In celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with Elly De Bruyn, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at the QbD Group, to talk about her experiences and views as a power lady in the life sciences industry.
Learn how digital health is transforming clinical trials. Explore the benefits and challenges of implementing digital technologies.
Want to introduce robustness into your software validation activities? In this article, you will learn what the GAMP 5 V-model is and the key steps within it.
This blog post provides an overview of essential documents required during medical device clinical investigations in accordance with ISO14155:2020.
The European Parliament has approved a proposal to extend the transitional deadlines for certain medical devices under the MDR to ensure availability of devices whose certificates have expired or will expire before 26 May 2024. Manufacturers must adhere to specific conditions to comply with the new transition periods. Learn more here.
Are you about to qualify your laboratory equipment? If so, here are the key considerations and challenges to consider.
Each individual medical device must have a Unique Device Identifier (UDI) with its carrier (barcode or QR code). But what about medical device software? Read the answer in this article!
Can the computerized system validation used in pharma be applied to non-product medical device software? In this article, we compare ISO 80002-2 with GAMP5 to find out.
In 2023, the IVD industry will continue to dominate the medical technology market due to rising demand for early diagnosis, treatment and point-of-care testing. Product trends include the accelerated consumerization of diagnostics, the rise of telemedicine and digital health, the growth of devices enabling personalized medicine and the emergence of AI and robotics-powered medical devices. Medical device manufacturing will undergo changes in the computerized system validation process due to the increased focus on critical thinking by GAMP5 and FDA.
In this article, you will learn a structured approach to ensure regulatory compliance and proper operation of your computer systems, throughout their life cycle.
December is often symbolized as the ‘Month of Giving’ as it revolves around giving something back to society, helping others and spreading joy. Supporting good causes is one way we put our company value ‘joy’ into practice at the QbD Group. Let’s highlight a few of them!
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are on the rise in the medical device and IVD industry. Learn more about the current landscape and regulatory framework here.
Learn more about the importance, benefits, and key challenges related to Annual Product Quality Review in Pharma (APQR/PQR).
Job fair season is upon us! Whether you’re looking for your first job or a new work adventure, we can all agree that applying for a job comes with a healthy dose of nerves. To make sure you are the best version of yourself, preparation is key! Want to succeed in your next interview and land your QbDream job in consulting? Put your foot in the door and kick it wide open with these 5 tips!
Bringing a Medical Device to market involves many hurdles, including design and development. In this blog post, you will learn more about the importance of Design Transfer and Process Validation in medical device development.
Today, on Nov. 14, 2022, we proudly received the Baanbrekende Werkgever ’23 certificate for the second year in a row, representing our commitment to put our employees at the center of our policies around hybrid work and mobility.
Digital health is on the rise, but what is digital health exactly? In this blog post, we’ll explore the landscape, key technology pillars and future opportunities.
21 CFR Part 11 regulates the use of electronic records and signatures in pharma and medical devices. Want to comply? Read more below and download our 21 CFR Part 11 compliance checklist.
Discover 5 reasons to engage with an experienced Contract Research Organization (CRO) specialized in medical device studies to support you in your clinical research.
It is important to understand how standards are written and how their references are constructed in order to properly reference them and purchase the correct version for your use.
In this blog entry, we explain the difference between ISO and IEC standards, what harmonized standards are, and how to use the appropriate standard references in your technical documentation. We also give you a hint on how to make sure you have identified all applicable standards for your products.
Want to learn more about the difference between Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and/or need insight into the right validation strategy for your AI- or ML-based systems and products? Read more here.
Have you validated your computerized system(s) yet? Then CSV Periodic Reviews are an important next step. Learn more about their purpose and frequency here.
The quality of process gases and gas distribution networks is becoming increasingly important for biotech pharmaceutical processes and ATMP sites. In this blog, we highlight the importance of a qualified process gas and distribution network, even at an early stage of development.
In 2022, ISPE released a new, second edition of the GAMP 5 guide. Read more about this new edition here and/or watch our webinar on demand.
Self-inspections or internal audits are an essential part of your QMS. In addition to determining whether your QMS meets guidelines and standards, you can benefit from them in several ways. They allow you to get to know departments better, explain to people why certain quality processes are necessary, gather useful feedback for further improvements to the QMS, and you have a tool to check your readiness for external audits.
