scholarly journals Biomedical Cell Products or High-Tech Drugs?

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-98
Author(s):  
V. A. Merkulov ◽  
E. V. Melnikova

Marketing authorisation is a prerequisite for the use of drugs in medical practice in the Russian Federation. The marketing authorisation procedure is applicable to ordinary medicinal products. As for advanced therapy medicinal products containing viable human cells — there are currently two authorisations pathways: athorisation of biomedical cell products (BCPs) at the national level according to the Federal Law No. 180-FZ «On biomedical cell products», and authorisation of high-technology drugs (HTDs) in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The production, pre-clinical and clinical studies, expert evaluation and marketing authorisation procedures are regulated by different legal acts and differ significantly. The aim of the study was to perform comparative analysis of concepts, terms, production process requirements, designs of pre-clinical and clinical studies, and the marketing authorisation procedures for BCPs as defined in the Russian and EEU legislation. It should be noted that both the Federal Law No. 180-FZ and the EEU legislative framework are not currently used due to the lack of such drugs (somatic cell-based BCPs or HTDs). Therefore, at present, the choice of the procedure of obtaining marketing authorisation for drugs containing viable human cells has to be made by the manufacturer, until the Russian and EEU legal frameworks become harmonised.

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 150-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. V. Melnikova ◽  
A. A. Goryaev ◽  
M. V. Savkina ◽  
O. V. Merkulova ◽  
A. A. Chaplenko ◽  
...  

The intensive development of cellular technologies stipulates the introduction at the global level of medicinal products based on viable human cells, which in most countries are referred to as biomedical cell products. The authors conducted a comparative analysis of the regulatory framework in different countries and determined special aspects of regulation of cell therapy products (analogues of biomedical cell products). Some countries have mechanisms for priority review of cell therapy products for marketing authorization, such as accelerated assessment, accelerated approval, or conditional marketing authorisation. These mechanisms are currently absent in Russia, because of the novelty of the regulatory framework, and the biological properties of innovative cell products. Biomedical cell products are regarded as a separate class of medicinal products in Russia, they are not treated as biologicals and are regulated by the Federal Law No. 180-FZ «On Biomedical Cell Products» of June 23, 2016. The main difference in regulation of cell-based products in the Russian Federation is the principle of unified requirements for marketing authorisation of autologous, allogeneic, and combined biomedical cellular products, and the absence of the «hospital exemptions» mechanism that exists in many countries. This mechanism allows prescription and use of personalised autologous medicines produced in the laboratory of a medical institution for a particular patient.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7

Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) embody innovative therapies that have created great hope for patients suffering from previously untreatable diseases. Unfortunately, the pharaonic cost to produce and authorise ATMPs is a challenge for both patients and public health care systems, ultimately reducing patients’ access to treatment. Over the last 11 years, only 15 ATMP marketing authorisation applications received a positive draft opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA’s) Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT). Moreover, due to poor return on investment, several ATMPs have already been removed from the market. In addition to the centralised procedure to obtain a marketing authorisation, the legislator foresees an alternative route for authorising ATMPs, the so-called “ATMP Hospital Exemption”. However, such ATMPs must be produced on a limited scale, on a non-routine basis. As a result, valuable ATMP therapies that have been used for years in hospitals may disappear. To avoid this, we propose, in this paper, an additional possibility to regularise ATMPs: the “Magistral Preparation of ATMPs”. It is a feasible pathway, which was already proposed for bacteriophage therapy, and which is particularly suitable for personalised therapies and considerably decreases the cost of the final products. We also discuss the practical impact of the ATMP regulation for (for-profit) industries and for (non-profit) hospitals. Two practical examples, the cultured human chondrocytes and the cultured human keratinocytes, are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-135
Author(s):  
E. V. Melnikova ◽  
O. A. Rachinskaya ◽  
O. V. Merkulova ◽  
I. S. Semenova ◽  
E. O. Kozhevnikova ◽  
...  

Preparation of a product file (PF) for a biomedical cell product (BCP) is an important stage in the preparation of documents for marketing authorisation. The PF is the main document of a regulatory submission and is used as the basis for BCP quality control. The requirements for the content of a PF, including appropriate specifications, are laid out in the relevant laws and regulations that support Federal Law No. 180-FZ “On Biomedical Cell Products” of 23.06.2016. However, given the novelty of the Russian legislative framework for innovative products for human use represented by BCPs, the specificity of their composition (i.e., components based on viable human cells) which differs significantly from conventional medicines, and lack of marketing authorisation experience— there is a need to examine specific aspects of a BCP PF. The aim of the study was to formulate methodological approaches to the development and preparation of a BCP PF in accordance with the national legislation and taking into account the experience of foreign regulatory authorities in evaluation of regulatory submissions for BCP analogues. The paper summarises the national regulatory requirements for the description of quality characteristics of cell lines used as components in BCPs, as well as test methods and test procedures used for cell line quality control. These data are required both for quality control of BCP samples, and for preparation of the Expert Commission Conclusion. The paper looks into the content of cellular and process-related impurities in a cell line and a finished BCP, and presents considerations on the description of the viral safety strategy for the finished product and for the cells from the master and working cell banks. The approaches to the presentation of quality characteristics and quality control methods for a finished BCP and for the cell line used in its production could be used by BCP developers for preparation of a PF.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Gozzo ◽  
Giovanni Luca Romano ◽  
Francesca Romano ◽  
Serena Brancati ◽  
Laura Longo ◽  
...  

