Tag Archives: TS

DSCSA Web Portals

A Closer Look At Web Portals for DSCSA Transaction Data Exchange

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???????????????These are the last few days of 2014.  During the rush up to Christmas, the FDA gave the industry a gift by announcing that they will not enforce the transaction data exchange requirements of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) until May 1, 2015—a four month delay (see “FDA Postpones Enforcement of DSCSA Transaction Data Exchange Until May 1” for details).  So things are likely to be quieter this week than they otherwise might have been.  And if you are one of those who are working this week, why not fill out the 2015 RxTrace U.S. Pharma Traceability Survey, sponsored by Frequentz?  It will be closed soon so make sure you click here to fill it out now.

One of the approaches that the FDA mentioned in their data exchange guidance, published on November 26, is the use of secure web portals (see “FDA Publishes Draft Guidance For DSCSA Data Exchange”).  Some companies are Continue reading A Closer Look At Web Portals for DSCSA Transaction Data Exchange →

FDA Guidance

FDA Postpones Enforcement of DSCSA Transaction Data Exchange Until May 1

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?????????????????In a direct response to concerns expressed by the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) and others (see “HDMA Expresses Concerns About Industry Readiness for DSCSA” and “Will The DSCSA Cause Drug Shortages After January 1?”), the FDA posted new guidance that states their intention to postpone enforcement of just the requirements for manufacturers, wholesale distributors and repackagers to provide and capture Transaction Information (TI), Transaction History (TH) and Transaction Statements (TS).  That requirement was to Continue reading FDA Postpones Enforcement of DSCSA Transaction Data Exchange Until May 1 →

DSCSA, NDC

The DSCSA, the NDC, Inventory Management, GS1 GTINs…and Turkeys

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Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday!
Giving thanks!  It is my favorite holiday and I have a lot to be thankful for.

Until the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) was passed as part of the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA) last year (see “It’s Official, President Obama Signs H.R. 3204, DQSA, Into Law”), companies could use whatever code they wanted to refer to the prescription drug products in supply chain operations and for their own inventory management.  Some probably chose the 10-digit National Drug Code (NDC), some probably chose the 11-digit reimbursement code that is based on the 10-digit NDC, and some probably chose to use a 12- or 14-digit GS1 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) as a reference code for their inventory data.  But now that the DSCSA mandates the use of the 10-digit NDC when exchanging transaction data on January 1, companies using the other codes that are based on the NDC might need to Continue reading The DSCSA, the NDC, Inventory Management, GS1 GTINs…and Turkeys →

DSCSA

Will The DSCSA Cause Drug Shortages After January 1?

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FDALogoDr. Connie T. Jung, Acting Associate Director for Policy & Communications, Office of Drug Security, Integrity and Recalls, Office of Compliance, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, spoke last week at the 2014 Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) Traceability Seminar in Arlington, VA.

The presentation was similar to those given in the past except she provided an update on the progress of the next draft guidance the Agency is expected to publish on standards for data exchange (see “DSCSA: Many Questions, Few Answers”).  The deadline imposed on the FDA by the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) is November 27, 2014 for that draft, but during the FDA DSCSA Workshop last spring (see “The 2014 FDA DSCSA Workshop”), Dr. Jung said that the Agency recognized the need to publish earlier than that.  Last week she indicated that they will Continue reading Will The DSCSA Cause Drug Shortages After January 1? →

DSCSA, Repackaging

Who Is A DSCSA Repackager?

????????????????????????A while back I posted an essay called “Who Is A DSCSA Dispenser?”.  I don’t think many actual dispensers read it because about half of the dispensers I run into think the earliest they have to do anything is July of next year.  The other half don’t think there is anything in the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) about them at all.  Too bad.  Both are wrong.

Fortunately I think repackagers know better.  At least they should, because the DSCSA contains a lot of specific requirements for them.  Repackagers have most of the same requirements that manufacturers do, plus they have many of the wholesale distributor requirements.  A double whammy.

Most people in the industry know what a repackager is.  Typically they are companies that buy drugs from a manufacturer or a wholesale distributor and then open the packages and put the drug into a new package type.  This can include putting the drug into a larger or smaller quantity package, or from bottles into blister cards or even unit dose packs for use in an automated picking machine.  It can also include companies who Continue reading Who Is A DSCSA Repackager? →

GS1 Healthcare US

The GS1 Healthcare US Guidance For DSCSA, Vsn 1.1

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GS1 US logoA few weeks ago, GS1 Healthcare US published version 1.1 of their guidance for using the GS1 Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) standard to meet the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).  See “GS1 Healthcare US Publishes Updated Guidance For DSCSA”.  I was too busy at that time to review the document properly, but it is an important addition to the spectrum of information that companies can use to help them understand how to best meet the requirements of the DSCSA so I wanted to get back to it when I had time.  That time is now.

As long term readers of RxTrace know, I did not believe EPCIS would ever be usable to meet the now obsolete California Pedigree law (see “The California Pedigree Law Is Now Officially Inoperative”), or any other State pedigree laws, and I do not believe it will be widely used to meet the Federal DSCSA before maybe 2021 or 2022, but I do believe it will take center-stage for meeting the long-term requirements of the DSCSA.

In 2023 the DSCSA transitions into Continue reading The GS1 Healthcare US Guidance For DSCSA, Vsn 1.1 →

EPCIS

Will GS1’s EPCIS Be Used Widely For DSCSA Data Exchange?

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????????????????????????????????????????I am confident that GS1’s Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) standard will take center stage in 2023 when the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) transitions into what that law calls the “Enhanced Drug Distribution System”, or EDDS.  That’s when the DSCSA mandates that supply chain changes of ownership of prescription drugs must be documented in an interoperable electronic system based on their unique serial numbers.

Each of the steps that must be implemented by the industry between now and Continue reading Will GS1’s EPCIS Be Used Widely For DSCSA Data Exchange? →

DSCSA

Should You Off-Load Your DSCSA Obligations To Your Contract Partners?

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??????????????????????Manufacturers who make use of third-party contract manufacturers, contract packagers and/or third-party logistics providers (3PLs) may wish to off-load their 2015 and 2017 obligations under the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) to those contract organizations.  These obligations include providing Transaction Information (TI), Transaction History (TH) and Transaction Statements (TS), and collecting and holding that data in case of future investigations starting this coming January; and applying the necessary 2D barcode with serial numbers starting in November of 2017.

This may seem perfectly logical.  After all, absorbing responsibilities is one of the big benefits that contract organizations offer their customers.  But by passing on certain obligations under the law, DSCSA manufacturers may end up with higher risks in the future. Continue reading Should You Off-Load Your DSCSA Obligations To Your Contract Partners? →