Are you a manufacturer of custom-made medical devices and in need of regulatory guidance? This article summarizes key concerns to consider.
In Belgium, medicine advertising is subject to legislation in order to ensure the rational use of medicines. Each firm must appoint a Responsible Person for Information and Publicity, who checks the conformity of the advertising.
The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) (EU) 2017/745 and In Vitro Device Regulation (IVDR) (EU) 2017/746 introduced a new mandatory role in Article 15: the Person Responsible for Regulatory Compliance or ‘PRRC’. Wondering what the meaning of the PRRC-role is and where you can find the right person? Then read on!
Considering an exciting career as a life sciences consultant, but still in doubt? In this article, we debunk 6 myths about consultancy to help you decide!
Compressed air and other process gases are used in a lot of different steps during pharmaceutical manufacturing. Some examples are the use of compressed air in direct contact with products to clean, aerate, or move them through the processes or the using process gases in fluid pumps that take products through the production and filling processes. Compressed gases, such as nitrogen or argon, can also be used for blanketing or to spray or coat a product. The risks associated with the use of these gases, depend on the amount and type of product contact and based on this risk assessment, a suitable monitoring plan should be in place.
At the QbD Group, we want to take into account the opinion of our employees. Therefore, our Board of Ambassadors was elected to represent the voice of all QbD’ers, within and outside of the group. Thomas Van Looy has been elected as one of our Ambassadors for 2022. Congratulations, Thomas! As an Ambassador, he loves to share his QbD Group experiences. Want to find out more about Thomas’ #QbDream job? Then don’t miss out on the interview below.
Sometimes it is necessary to perform data migration in computer systems, applications, or software. Learn more about the goal, importance and risks here.
On August 21, 2022, the new GMP Annex 21 will enter into force. This Annex contains the GMP requirements for MIA holders when importing medicinal products from outside the EU/EEA. Learn more here.
To document the clinical evaluation of your device and its output, a Clinical Evaluation Report or CER has to be compiled. Learn more about this key document, its content, common gaps and hurdles.
During the pandemic, electronic signatures gained tremendous importance for companies in the regulated sector. Learn more about electronic signatures, their use and safety here.
The Clinical Evaluation Plan, or CEP, is a crucial starting point and guide for the clinical evaluation of your medical device. Learn more about this key document and its requirements.
In CSV, decommissioning is the retirement or controlled shutdown of an IT solution or computer system that is no longer needed. Learn more about this process here.
Clinical evaluation of medical devices is critical to obtaining and maintaining marketing approval in the EU. Learn more about clinical evaluation here.
A certificate of suitability to the monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia (CEP) issued by the EDQM is considered to replace the relevant sections in the application for marketing authorization demonstrating the quality of substances for pharmaceutical use. The inclusion of a CEP in an MAA simplifies the review process for authorities and the submission procedures for industry. However, with the upcoming changes to the EU pharmaceutical legislation, the CEP procedure may be at risk. In this blog post, we outline the possible changes in the near future.
CAR-T cell therapy uses genetically engineered T cells to destroy tumor cells. Learn more about the main components, manufacturing process and prospects of this promising immunotherapy.
Dominiek Rossillion has been working for QbD for 10 years now, and counting! Our heartiest congratulations! Curious about Dominiek’s career and insights? Then be sure to read this interview!
The new medical device regulations and the associated implementation of EUDAMED are intended to give the general public access to relevant information on medical devices, ensuring greater transparency. However, EUDAMED also brings new requirements for market participants throughout the life cycle of medical devices. Read more about them here!
GAMP categories are very important to decide on the validation strategy of your computerized system. Learn more about all categories here.
10 years! That’s how long Katrien Janssens has been working at QbD now. Congratulations! Curious to know how Katrien has experienced the past decade at QbD? During a brief interview, we asked her 10 quick questions: one for each year she has worked with us!
3D printing medical devices offers unrivaled flexibility and personalization as illustrated by the case of Joe DiMeo’s face and hand transplant. Curious? Be sure to read on!
