Introduction: The Role of Clinical Evidence in Medical Device Compliance In the European Union, gathering clinical evidence for medical devices is essential to regulatory compliance, particularly under the Medical Device Regulation (MDR. Clinical evidence helps demonstrate that a device is safe, performs as intended, and provides...

Overview Knowledge management is one of your organisation's most valuable assets and is integral to your organisational culture. This is particularly important for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies where knowledge is the foundation for success. All R&D, manufacturing, engineering, clinical and regulatory work is completed...

The concept of team training or corporate training is simple. Its aim is to improve the skills of individuals within a team, which in turn will improve their overall knowledge and skill in a specific area. Consequently, the team will perform with greater competence and...

Throughout my experience supporting the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries with training, I have encountered a wide range of learning and development (L&D) strategies. These range from complex and highly effective plans to minimal and often ineffective ones. Despite being knowledge-intensive industries, heavily reliant...

As a leader, it is your responsibility to ensure your team is in the best possible position to hit their objectives and thus help you achieve yours. Ensuring an effective training strategy will help you achieve these goals. Research has repeatedly shown that organisations with...

Planning and implementing an effective learning and development (L&D) strategy for your team or organisation is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it enhances your team’s capabilities in alignment with overall business goals. Secondly, it plays a vital role in attracting and retaining talent, especially as...

Is your team merely functioning, or are you proactively developing their skills and knowledge to help them excel? The life sciences industry is a rapidly evolving and highly competitive field. To stay ahead of the competition, meet deadlines, and ensure successful project outcomes, teams and organisations...

In the medical device industry, ensuring safety and compliance with regulatory standards is paramount. Chemical characterisation and biocompatibility testing are essential steps in this process, guided by frameworks such as ISO 10993. These evaluations help manufacturers understand the materials in their devices and assess potential...

Regulatory lifecycle management is an essential aspect of maintaining product compliance, particularly when dealing with Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) changes. However, managing these changes on a global scale introduces unique challenges due to differing regulations across countries. In this article, we explore the key...

Marketing authorisation is a critical step for any medicinal product entering the European market. Unlike the US, where the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) handles approvals, Europe offers several complex regulatory pathways. This article explores the various marketing authorisation routes available in the European Economic...

The Common Technical Document (CTD) is an essential component in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs. It streamlines the submission process across various regions and ensures that drug applications are evaluated efficiently. For professionals working within the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and regulatory sectors, understanding the structure and functionality of...

ISO 13485 is a critical standard for companies involved in the design, development, and production of medical devices. It provides a framework for implementing a quality management system (QMS) specifically tailored for the unique regulatory requirements of this sector. In this article, we will delve...

CMC, Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) refers to all the elements involved in producing pharmaceutical, biologic, or cell & gene products. CMC activities commence from product development and progress through pre-clinical, clinical, and eventual marketing. Various skilled professionals work in CMC to develop and manufacture...

Combination products, which integrate pharmaceutical and medical device components, are an innovative and expanding sector in medical solutions. This article, based on insights from expert Richard Young, covers the unique regulatory challenges faced by manufacturers and developers working with these products, especially in Europe and...

Educo Life Sciences recently caught up with Richard Young to discuss legacy products and some of the most challenging aspects when transitioning them to comply with the new medical device regulations. The new European Medical Device Regulations means that legacy products need to meet new requirements...

Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) form a critical component of pharmaceutical drug development. This article delves into the complexities of CMC, discussing its role, processes, and regulatory aspects. This knowledge is essential for professionals involved in drug development, especially in navigating the intricacies of bringing...

Biotech startups face numerous hurdles in Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) development. From regulatory requirements to balancing costs and timelines, managing these complex processes is crucial for survival in the highly competitive pharmaceutical industry. In this article, we explore key CMC challenges biotech startups face...

Continuous biomanufacturing has rapidly become a vital strategy for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, offering substantial benefits such as cost reduction, faster production timelines, and enhanced process efficiency. Initially introduced in the 1980s, the technology has significantly evolved, now being applied to both upstream and downstream...

A greater number of cell and gene therapies are entering development, often with innovative modalities. One of the biggest challenges is within bioanalytics when understanding biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of cell and gene therapies. As discussed below, a new way of thinking is often required to...

A greater number of cell and gene therapies are entering development, often with innovative modalities. One of the biggest challenges during CMC development is analytics. Analytics of biologics are complex enough, but with cell and gene therapies a new range of analytical issues arise.  We interviewed...

We interviewed Educo Life Sciences trainer Nadine Ritter to find out why drugs cannot be developed as quick as the COVID vaccine. Nadine explains all the factors that led to the fastest development of a drug in history.   Why Can't We Develop Products as Fast as...

We interviewed Educo Life Sciences trainer Nadine Ritter to discuss the most challenging analytical assays for biological products. In the interview Nadine discusses the issues scientists face with Host Cell Protein assays. She also discusses the challenges of potency assays and how early decisions can...

RNA therapeutics have emerged as a pivotal innovation in modern medicine, offering targeted treatments for a range of genetic diseases. Unlike traditional therapies, RNA-based approaches aim to manipulate gene expression or replace faulty proteins, thus providing a powerful tool for combating complex diseases. This article...

Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) represent a cutting-edge category of treatments in the pharmaceutical industry, designed to address unmet medical needs, particularly for complex and chronic conditions. These therapies fall under four broad categories: gene therapies, somatic-cell therapies, tissue-engineered products, and combined ATMPs. This article...

Getting a cell and gene therapy developed, manufactured, and approved on the market is challenging. There are numerous hurdles to overcome such as supply chain issues, aseptic working, patient access, efficacy and safety.  Below are short interviews with a range of Educo Life Science Trainers who...

In this interview, Sophie, an experienced professional in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, shares her career journey, the evolution of the industry, and advice for those starting in the field. With over 22 years of experience, Sophie offers valuable insights for professionals interested in Chemistry, Manufacturing, and...

Navigating Module 3 of the Common Technical Document (CTD) is crucial for any regulatory affairs professional. This module, the quality section, presents the foundation of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) data that demonstrate the suitability, safety, and efficacy of a pharmaceutical product. From a practical...

Regulatory affairs (RA) is an integral part of the life sciences industry, bridging the gap between pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies and regulatory bodies. For those considering a career in this field or looking to advance, understanding the right entry points, necessary skills, and...

We interviewed Educo Life Sciences trainer John Faulkes to discuss a career in pharmaceuticals for those who are not scientists. We often get asked the best routes to get into the pharmaceutical industry and John highlights alternative routes that are perfect for non-scientists. In this...

We interviewed Educo Life Sciences Trainer John Faulkes to get his views on the top three trends in the pharmaceutical industry. John highlights some interesting trends such as decentralised clinical trials, digitalisation & AI and agile working. You can watch or read the video below.   Watch...

We interviewed Educo Life Sciences trainer Margit Holzer to get her views on a career in the biopharmaceutical industry, specifically manufacturing. Margit discusses her career experiences and provides some advice for those starting out in biotech. She also discusses future trends such as cell and...