Last week the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) (formerly the HDMA) held their annual Traceability Seminar in Washington DC. More than 450 people registered, shattering the previous record set just last year (see “Aggregation –> Chargeback Accuracy –> ROI”) and nearly equaling the record set in March for their 2016 Distribution Management Conference and Expo (see “HDMA DMC Serves Sizzling Steak With A Small Side Of Snake Oil”). This year’s event was executed nearly flawlessly with presentations by the FDA and wholesale distributors, and various panel discussions with thought-leaders from drug manufacturers, 3PLs, contract manufacturers, wholesale distributors, repackages, hospitals and chain pharmacies. Here are some of my notes from the event. Continue reading HDA Delivers Home Run To Record-Breaking Audience
Will President Trump Eliminate The DSCSA?
President-elect Donald Trump has made no secret of his interest in eliminating regulations that burden businesses unnecessarily. And he may take a particular interest in those that were newly imposed under President Obama. He has vowed to use his first 100 days to repeal “Obamacare”, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and his plans include “… cutting the red tape at the FDA: there are over 4,000 drugs awaiting approval, and we especially want to speed the approval of life-saving medications.” Could the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) get caught up in that vow and also be repealed? There are three obvious possibilities. Continue reading Will President Trump Eliminate The DSCSA?
5 Myths About The DSCSA In 2023
There are a number of misconceptions floating around the industry right now about what will happen in November of 2023, when the Enhanced Drug Distribution Security (EDDS) phase mandated by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) begins. It is surprising where you hear some of these, but they are all based on mis-reads of the DSCSA law itself. I’ll explain the myths, and then I will try to provide extracts from the DSCSA that expose them as myths. Continue reading 5 Myths About The DSCSA In 2023
China’s Retreat From Pharma Serialization: Will This Become A Global Trend?
China once had one of the most aggressive pharma serialization mandates of any market. Their compliance timeline began in 2007 with a list of “essential drugs” and ended in January of this year when, effectively, all drug packages were required to carry a unique serial number. Shortly after that milestone the government suspended that requirement, pending a new regulation. Since that time the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has posted several documents related to their new plans (see “China Adds Traceability Requirement To CFDA Drug Quality Management Specification”). Last month a new notice from the CFDA Continue reading China’s Retreat From Pharma Serialization: Will This Become A Global Trend?
Is The FDA Intentionally Delaying Publication Of The Overdue DSCSA Guidance?
Last week I wrote about the recent FDA DSCSA Public Meeting where the FDA asked for reports on the progress of the industry toward meeting the November 27, 2017 serialization requirements contained in the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) (see “FDA Forfeits Opportunity To Guide Industry”). In that essay I expressed a view that the FDA has squandered too much of the time necessary for the industry to meet whatever guidance they might offer about grandfathering and exceptions for products that are too small to accommodate a DSCSA product identifier. These guidance documents are now 11 months late.
What if the delay in publishing these guidance documents is intentional? Continue reading Is The FDA Intentionally Delaying Publication Of The Overdue DSCSA Guidance?
FDA Forfeits Opportunity To Guide Industry
I hope you were able to attend last Friday’s FDA DSCSA Public Meeting at FDA’s White Oak, Maryland campus (see “FDA To Hold DSCSA Public Meeting”). If you missed it, make sure you listen in on the recording that the FDA will provide on the event webpage. You can also submit written comments through that page as well. The event was called “Progress Toward Implementing the Product Identification Requirements of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA)” and it consisted of very brief introductory comments by the FDA followed by presentations made by attendees who applied for a speaking slot. Presentations covering progress toward the November 27, 2017 DSCSA serialization requirements were made by: Continue reading FDA Forfeits Opportunity To Guide Industry
Sponsored: Interview With Two Pharma Supply Chain Thought Leaders
The 4th Pharmaceutical Traceability Forum will occur on November 30 through December 2 in Philadelphia. Two of the top speakers will be Matt Sample, Senior Director, Secure Supply Chain from AmerisouceBergen, one of the “Big-3” wholesale distributors in the United States, and Christopher Howell, Senior Director, Global Engineering and Technology from Patheon, one of the largest pharma contract manufacturers in the U.S.. Recently, IQPC conducted an interview of both of these supply chain thought leaders. Get a copy of the interviews here. Continue reading Sponsored: Interview With Two Pharma Supply Chain Thought Leaders
DSCSA: Kit, Repack, Combo Product, or Just A ‘Collection’?…Again
I am writing this from Mumbai India where I am scheduled to speak at the Systech Uniquity Conference, but I will be home by the time you read this. I just won’t have time to publish a new essay this week due to the incredibly long flights I need to get home. So, here is a re-posting of a great essay from May 9, 2016.
DSCSA: Kit, Repack, Combo Product, or Just A ‘Collection’?
Medical convenience kits are exempt from the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). But be careful. Continue reading DSCSA: Kit, Repack, Combo Product, or Just A ‘Collection’?…Again