Regulatory Affairs plays a key role in the pharmaceutical industry: from drug development to commercialization. Learn more about the roles and functions that RA teams can provide in the lifecycle management of your pharmaceutical product.
Sampling, testing, and preserving your medicinal product in closed systems often present difficult Quality Control challenges. As part of the solution, various AI-based in-process controls can be used. Discover them here!
Cell therapy includes various ATMPs to fight tumors or restore the physiological status of damaged tissue. Explore them here.
If you know that QbD was founded 10 years ago, then it won’t come as a surprise to you that the 10Y anniversary of an employee is an EXTRA big deal to us. After QbD founder Bart (obviously), Jeroen Verhoeven is the very first employee to reach that landmark.
In order to give this news the attention it deserves, we fired 10 questions at Jeroen, one for each year he’s been with us!
On November 15, 2021, QbD and TRIUM received the Baanbrekende Werkgever ‘22 certificate for pioneering Belgian employers striving to put people at the center of their policies on hybrid work and mobility.
Dendritic cells play an important role in recently developed DC-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases and the prevention of graft rejection. Read all about DC cells and their potential in this article.
Natural Killer (NK) cells, as part of our innate immune system, are very effective in killing different types of cells, including tumor cells. Because of these properties, they become very interesting as ATMPs for immunotherapy.
Curious about the potential of Natural Killer (NK) cells and NK-cell-based immunotherapy? Learn all about them here, including the benefits and challenges.
In the EU, the IVDR will replace the IVDD. The compliance deadline is approaching, so act now to obtain CE marking of your IVD medical device in time.
Follow these steps before launching medical device combination products in the EU, including the application of MDR Article 117 and the EMA Guidance.
Learn more about the new risk-based approach to in-vitro diagnostic device classification under IVDR 2017/746, replacing outdated directives.
The introduction of MDR impacts CE-marked medical software (MDSW). Curious about the scope of this impact on your software? Read more below.
Curious about the latest medical device industry trends? Learn more on wearables, AI, POC testing, IoT, and more in this blog post!
The QbD Academy is a young graduates program that combines working, learning and intensive training. Last month, we welcomed 15 young graduates during our QbD Academy Week. Read all about it here!
Artificial Intelligence is the IT word in Medical Devices nowadays. Learn more on AI and its regulatory implications for manufacturers.
The terms SaMD (Software as a Medical Device) and MDSW (Medical Device SoftWare) are often used interchangeably within medical environments, but they are not. Learn the difference in meaning and regulatory scope here.
Brexit impacts the medical device markets of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Learn more on the consequences for manufacturers that place medical devices on the UK market here.
ATMPs are a promising new type of medicine. Learn more about the challenges in translating the expertise into a GMP process.
Is your product a medical device? Well, that depends on the markets you want to enter and their regulations. Here’s an overview to guide you.
Risk management, the key to medical device safety, involves much more than ticking the FMEA box. Jeroen Verhoeven, one of our specialists in the matter, explains why and guides you through the ISO14971 standard (application of risk management to medical devices).
At QbD, we’re going the extra mile to put hybrid working to everyone’s advantage after COVID-19. Need some inspiration? Follow our lead!
ATMPs are, by nature, highly complex and innovative therapies. And well-designed clinical trials are key to producing effective and safe ATMPs – ultimately increasing patients’ health and speeding up market authorization. In this blogpost, Marie-Paule Gyselen from TRIUM Clinical Consulting (part of the QbD Group) guides you through the most important ATMP-specific clinical trial challenges.
Launching a medical device requires much preparation. As these devices are heavily regulated, a company has to meet many requirements in different phases of the development and manufacturing process. Which phases are there to consider and what are their characteristics? This blog digs deeper into the lifecycle of a medical device and requirements that must be met in those phases.
Not sure where to start when validating your computerized systems? Follow these 10 steps as a guideline.
In the smart factories that came with Industry 4.0, digital twins of manufacturing processes are key to improving process robustness, development lead times and ultimately reducing costs. In this blog Evan Claes and Tommy Heck from our partner Antleron explain how digital twins work and why they are so vital, especially to ATMP manufacturing.
In this blog post, we give more insights into the challenges a QP faces when dealing with ATMPs. We talk about sterility, out-of-specification handling, batch release, and EU import testing.