Even for centrally approved products, each European country is responsible for the effective national market access. This step can result in inequalities in terms of access, due to different opinions about the therapeutic value assessed by health technology assessment (HTA) bodies. Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) represent a major issue with regard to the HTA in order to make them available at a national level. These products are based on genes, tissues, or cells, commonly developed as one-shot treatment for rare or ultrarare diseases and mandatorily authorized by the EMA with a central procedure. This study aims to provide a comparative analysis of HTA recommendations issued by European countries (France, Germany, and Italy) following EMA approval of ATMPs. We found a low rate of agreement on the therapeutic value (in particular the “added value” compared to the standard of care) of ATMPs. Despite the differences in terms of clinical assessment, the access has been usually guaranteed, even with different timing and limitations. In view of the importance of ATMPs as innovative therapies for unmet needs, it is crucial to understand and act on the causes of disagreement among the HTA. In addition, the adoption of the new EU regulation on HTA would be useful to reduce disparities of medicine’s assessment among European countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maddalena Toma ◽  
Mariagrazia Felisi ◽  
Donato Bonifazi ◽  
Fedele Bonifazi ◽  
Viviana Giannuzzi ◽  
...  

Objectives: In this paper, we investigated the effects of the European Paediatric Regulation (EC) N° 1901/2006 with respect to satisfying the paediatric therapeutic needs, assessed in terms of the increased number of paediatric medicinal products, new therapeutic indications in specific high-need conditions (neonates, oncology, rare disease, etc.) and increased number of paediatric clinical studies supporting the marketing authorisation.Methods: We analysed the paediatric medicinal products approved by the European Medicines Agency in the period January 2007-December 2019, by collecting the following data: year of approval, active substance, legal basis for the marketing authorisation, type of medicinal product (i.e., chemical, biological, or ATMP), orphan drug status, paediatric indication, Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical code (first-level), number and type of paediatric studies. Data were compared with similar data collected in the period 1996–2006.Results: In the period January 1996–December 2019, in a total of 1,190 medicinal products and 843 active substances, 34 and 38%, respectively, were paediatric. In the two periods, before and after the Paediatric Regulation implementation, the paediatric/total medicinal products ratio was constant while the paediatric/total active substances ratio decreased. Moreover, excluding generics and biosimilars, a total of 106 and 175 paediatric medicines were granted a new paediatric indication, dosage or age group in the two periods; out of 175, 128 paediatric medicines had an approved Paediatric Investigational Plan. The remaining 47 were approved without an approved Paediatric Investigational Plan, following the provisions of Directive 2001/83/EC and repurposing an off-patent drug. The analysis of the clinical studies revealed that drugs with a Paediatric Investigational Plan were supported by 3.5 studies/drug while drugs without a Paediatric Investigational Plan were supported by only 1.6 studies/drug.Discussion: This report confirms that the expectations of the European Paediatric Regulation (EC) N° 1901/2006 have been mainly satisfied. However, the reasons for the limited development of paediatric medicines in Europe, should be further discussed, taking advantage of recent initiatives in the regulatory field, such as the Action Plan on Paediatrics, and the open consultation on EU Pharmaceutical Strategy.


Shore & Beach ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 53-64
Author(s):  
Edward Atkin ◽  
Dan Reineman ◽  
Jesse Reiblich ◽  
David Revell

Surf breaks are finite, valuable, and vulnerable natural resources, that not only influence community and cultural identities, but are a source of revenue and provide a range of health benefits. Despite these values, surf breaks largely lack recognition as coastal resources and therefore the associated management measures required to maintain them. Some countries, especially those endowed with high-quality surf breaks and where the sport of surfing is accepted as mainstream, have recognized the value of surfing resources and have specific policies for their conservation. In Aotearoa New Zealand surf breaks are included within national environmental policy. Aotearoa New Zealand has recently produced Management Guidelines for Surfing Resources (MGSR), which were developed in conjunction with universities, regional authorities, not-for-profit entities, and government agencies. The MGSR provide recommendations for both consenting authorities and those wishing to undertake activities in the coastal marine area, as well as tools and techniques to aid in the management of surfing resources. While the MGSR are firmly aligned with Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural and legal frameworks, much of their content is applicable to surf breaks worldwide. In the United States, there are several national-level and state-level statutes that are generally relevant to various aspects of surfing resources, but there is no law or policy that directly addresses them. This paper describes the MGSR, considers California’s existing governance frameworks, and examines the potential benefits of adapting and expanding the MGSR in this state.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Gentile ◽  
Aris Sterodimas ◽  
Jacopo Pizzicannella ◽  
Laura Dionisi ◽  
Domenico De Fazio ◽  
...  

Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) containing adipose stem cells (ASCs) has been used for many years in regenerative plastic surgery for autologous applications, without any focus on their potential allogenic role. Allogenic SVF transplants could be based on the possibility to use decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) as a scaffold from a donor then re-cellularized by ASCs of the recipient, in order to develop the advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) in fully personalized clinical approaches. A systematic review of this field has been realized in accordance with the Preferred Reporting for Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. Multistep research of the PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Pre-MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Clinicaltrials.gov, Scopus database, and Cochrane databases has been conducted to identify articles and investigations on human allogenic ASCs transplant for clinical use. Of the 341 articles identified, 313 were initially assessed for eligibility on the basis of the abstract. Of these, only 29 met all the predetermined criteria for inclusion according to the PICOS (patients, intervention, comparator, outcomes, and study design) approach, and 19 have been included in quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis). Ninety-one percent of the studies previously screened (284 papers) were focused on the in vitro results and pre-clinical experiments. The allogenic use regarded the treatment of perianal fistulas, diabetic foot ulcers, knee osteoarthritis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, refractory rheumatoid arthritis, pediatrics disease, fecal incontinence, ischemic heart disease, autoimmune encephalomyelitis, lateral epicondylitis, and soft tissue defects. The information analyzed suggested the safety and efficacy of allogenic ASCs and ECM transplants without major side effects.


Author(s):  
Virginia Ronco ◽  
Myriam Dilecce ◽  
Elena Lanati ◽  
Pier Luigi Canonico ◽  
Claudio Jommi

Abstract Background Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) represent an important cornerstone for innovation in healthcare. However, uncertainty on the value, the high average cost per patient and their one-shot nature has raised a debate on their assessment and appraisal process for pricing and reimbursement (P&R) purposes. This debate led experts providing for recommendations on this topic. Our primary objective is to investigate the ATMPs P&R process in the main five European countries and to understand if this process is consistent with published P&R expert recommendations. We also investigated the current ATMP pipelines to understand if future ATMPs will create challenges for their P&R process. Methods P&R framework for ATMPs in the European Major five (EU5) countries was investigated through a literature search on PubMed, institutional websites of National Health Authorities and grey literature. The ATMPs pipeline database was populated from a clinical trial database (clinicaltrials.gov), relying on inclusion and exclusion criteria retrieved from the literature. Results Reimbursement status of ATMPs is different across the EU5 countries, with the exception of CAR-Ts which are reimbursed in all countries. Standard P&R process in place for other medicinal products is extended to ATMPs, with the exception of some cases in Germany. List prices, where available, are high and, tend to be aligned across countries. Outcome-based Managed Entry Agreements (MEAs) have been extensively used for ATMPs. Extra-funds for hospitals managing ATMPs were provided only in Germany and, as additional fund per episode, in France. The accreditation process of hospitals for ATMPs management was in most countries managed by the national authorities. As far as ATMPs pipeline is concerned, ATMPs in development are mostly targeting non-rare diseases. Conclusions Expert recommendations for ATMPs P&R were partially applied: the role of outcome-based MEAs has increased and the selection process of the centres authorized to use these treatments has been enhanced; additional funding for ATMPs management to accredited centres has not been completely considered and annuity payment and broader perspective in cost considerations are far from being put in place. These recommendations should be considered for future P&R negotiations to pursue rational resource allocation and deal with budget constraints.


2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 485-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bos

The Dutch healthcare system is not a single overall plan, but has evolved from a constantly changing mix of institutions, regulations, and responsibilities. The resulting system provides high-quality care with reasonable efficiency and equal distribution over the population. Every Dutch citizen is entitled to health care. Health insurance is provided by a mix of compulsory national insurance and public and private insurance schemes. Hospitals generally have a private legal basis but are heavily regulated. Supraregional planning of high-tech medical services is also regulated. Hospitals function under fixed, prospective budgets with regulation of capital investments. Independent general practitioners serve a gatekeeper role for specialist and hospital services and are paid by capitation or fee for service. Specialists are paid by fee for service. All physicians' fees are controlled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Coverage of benefits is an important method of controlling the cost of services. There is increasing concern about health care quality. Health technology assessment (HTA) has become increasingly visible during the last 15 years. A special national fund for HTA, set up in 1988, has led to many formal and informal changes. HTA has evolved from a research activity into policy research for improving health care on the national level. In 1993 the government stated formally that enhancing effectiveness in health care was one of its prime targets and that HTA would be a prime tool for this purpose. The most important current issue is coordination of HTA activities, which is now undertaken by a new platform representing the important actors in health care and HTA.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document