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Safety Considerations for Product Design to Minimize Medication Errors Guidance for Industry

FinalCenter for Drug Evaluation and Research04/12/2016

Description

The recommendations in this guidance apply broadly to the development of drug and biologic products. Accordingly, this guidance is intended for sponsors of investigational new drug applications (INDs); applicants of new drug applications (NDAs), biologics licensing applications (BLAs), abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs);  and manufacturers of prescription drugs marketed without an approved application or over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drugs. This guidance provides a set of principles for using a systems approach to minimize medication errors relating to product design and container closure design and thus enhance patient safety.

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

8
Intravenous Products

Products in solution or dry powder requiring dilution.

Injectable Product

Small-volume and large-volume injectable products whose labeling advises against admixing

Extended Release Dosage Form

Products that should have distinct strengths from immediate-release versions.

OTC monograph drugs

Over-the-counter drugs subject to section 505G; manufacturers of over-the-counter monograph drugs should follow recommendations; drugs not approved under section 505 or 351

Combination Product

Products combining drug, device, or biological constituents; Generally recommended for Enhanced Documentation; Requires 14971-based framework incorporating ICH Q9; A drug-device combination where the device constituent part detects ingestion.

OTC drugs

Over-the-counter drugs stable for at least 3 years may be exempt from labeling requirements.

Solid Oral Dosage Forms

Subject of the minor changes guidance

Transdermal Systems

Assessment of Adhesion for Topical and Transdermal Systems

Stakeholders

8
sponsor

responsible for justifying omission of studies

End user

patient, caregiver, physician, nurse, pharmacist involved in medication use

Sponsors

Assist sponsors in the nonclinical evaluation

applicant

entity submitting marketing applications

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Published report on health care regulation reform

Manufacturer

Entity responsible for submitting NDINs

Patient

Way questions are framed is critical to collecting unbiased patient input

Pharmacist

Allowed value for reporter qualification

Regulatory Context

Attributes

5
Dosage form

Required information for RLD/RS and proposed products.; Product characteristic in ANDA background

Postmarketing changes

Changes to an already marketed drug product throughout its lifecycle.

Child Resistance

Requirements for special packaging to confer child resistance

Tablet Scoring

Physical marks on tablets to facilitate splitting.

Imprint code

Critical for identifying the product when separated from packaging.

Identified Hazards

Hazards

6
look-alike and sound-alike proprietary names

Safety concern addressed by PDUFA IV goals

Overdose

Risk prevented by administration of opioid blockers

Accidental Ingestion

Risk posed to young children by palatable ODTs and films

Choking hazard

Risk if a restricted delivery system is easily removed or pushed into the bottle.

Medication errors

Risk of inappropriate administration of extra doses

Proprietary name confusion

Potential sound-alike and look-alike confusion with drug names

Related CFR Sections (3)

See Also (8)

Safety Considerations for Product Design to Minimize Medication Errors Guidance for Industry | Guideline Explorer | BioRegHub