Regulatory Blog

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued guidance explaining how applicants and marketing authorisation holders can use SEPA Direct Debit Business-to-Business (B2B) to pay certain EMA fees. The guidance, dated 20 August 2026, covers mandate setup, payment collection, returned transactions, withdrawals and related requirements. Single Euro Payments Area framework (SEPA) Direct Debit B2B allows EMA to collect euro-denominated payments from business debtors using a signed

Improving the availability of medicines authorised in the European Union is a key priority for the European Medicines Regulatory Network. Supply chain disruptions can affect the continuity of medicine supply, making it important for Marketing Authorisation Holders (MAHs) to identify potential risks and establish measures to reduce the likelihood of shortages. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published guidance and a template for industry on implementing Shortage Preven

Ensuring the availability and continuity of medicines across the European Union is an important priority for the European Medicines Regulatory Network. Supply chain disruptions can affect medicine availability, making it important for Marketing Authorisation Holders (MAHs) to identify potential risks and establish appropriate measures to reduce the likelihood of shortages. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published the Guidance for industry on implementing Shortage Pre

Biosimilar medicines have become an integral part of modern healthcare by expanding patient access to biological therapies while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and efficacy. As scientific knowledge, analytical technologies, and regulatory frameworks continue to evolve, regulatory guidance must also adapt to reflect these advancements. The Concept Paper on Revision of the Guideline on Similar Biological Medicinal Products sets out the European Medicines Agency'

Innovation is transforming medicinal product development through the introduction of novel methodologies such as biomarkers, digital health technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), modelling and simulation, real-world data, patient registries, and advanced non-clinical testing methods. These approaches have the potential to improve evidence generation, streamline drug development, and support more informed regulatory decision-making. However, before they can be widely adop

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming an integral part of pharmaceutical development and regulatory operations. From drug discovery and clinical trials to manufacturing and pharmacovigilance, AI is transforming how medicines are developed, assessed, and monitored. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) published its 2025 AI Observatory Report to provide an overview of AI-related activities across the European Medicines Regulatory Network (EMRN). The report highlights

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued Revision 4 of the "Explanatory Note to Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP) Module VII – Periodic Safety Update Report" prepared by the Human Medicines Evaluation Division. This revision addresses practical challenges encountered during the PSUR Single Assessment (PSUSA) process, particularly for nationally authorised medicinal products (NAPs), and serves as the basis for the forthcoming update of GVP Module VII. Purpose of the

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) continues to advance data standardisation and digital transformation in regulatory processes through the implementation of ISO IDMP standards and Product Management Services (PMS). The guidance Process for the electronic submission of medicinal product information – Chapter 3 (Version 3.5, updated 20 April 2026) provides detailed instructions on how medicinal product data should be submitted, managed, and maintained electronically throughou

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) continues to strengthen transparency, data sharing, and international regulatory collaboration through its Clinical Data Publication (CDP) framework. A key development in this area is the introduction of a work-share initiative with Health Canada (HC) under Policy 0070, aimed at improving efficiency while maintaining robust safeguards for sensitive information. The guidance Clinical Data Publication (CDP): Questions and Answers on EMA Polic

The Guidance on the electronic submission of information on investigational medicinal products for human use in the Extended EudraVigilance medicinal product dictionary (XEVMPD) was updated on 13 April 2026 (Version 1.5) , providing detailed procedural and technical instructions for sponsors submitting clinical trial product data. Introduction This guidance provides consolidated instructions for sponsors on how to electronically submit information on investigational medici

The European regulatory landscape continues to evolve with a strong focus on supporting innovation in rare diseases and ensuring safe, evidence-based development of medicines for children . The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued two key procedural guidelines: Procedural advice for orphan medicinal product designation – Guidance for sponsors Procedural advice on paediatric applications – Guidance for applicants together, establish a comprehensive regulatory framewo

The European regulatory framework continues to strengthen data protection and transparency in its international collaborations, particularly when engaging with EU candidate countries. As part of this effort, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has established clear guidelines on how personal data is processed within cooperation programmes. The guidance European Medicines Agency’s Data Protection Notice for the implementation of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (I

The guidance Guide to manufacturers and notified bodies on the procedure for requesting advice from expert panels for orphan medical devices was published on 31 March 2026 , outlining the procedural framework and expectations for applicants seeking scientific and regulatory advice. Orphan medical devices are those intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of rare conditions, where limited patient populations create challenges in generating extensive clinical evi

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has introduced two significant guidance updates in 2026, focusing on active substance chemistry requirements and the emerging use of additive manufacturing (3D printing) in pharmaceuticals . These updates aim to strengthen quality, control strategies, and innovation , while ensuring that pharmaceutical development and manufacturing remain scientifically robust and patient-focused. Guidance: Chemistry of Active Substances Scope and Regulato

Regulatory authorities across the European Union continue to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems and data-driven regulatory decision-making. Two important EMA documents highlight these developments: the EU implementation strategy for the ICH E2D(R1) guideline on post-approval safety data and the Network Data Steering Group (NDSG) Workplan 2026–2028 on data and artificial intelligence in medicines regulation. Guidance: Network Data Steering Group Workplan 2026–2028: Data and

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept in pharmaceutical research—it is already influencing how drugs and biological products are discovered, developed, manufactured, and monitored throughout their lifecycle. However, when AI outputs are used to support regulatory decisions , questions of trust, transparency, and accountability become critical. Recognising this, global regulators have begun defining expectations for the responsible use of AI in drug devel

Medicine shortages can have a direct and serious impact on patient care, healthcare systems, and public health across Europe. To strengthen coordination, improve visibility, and enable early action, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has established the European Shortages Monitoring Platform (ESMP) . The ESMP is a central digital platform designed to support the prevention, identification, monitoring, and management of shortages of medicinal products across the EU and EEA.

Radiopharmaceuticals present unique quality challenges due to their radioactive nature, short shelf lives, and frequent need for on-site or near-patient preparation. To reflect scientific and technological advances since the original 2007 guideline, the European Medicines Agency has released the draft Guideline on quality of radiopharmaceuticals – Revision 2 for public consultation. Adopted by CHMP in December 2025, this revision provides updated expectations for quality doc

Modern medicines development increasingly sits at the intersection of advanced chemistry and genomic science. On one hand, synthetic peptides represent a fast-growing therapeutic class that bridges small molecules and biologics. On the other, pharmacogenomics is reshaping how medicines are developed, evaluated, and ultimately used in patients. Recognising these parallel advances, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recently published two key scientific documents: the Guid

Post-authorisation changes are an inevitable part of medicinal product lifecycle management, and stability data play a critical role in demonstrating that such changes do not compromise product quality, safety, or efficacy. To harmonise expectations across the EU, the European Medicines Agency has issued Revision 3 of the Guideline on stability testing for applications for variations to a marketing authorisation . Adopted in December 2025 and effective from January 2026, this