Regulatory Blog

Timely access to innovative medicines and biosimilars is an important objective for regulatory authorities worldwide. Collaborative assessment models enable regulators to share scientific expertise, reduce duplication of effort, and accelerate the availability of high-quality, safe, and effective medicines for patients. International work-sharing initiatives also promote regulatory convergence while maintaining robust scientific evaluation standards. The Medicines and Healthc

Access to accurate and up-to-date medicinal product information is essential for the safe prescribing, dispensing, and use of medicines. Healthcare professionals rely on authorised product information to make informed clinical decisions, while patients depend on clear instructions to use medicines safely and effectively. Providing easy access to approved regulatory information also promotes transparency throughout a medicine's lifecycle. The Medicines and Healthcare products

Marketing Authorisations (MAs) require updates throughout a medicine's lifecycle to reflect changes in manufacturing, quality, safety, efficacy, product information, or administrative details. To ensure that these changes are appropriately assessed and approved while maintaining product quality and patient safety, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provides detailed guidance on applying for variations to UK Marketing Authorisations. The MHRA guidan

Medicines labelling and packaging are fundamental to the safe and effective use of medicines. Clear packaging enables patients, carers, pharmacists, and healthcare professionals to correctly identify medicines, understand essential safety information, and minimise the risk of medication errors. Poor label design, confusing layouts, or lookalike packaging can contribute to dispensing mistakes and inappropriate medicine use. To promote consistent and patient-focused packaging,

Medicines packaging, labelling, and Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) are essential components of medicine safety and regulatory compliance. They provide healthcare professionals and patients with critical information regarding the safe use, storage, administration, and identification of medicinal products. Throughout a medicine's lifecycle, these materials must remain accurate, up to date, and consistent with the approved product information to support patient safety and r

Determining whether a product qualifies as a medical device is one of the most important regulatory decisions for manufacturers before placing a product on the Great Britain market. Many products fall into a "borderline" category because they may share characteristics with medicines, cosmetics, food supplements, biocides, personal protective equipment (PPE), or other regulated products. To provide greater regulatory clarity, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Ag

Manufacturers who intend to place medical devices on the market in Great Britain or Northern Ireland must comply with the registration requirements established by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The Register Medical Devices to Place on the Market guidance explains which devices require registration, who is responsible for registration, applicable timelines, registration procedures, and the associated fees. It also outlines the differences in re

Clinical trials are conducted in accordance with approved protocols and regulatory requirements designed to protect participants and ensure the generation of reliable scientific data. However, changes may become necessary during the course of a study due to emerging safety information, operational considerations, scientific developments, or updates to study procedures. The MHRA guidance Clinical Trials for Medicines: Modifying a Clinical Trial Approval provides a framework fo

Understanding MHRA Guidance on Medical Device Regulations, Regulatory Advice Meetings, and Regulatory Support Medical device manufacturers must navigate a wide range of regulatory requirements throughout the product lifecycle, from development and market access to post-market compliance and safety monitoring. To support stakeholders, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published several guidance documents covering medical device regulatory requi

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 clinical trial regulatory framework is undergoing a major transformation with the implementation of updated ICH E6 (R3) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles, alongside new guidance on quality, risk proportionality, and clinical investigations. The guidance Clinical trials for medicines: Compliance with ICH E6 Good Clinical Practice (GCP) in the United Kingdom, Clinical trials for medicines: guidance on quality and risk proportionality, and Clinical investigations fo

The guidance Clinical trials for medicines: Roles and responsibilities provides a comprehensive framework that outlines how responsibilities are distributed among stakeholders involved in clinical trials in the United Kingdom. Introduction Clinical trials in the UK are governed by a structured system where responsibilities are clearly defined to ensure participant safety, ethical conduct, and reliable data generation. This guidance outlines the roles of key stakeholders, inc

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