Modernizing Pharmaceutical Quality Systems; Studying Quality Metrics and Quality Culture; Quality Metrics Feedback Program

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Agency, or we) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) is announcing two new efforts to gather feedback on the use of quality metrics to modernize pharmaceutical quality systems and advance innovation based on stakeholder feedback. These efforts include Type C formal meeting requests and pre-abbreviated new drug application (pre-ANDA) meeting requests, and a pilot study to gain feedback from those establishments for which Type C formal meetings or pre-ANDA meetings do not apply (e.g., active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) establishments, contract manufacturing organizations, over-the-counter (OTC) monograph products establishments, or marketed unapproved finished drug products establishments). Participation in either of these efforts is voluntary and the programs are intended to foster the joint efforts of FDA and stakeholders to further develop an FDA Quality Metrics Program. The FDA Quality Metrics Program aims to evaluate a new approach for regulatory oversight of pharmaceutical products through the collection of certain quality information developed and maintained in the course of manufacturing drugs under current good manufacturing practices. FDA intends to use quality metrics data to further develop the Agency's risk-based inspection scheduling (e.g., decreased surveillance inspection frequency for certain establishments) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of establishment inspections, improve FDA's evaluation of drug manufacturing and control operations, and identify situations in which there may be a risk for drug supply disruption.