Regulatory Blog

The global regulatory landscape for oncology medicines is increasingly moving toward collaborative review models that enable faster patient access to innovative treatments. One of the most significant initiatives in this area is Project Orbis, a multinational programme that allows concurrent submission and review of promising cancer medicines across several international regulatory authorities. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance on Proj

To support industry stakeholders, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) offers a dedicated Regulatory Advice Meeting service for medical devices and in vitro diagnostic devices (IVDs). This service helps organisations better understand regulatory expectations, clarify complex requirements, and navigate the UK regulatory system more effectively. The MHRA guidance titled “Medical devices: get regulatory advice from the MHRA” explains how manufacturer

The United Kingdom’s medical device regulatory system has changed significantly following Brexit. Medical device manufacturers that previously relied mainly on European Union regulations must now also understand UK-specific regulatory requirements for placing devices on the Great Britain market and conducting clinical investigations in the UK. To help manufacturers, sponsors, and regulatory professionals understand these expectations, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products

The UK regulatory framework for clinical trials is undergoing a significant transition with the adoption of updated Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards aligned with international expectations. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is reinforcing compliance with ICH E6 (R3) to ensure high standards of participant safety, data integrity, and efficient trial conduct. The guidance Clinical trials for medicines: Guidance on compliance with ICH E6 Good

The UK regulatory system for medicines continues to advance towards faster access, aligned decision-making, and patient-focused innovation . The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is strengthening its national procedures to ensure efficient evaluation of medicines while improving coordination with health technology assessment bodies. The guidance National assessment procedure for medicines was updated on 9 April 2026 , including the addition of a webi

The UK regulatory framework for medical devices continues to evolve with a strong focus on market transparency, safety, and clinical evidence generation . Recent updates from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reinforce the importance of proper device registration and clinical investigation oversight to ensure patient safety and regulatory compliance. The guidance Register medical devices to place on the market was updated on 10 April 2026 , in

The UK regulatory landscape for medicines is increasingly evolving to integrate environmental protection alongside public health safety, and recently, on 1 April 2026, the UK MHRA updated its guidance on " Environmental Risk Assessments in medicines " . A key component of this approach is the requirement for Environmental Risk Assessments (ERA), ensuring that medicinal products do not pose unintended risks to ecosystems during their lifecycle. Background Environmental Risk

The UK regulatory landscape for clinical trials is undergoing a significant transformation with the implementation of updated Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, effective from 28 April 2026. These changes emphasize quality by design, risk-based approaches, and strengthened manufacturing standards, ensuring both participant safety and data integrity. Guidance: Clinical trials for medicines: Guidance on Quality and Risk Proportionality Scope This guidance ap

This guidance, " Submitting an application for review by the ACBS, " explains how to submit an application to the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) . The ACBS evaluates products that may be considered borderline between foods and medicines, particularly for use within the NHS. The guidance provides a structured approach to ensure that applications are complete, accurate, and suitable for review. Purpose of the Application Process The purpose of this guidanc

This guidance, " Archiving and retention of clinical trial records, " explains the requirements for archiving and retaining clinical trial records. Proper archiving is essential to ensure that trial data remains accessible, accurate, and verifiable over time. It supports regulatory compliance and ensures that clinical trials can be reviewed, inspected, or audited when required. Purpose of Archiving and Retention The purpose of this guidance is to ensure that essential cli

This guidance , " Clinical Trials Regulations enforcement provisions , " explains how regulatory authorities enforce compliance in clinical trials. Its primary focus is to ensure that trials are conducted in a way that protects participant safety, rights, and data integrity. It supports the implementation of the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, ensuring that all trials meet required legal and ethical standards. Purpose of Enforcement Provisions The purp

If you're developing a medical device or in vitro diagnostic (IVD) and need clarity on UK regulatory requirements, the MHRA offers a dedicated paid advisory meeting service. This guidance, " Medical devices: get regulatory advice from the MHRA " is particularly useful when the application of existing regulations to your specific device or situation isn't straightforward. Here's a full breakdown of how the service works. What it's for The service is designed to provide regulat

Clinical trials play a critical role in evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medicines before they are made available to patients. In the United Kingdom, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provides guidance to help sponsors and researchers comply with regulatory requirements for clinical trials involving medicinal products. This article provides a consolidated overview of MHRA guidance covering several key areas of clinical trial regulation,

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provides an online portal that enables organisations and individuals to submit regulatory forms and manage applications electronically. The MHRA Portal is designed to streamline regulatory submissions, improve efficiency, and provide a centralised system for interacting with the agency. This guidance explains how users can register for the MHRA Portal, outlines the registration process, and describes key considera

The Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) is a regulatory initiative in the United Kingdom designed to provide patients with life-threatening or seriously debilitating conditions earlier access to promising medicines before full marketing authorisation is granted. The scheme is administered by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and aims to accelerate patient access to innovative treatments where there is a clear unmet medical need. The main obj

The UK medicines regulatory framework provides structured pathways for obtaining a licence to market a medicinal product. Two key guidance documents outline the National Assessment Procedure (NAP) and the process to Apply for a licence to market a medicine in the UK . Together, these resources explain how applicants can submit, manage, and progress marketing authorisation applications within the UK regulatory system. Guidance: National Assessment Procedure (NAP) for Medicin

Reclassification of medicines is an important regulatory mechanism that allows changes to the legal supply status of a medicinal product in the United Kingdom. The UK guidance on reclassification explains how applicants can apply to change the classification of a medicine, outlines procedural pathways, and clarifies the regulatory expectations associated with such changes. Using the Reclassification Guidance The guidance is intended for marketing authorisation holders or app

Developing innovative medicines requires early, structured engagement with regulators. The UK’s Integrated Scientific Advice (ISA) service provides coordinated, multidisciplinary guidance to help applicants generate robust evidence and navigate regulatory requirements efficiently. What is Integrated Scientific Advice (ISA)? Integrated Scientific Advice (ISA) is a coordinated regulatory advice service that brings together expertise from across the UK regulatory landscape. I

In the transforming regulatory landscape for medical devices and in vitro diagnostics (IVDs), understanding the requirements for registration and market entry across the UK—especially in Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI)—is essential for manufacturers, authorised representatives, and regulatory professionals. Post-Brexit regulatory divergence has resulted in distinct registration and conformity requirements in Great Britain versus Northern Ireland. Guidance: Regis

In the United Kingdom, the regulatory landscape operates under a well-defined set of guidance documents established and maintained by the UK Government and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). These documents help sponsors, regulatory affairs teams, and clinical operations professionals comply with UK law while ensuring patient safety and data integrity. In 2026, several key guidances outline the authorisation process, trial notifications, reporting