The sales price of cell and gene therapies is influenced by multiple factors like Cost of Goods (COG), regulatory requirements, target market (or commercial aspect), and the development just to name a few. In this blog post you will learn more about the GOC aspect: what is this cost comprised of and how can you reduce it?
UDI is a new system that assigns a unique barcode to each individual medical device. It will become mandatory when MDR and IVDR enter into force, so as a manufacturer, you need to make sure you’re UDI-ready in time.
A short introduction and overview of the requirements In 2017, the European Commission released the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) that will replace the Medical
One of our previous blogposts discussed innovations in the medical technology field and how these can fulfill unmet patients’ and physicians’ needs by leveraging the
Do you want to distinguish starting materials used for ATMPs from those used for transplants or transfusions? This distinction is made based on how the
Among the Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), in the immunotherapy market, nowadays two acronyms catch the eye: CAR-T and TCR-T. The two techniques are based
It’s obvious that product quality and patient safety are a top priority in the pharmaceutical industry. The quality by design methodology is used to build
GxP Processes Without question, the impact of GxP processes such as product quality and patient health are at the top of the list when it
What does an automation pyramid entail? An automation pyramid visualises the integrated layers of technology used in manufacturing or industry combined with the level of
In the first blog we discussed the definitions of validation and computerized systems. Checking the fitness of the system is to check whether the system operates according to the needs of the process for which it is acquired.
Have you read our earlier blogposts about the The importance of a dedicated team and skilled project manager for technology transfers, the factors that can make or break your technology transfer, and the drivers of complexity in tech transfers?
Until now, academia and research-based companies have been the major source of successful ATMP (gene therapy and cell- or tissue-engineered product) developments. Based on their success, pharmaceutical companies are trying
In the first blog we discussed the definitions of validation and computerized systems. Checking the fitness of the system is to check whether the system operates according to the needs of the process for which it is acquired.
Have you read our earlier blogposts about the factors that can make or break your technology transfer, and the drivers of complexity in tech transfers?
In this blogpost, we will dive into these complexities a little bit more and provide you with some useful tips to minimise the complexity of your tech transfers.
A technology transfer can occur between buildings on the same production site, different production plants from the same company, or even between different companies. It
Innovation is key to the success of companies and is driving many industries. This is certainly true for the medical technology sector. According to yearly
A hiring freeze during Corona? No way! Although the current crisis has created new and unexpected challenges, QbD is not the kind of company to
Hi! My name is Frederick Tison. I’m 26 years old and this is my third year at QbD. I’m currently active as a raw material
What is the definition of ATMP? From the website of EMA: Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are medicines for human use that are based on
Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) is the group of therapies in which we use cells, genes, engineered tissues and combinations of the above with medical
Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) are cell and gene therapies that provide new opportunities for the treatment of a variety of diseases and injuries. Due
The past of Computer Systems Validation has served us well and provided us with the foundation of where we are today. But at some point, the past can become a burden. This is exactly the point in time where we have arrived.
The clock is ticking for Brexit. By 31 October 2019, a final agreement on the matter must be reached. There is no doubt that the UK leaving the European Union (EU) will have an enormous impact on the UK and EU member states.
When it comes to the market release of vaccines, there are some specific requirements and legislations that companies need to keep in mind. In this blog post, we will pay attention to the market release of vaccines onto two of the most important markets worldwide: the European Union and the United States of America. Although they are quite similar, there are some interesting differences when it comes to testing, documentation and certification.
It’s time again for a closer look into the daily life of another one of our QbD’ers! Meet Julie Bondroit, one of the members of
Discover key tips for effective technical writing in pharma & biotech. Learn the dos and don’ts to minimize errors and improve quality.
Counterfeiting has always been a significant issue when it comes to medicinal products. While it might sound like a good deal when you can find
EU GMP Annex I is a document published by the EC relating to the manufacture of sterile products. Read more about the requirements here.
Several scientific and clinical breakthroughs of our past decade show that Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) will revolutionize 21st century medicine. By using cells as
Come to see the QbD Group at stand #3G73 at CPHI Conference in Barcelona. And after the conference…Eat & Connect with lifescience professionals at our QbD’s CPHI Networking Drink.