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Regulatory Updates

DRAP issued a Draft of Guidelines on the Lot Release of Biological Drugs

Asad Ullah Drugs, General

The lot release of biological products is a part of the regulation of biological products. It involves the independent assessment of each lot of a licensed biological product before it is released in the market. In addition to manufacturing, the complexity inherent to biological products, proper storage conditions and efficient supply chain management must be ensured to preserve these products’ sensitivity and limited shelf life properties. For the reasons stipulated above, a careful independent review of manufacturing and quality control data on every lot of product as stated is, therefore, necessary before use. Lot release program enables National Regulatory Authority (NRA) to ascertain the safety, quality, and effectiveness of every lot of these products.

This draft guideline is uploaded on the official website of DRAP dated 5th May 2023, for seeking comments and suggestions from stakeholders on the draft document. Stakeholders can submit their comments and suggestions within 15 days of uploading this document using the prescribed format, (further information on comments submission can access at this link. Comments and suggestions can be forwarded via email to ayub.naveed∂dra.gov.pk, copied at director∂nclb.dra.gov.pk, or can be posted at the mailing address, The Director, National Control Laboratory for Biologicals, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s National Health Complex, Park Road, Chak Shehzad, Islamabad.

final-draft-guideline-for-lot-release-NCLB-dated-3-5-2023Download

Compliance to the Notice Dated 13-03-2023 with Regard to Specifications and Data related Activity in PIRIMS

Umer Farooq Drugs, General

DRAP has deployed an online application management system “Pakistan Integrated Regulatory Information Management Systm (PIRIMS)” ‘ for processing of regulatory information related to licensing, registration, and inspections of pharmaceutical and biological drugs.

Transforming manual operation to PIRIMs, DRAP requested marketing authorization holders of pharmaceutical and biological drug products to review and update their finished products Specifications. Accordingly, a notice was uploaded on the website of DRAP on 13m March, 2023, with the direction to all Registration Holders of pharmaceutical and Biological drug products to update finished products Specifications and validated method of testing i.e. Pharmacopoeial or in case of non-availability in any pharmacopeia, Innovator / Manufacturer’s Specification, in the corresponding product profile / details in the PIRMS at http://pirims.dra.gov.pk.

The timeline for submission of requisite information on the PIRIMS has been further extended till 09th June 2023 on the request of pharmaceutical industry.

Extension_in_timeline_for_compliance_of_FPS__STM1Download

DRAP issued Consolidated Notification for Regulatory Fees

Asad Ullah Advertisements, Alternative Medicines, Clinical Trials, Controlled Substances, Drugs, General, Licensing and Inspections, Medical Devices, Notifications, SROs

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) issued a consolidated notification of Regulatory fess for various functions and services. This notification is issued under the section (1) of section 20 of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Act, 2012 (XX.I of 2012) read with sub-rule (3) of rule 4 of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Fee and Levy) Rules, 2022, and in supersession of all such previous Notifications. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan with the approval of the Policy Board has specified these regulatory fees. The Notification is provided as under: –

DRAP-Consolidated-Fee-17.04.2023Download

Decisions of 56th Meeting of Medical Device Board (Deficiency letter for Medical Devices Applications)

Asad Ullah Medical Devices, Medical Devices Board

The Medical Device Board (MDB) of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan in its 56th meeting has deferred the following applications of registration of medical devices due to various deficiencies / shortcomings in the applications dossiers. These applicants are requested to furnish the requisite information / documentations as directed by the Medical Device Board. The detail is provided in the below attachment.

Applications for Local Manufacturing

Defered-Letter-of-56th-Meeting-of-MDB-LocalDownload

Applications for Import

Defered-Letter-of-56th-Meeting-of-MDB-ImportDownload

Stakeholders Comments are invited on the Draft Guidelines for Good Cold Chain Management Practices for Temperature-Sensitive Drug Products

Asad Ullah Drugs, General , , ,

The supply chain of Time and Temperature Sensitive Drug Products (TTSDPs) requires constant maintenance of temperature so that the cold chain remains integral to ensure that the product quality is not compromised. Registration holders of TTSDPs including manufacturers, Importers and exporters along with their authorized distributors, are required to provide suitable storage conditions throughout the life cycle of the product under the Drugs (Licensing, Registering & Advertising) Rules, 1976. Similarly, Pharmacies, Medical stores and other authorized sale outlets, and healthcare institutions are also required to provide suitable storage and distribution while dispensing TTSDPs under relevant provincial drug sale rules.

