposal
• Explains the two types of Site Visits and what should be included on the agenda
• Provides cautionary tips for making The Selection itself
• Warns of stumbling into making The Biggest Mistake which can derail a successful selection at any step of the process.

To download the white paper, free of charge, visit: http://www.microtestlabs.com/asepticpaper.

About Microtest

Microtest is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA, the company's expertise and flexible processes enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit http://www.microtestlabs.com/ or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.

# # #

Public Relations contact: Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/

bookmark to del.icio.us

Technorati tags: Microtest, FDA regulations, white paper, whitepaper, combo products, combination products