Tuesday, November 26, 2013

How FDA and Risk Management Software are Helping Pharmaceutical Companies Avoid Risks - Business - Management

The biggest challenge faced by companies in the pharmaceutical industry is to develop, test, and manufacture drugs under the strict regulations laid out by the FDA. This presents companies with very low margin in causing any variance in the way they manufacture products. With the competition growing fierce, many companies will find the time to develop and market a patent drug extremely short. It takes years of extensive research, analysis, and testing to develop a drug that is then approved by the FDA. By the time the drug is launched in the market it is most likely that competitors have already taken a head start in manufacturing the same medicine. Attaining regulatory compliance within this environment in itself is a difficult task that only few pharmaceutical companies are able to achieve. There are very clear risks involved in manufacturing drugs when the pharmaceutical companies are constantly under observation by the stringent U.S. government mandates. Because of thi s reason, many companies are utilizing risk management software to excel their businesses.

The first priority of any pharmaceutical company is to spend less time researching a new drug. Many departments are working independently of each other in conducting groundwork for the research. This presents the problem of isolated work silos that consist of critical information trapped within the manufacturing process. Risk management systems help employees collaborate in an integrated environment where processes are linked together. Having a web-based repository allows companies to maintain consolidated data in a structural format. This eliminates data redundancy which hampers analysis and causes miscommunication between the employees. The risk management system provides companies with a common platform for collaboration, which offers centralized control for storing SOPs, research work, and all other kinds of related information.

Since pharmaceutical companies deal in life sensitive business, the FDA has adopted a risk-based paradigm to monitor the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. Compliance is something companies must achieve in order to sustain their business. FDA regulations and Pharmaceutical Current Good Manufacturing Practices demand companies adhere to certain rules. The FDA has devised a risk prevention methodology that companies must follow to avoid risks. The steps in this framework begin with the identification of a hazard, nonconformity, or source of variability. A risk management system can provide analytical capabilities and a reporting console that help identify the risks that are faced by companies. Once risks are identified, they can be prioritized using FDA and industry standards. This helps pharmaceutical companies comprehend which risks are prone to hit the business before others as well as the implications of each risk on an individual basis.

Risk management software is not only about pointing out the risks but also providing a mitigation plan that serves as a marker for remediation. This activity helps in figuring out the root cause of the risk and eliminating it from the system. Risk management software is intricately designed to identify, monitor, and mitigate risks that can range from likely to unrealistic. No matter what kind of risk a pharmaceutical company is prone to face, risk management systems are built on the foundation of risk prevention. The FDA framework for analyzing, estimating, and monitoring risks on an iterative cycle further helps the pharmaceutical companies in combating risks in the system.





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