Because of all the major news and developments over the last six months, it has taken me way too long to fully cover the Healthcare Distribution Alliance’s (HDA’s) 2016 Serialization Readiness Survey of drug manufacturers. In my defense, I did cover it partially in my report of the HDA 2016 Traceability Seminar (see “HDA Delivers Home Run To Record-Breaking Audience”), but the other news from that event seemed to overshadow the survey results. The HDA survey executive summary was so well done, and the results so important that it deserves closer scrutiny. So here is my coverage, better late than never. Continue reading HDA’s 2016 Serialization Readiness Survey
Tag Archives: EDDS
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
Is A GS1 GTIN Really Usable As An NDC For DSCSA Compliance? Part 2
Part 1 of this essay provided a wealth of hyperlinks into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and FDA guidance documents with content related to placing the National Drug Code in human- and machine-readable form onto drug packages prior to November 27, 2017 (see “Is A GS1 GTIN Really Usable As An NDC For DSCSA Compliance? Part 1”). In Part 2, we will look at how the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) will change, or add-to, the requirements found in those earlier specifications. And finally, we will be able to answer the question in the essay title.
HOW THE DSCSA CHANGES THE NDC AND BARCODE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG PACKAGES
First of all, the DSCSA does not change anything Continue reading Is A GS1 GTIN Really Usable As An NDC For DSCSA Compliance? Part 2
The 2016 FDA Pilots Workshop
I was initially disappointed in the FDA Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) Pilots Workshop that was held at FDA headquarters last week, but in the end, the outcome appeared to fit the need. Going in, I knew not to expect the FDA to convey any information to the attendees, so that is not why I was disappointed. I attended the public DSCSA workshop they held back in May of 2014 so I already knew their typical approach for workshops like these (see “The 2014 FDA DSCSA Workshop”). I knew that the purpose of the workshop was to inform the FDA, not to inform the attendees. I would estimate that about one out of every four attendees were expecting the opposite, and I would bet a significant percentage of those had not even read the DSCSA once. But that’s not why I was disappointed.
I was initially disappointed because Continue reading The 2016 FDA Pilots Workshop
RxTrace Preview of 2016
It’s time to think about what is likely to happen in 2016 with regard to pharma serialization and traceability. As part of that, let me remind you right off the top to fill out the 2016 RxTrace U.S. Pharma Traceability Survey, sponsored by Frequentz. You don’t have to be a subscriber to respond and the results will also be open to everyone in the coming months.
So what about 2016? I think Continue reading RxTrace Preview of 2016
Will EPCIS Event Exchange Replace EDI ASNs for DSCSA Someday?
The use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Advance Ship Notices (ASNs) in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain has expanded over the last year, due entirely to its recognition by the FDA as a valid method for passing the Transaction Information (TI), Transaction History (TH), and Transaction Statements (TS) as required by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) has encouraged that expansion by publishing a “how-to” guide for meeting the requirements of the DSCSA using an ASN (see “HDMA Has Updated Their EDI ASN Guidance For DSCSA, Again”).
Although not everything has worked out Continue reading Will EPCIS Event Exchange Replace EDI ASNs for DSCSA Someday?
Interoperability And The DSCSA
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
The Coming Battle Over Decommissioning At The Pharmacy
The U.S. pharma supply chain will operate under two major phases as dictated by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). We are now operating under the first major phase. Well, OK, it won’t be fully operational until July 1st when dispensers (see “Who Is A DSCSA Dispenser?”) are required to begin receiving, saving and retrieving Transaction Information (TI), Transaction History (TH), and Transaction Statements (TS) for each shipment they receive. Drug manufacturers, repackagers and wholesale distributors were supposed to begin exchanging those documents on January 1st but in late December the FDA issued a draft guidance that indicated they will not enforce that requirement until May 1st (see “FDA Postpones Enforcement of DSCSA Transaction Data Exchange Until May 1”). But be aware that according to the DSCSA, as of January 1st, all trading partners must be properly licensed and everyone may only buy and sell drugs legally from/to companies who hold a valid State or Federal license. Those and other requirements of the DSCSA were not delayed by the FDA.
The second major phase of the DSCSA will not occur until November 27, 2023 when the law transforms into something that is fairly nebulous right now. That is, between now and Continue reading The Coming Battle Over Decommissioning At The Pharmacy