DRAP has drafted this guidelines to set out the principal requirements for the safe storage and distribution of time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products (TTSDPs). These guidelines intended to emphasize the increased importance of pharmaceutical cold chain management as a result of changing product environment, the requirements for Good Storage and Distribution Practices, current regulatory trends, quality management, risk assessment factors, and temperature monitoring system.

This draft guideline is uploaded on the official website of DRAP dated on 27th March, 2023, for seeking comments and suggestions from stakeholders on the draft document. Stakeholders can submit their comments and suggestions within 15 days of uploading this document using prescribed format. For further guidelines on how to submit comments visit DRAP website or click here. Comments and suggestions can be forwarded via email to ajmal.sohail∂dra.gov.pk, copying at akbar.ali∂dra.gov.pk, or can be posted at mailing address, Director, Quality Assurance & Lab Testing, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, 3rd floor TF Complex, 7th Mauve Area, G-9/4, Islamabad.

Draft_Guidance_on_Cold_Chain_Practices_FormattedDownload

Decisions of 55th Meeting of Medical Device Board (Deficiency letter for Medical Devices Applications)

Asad Ullah Medical Devices, Medical Devices Board

The Medical Device Board (MDB) of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan in its 55th meeting has deferred the following applications of registration of medical devices due to various deficiencies / shortcomings in the applications dossiers. These applicants are requested to furnish the requisite information / documentations as directed by the Medical Device Board. The detail is provided in the below attachment.

Applications for Registration of Medical Devices for Local Manufacturing

Deffered-letters-M-55-LocalDownload

Applications for Registration of Medical Devices for Import

Deffered-letters-M-55-ImportDownload

Decisions of 54th Meeting of Medical Device Board (Deficiency letter for Medical Devices Applications)

Asad Ullah Medical Devices, Medical Devices Board

The Medical Device Board (MDB) of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan in its 54th meeting has deferred the following applications of registration of medical devices due to various deficiencies / shortcomings in the applications dossiers. These applicants are requested to furnish the requisite information / documentations as directed by the Medical Device Board. The detail is provided in the below attachment.

Deferred-MDB-54Download

Important Notice to Pharmaceutical / Biological Manufacturers and Importers

Umer Farooq Drugs

DRAP has deployed an online application management system namely, Pakistan Integrated Regulatory Information Management System (PIRIMS) for processing of regulatory information related to licensing, registration and inspections of pharmaceutical and biological drugs.

All the Registration Holders of pharmaceutical and biological drug products are directed to update the finished product specifications and validated testing procedures i.e. Pharmacopoeial or in case of non-availability in any pharmacopeia, Innovator / Manufacturer’s Specification,  in the corresponding product profile / details in the PIRIMS at http://pirims.dra.gov.pk. The portal  to perform the above-said activity will remain accessible for thirty days after publication of this notice and afterwards, no request shall be entertained. It is further clarified that after the lapse of the due time for above-said activity, necessary regulatory fee may apply.

For further information and queries, Registration holders may contact Data Management Cell (DMC) of Pharmaceutical Evaluation & Registration Division through email (dmc∂dra.gov.pk) with regards to guidance for procedures and requirements etc.

Pakistan Integrated Regulatory Information Management System (PIRIMS)

PIRIMS enable the regulators and industry to communicate electronically for processing regulatory information related to licensing, registration, inspections procedures for pharmaceutical and biological drugs.

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Med Safety App Updates; Mobile Application for Reporting of Adverse Drug Reaction is Updated and Improved

Asad Ullah Pharmacovigilance, Press Releases, Regulatory Updates

Dear Med Safety App User!

DRAP would like to request all Med Safety Application Users to update the “Med Safety App” from the respective application store to install the latest features, improvements and bug fixes.

The developer of the app Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency (MHRA) UK has announced a significant update to the Med Safety App which is available from both Android and Apple app stores from Thursday 2nd March 2023. This update supports new features in the reporting form and allows us (National Pharmacovigilance Centre DRAP) to ask specific questions relating to a patient’s report based on the information provided. The update will also enable requests for further information to be displayed within the app and for user responses to be sent back to us. 

Available at Android and Apple Store
Med Safety App

Improvements to general performance and bug fixes released as part of this major update in new version of Med Safety Mobile Application.