Yearly Archives: 2015

DSCSA Product Identifier

DSCSA “Serial Numbers”

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????????????????I often write about the fact that drug manufacturers and repackagers that sell into the U.S. market must put “serial numbers”, or “serialize” their drug packages and homogeneous cases before November 27, 2017, but what exactly does that mean?

Let’s break it down.  The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) defines the term “Product identifier” this way:

“PRODUCT IDENTIFIER.—

The term ‘product identifier’ means a standardized graphic that includes, in both human-readable form and on a machine-readable data carrier that conforms to the standards developed by a widely recognized international standards development organization, the standardized numerical identifier, lot number, and expiration date of the product.”  (Section 581[14])

Back in March of 2010—3 ½ years before Congress passed the DSCSA—the FDA published final guidance called “Guidance for Industry, Standards for Securing the Drug Supply Chain – Standardized Numerical Identification for Prescription Drug Packages”, which defined the term “standardized numerical identifier (SNI)” this way: Continue reading DSCSA “Serial Numbers” →

DSCSA Webinar Series

New DSCSA Webinar Series

??????????????????????????Do you need to understand the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) but do not have time or budget to attend a conference?  Webinars are the ideal way to get the same information you would collect at a conference without the travel hassles, expense and lost time.  That’s why Riya Cao of LSPediA and I have decided to offer a new series of webinars aimed at various important DSCSA topics.  We have announced three initial dates and topics and registration is currently open for all three.  They include: Continue reading New DSCSA Webinar Series →

Aggregation

When Will The DSCSA Ever Require Investments In Aggregation?

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Packaging Hierarchy. Drawing by Omega Design
Packaging Hierarchy. Drawing by Omega Design

I have been outspoken on the question of whether or not the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) requires companies in the supply chain to provide their customers with serial number-based aggregation data prior to 2023.  In my view, it does not, but others disagree, saying that there are requirements in the law that lead to the need for aggregation data during that time.  I do not agree with that either.  If you would like to review those arguments and find out exactly what “aggregation data” is, here is a list of RxTrace essays you should read:

Date Published Title/link
March 26th, 2012 Pharma Aggregation: How Companies Are Achieving Perfection Today
November 22nd, 2013 DQSA: Will U.S. Pharma Distributors Mandate Aggregation Data In Phase 1?
February 10th, 2014 Does The DQSA Require Manufacturers To Provide Aggregation Data? Survey Says…
June 9th, 2014 The Aggregation Hoax and PIA

BUT WHAT ABOUT AFTER 2023?

The DSCSA requires the FDA to conduct at least 5 topical public meetings between now and Continue reading When Will The DSCSA Ever Require Investments In Aggregation? →

Transaction Data Exchange

Is An ASN Really The Best Way to Pass Lot-Based DSCSA Transaction Data?

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??????????????We are now more than six weeks past the date that the DSCSA originally mandated drug manufacturers, repackagers and wholesale distributors to pass Transaction Information (TI), Transaction History (TH), and Transaction Statements (TS) to their customers in the U.S. and save a copy for six years (see “DSCSA: A Closer Look At The Six-Year Record-Keeping Requirement”).  Of course, just before Christmas, the FDA pushed out that part of the requirement until May 1, 2015 to ensure that the requirement did not induce or exacerbate drug shortages (see “FDA Postpones Enforcement of DSCSA Transaction Data Exchange Until May 1”).

Despite the delay, many companies are already passing the required data to their trading partners through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Advance Shipment Notices (ASNs) (see “HDMA Has Updated Their EDI ASN Guidance For DSCSA, Again”).  In fact, the vast majority of companies have Continue reading Is An ASN Really The Best Way to Pass Lot-Based DSCSA Transaction Data? →

DSCSA, Interoperability

Interoperability And The DSCSA

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Divi-Divi tree Aruba. Click image to enlarge.
Divi-Divi tree in Aruba. Click image to enlarge.

I just arrived home from a vacation in Aruba so I missed out on the winter weather many of you experienced last week.  Here are a few pictures to help warm you up!

While I was in Aruba I spent some time thinking about interoperability as it applies to the provisions of the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).  The text of the law uses the term “interoperable” multiple times with regard to the exchange of data between trading partners, but interestingly, it does not define the term.  That leaves the definition of the term up to the FDA.

Before we look at the FDA’s definition of “interoperable”, let’s Continue reading Interoperability And The DSCSA →

Healthcare Legislation

RAPS Explains The 21st Century Cures Act

House Engergy and Commerce CommitteeAlexander Gaffney, RAC, Manager, Regulatory Intelligence at the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) is right on top of any new proposed legislation related to FDA and other health-related federal government agencies.  Last week he reported on the contents of a discussion draft of the “21st Century Cures” Act that was made public by the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee (see Gaffney’s “Regulatory Explainer: The 21st Century Cures Act”).

At 393 pages, the draft bill, if enacted in its current form, would Continue reading RAPS Explains The 21st Century Cures Act →

Exception Handling

DSCSA Exception Handling: A Preview of Your Next Surprise Headache

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HDMA ASN Exception GuidelinesCompanies that participate in the U.S. pharma supply chain and are subject to the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) are preparing to meet the FDA’s 2015 deadlines for exchanging Transaction Information (TI), Transaction History (TH), and Transaction Statements (TS) for every shipment.  Those preparations include integrating the generation, transmission, confirmation, storage and retrieval (see “DSCSA: A Closer Look At The Six-Year Record-Keeping Requirement”) of these documents into their existing supply chain and regulatory compliance processes.  It is a big deal and it affects a large number of companies. Continue reading DSCSA Exception Handling: A Preview of Your Next Surprise Headache →

serialization

Pharmaceutical Traceability Forum Offers Strategic and Solution Focused Discussions to Prepare Organizations for the Upcoming Compliance Deadlines

PharmaTraceability Forum.300x250RxTrace is pleased to announce a partnership with the Pharmaceutical Traceability Forum, taking place March 30-April 1 in Boston, MA. In line with the upcoming regulatory and compliance deadlines, the Pharmaceutical Traceability Forum is the #1 event bringing together the brightest minds in the industry to discuss personal experiences and best strategies for preparing your serialization programs for 2015 and beyond.

Download the event agenda or request a copy via e-mail.

The Forum program, created for Continue reading Pharmaceutical Traceability Forum Offers Strategic and Solution Focused Discussions to Prepare Organizations for the Upcoming Compliance Deadlines →