GUEST COLUMNISTS

• The Essential Components Of A Sterility Assurance Program

  The first step in developing a sterility assurance program is to list each step in the process, beginning at the point of use and ending in sterile storage. Each step should be evaluated for ways to prevent contamination in the manufacturing process or environments. This article shares the components for a holistic sterility assurance program needed for an aseptic manufactured product.

• An Introduction To Biopharma Facility Design & Layout

  This article explores modern facility design principles that make use of the most flexible new technologies and provide a platform to rein in costs, reduce schedules, and deliver products compliantly and within business risk tolerance.

• A Quantitative Benefit-Risk Analysis & Benefit-Risk Ratio Using Real World Data: Part 2 — COVID-19 Vaccine Benefit-Risk

  In Part 1 of this 2-part series, the authors presented a method by which benefit-risk analysis can be objectively carried out to arrive at a benefit-risk ratio. This method can be applied to any medical therapy, and this article (Part 2) provides a very relevant and contemporary example of how it can be used to calculate COVID-19 vaccine benefit-risk.

• A Quantitative Benefit-Risk Analysis & Benefit-Risk Ratio Using Real World Data: Part I

  This article introduces a novel model of benefit-risk by taking a bottom-up approach using the _risk of the therapy_ and comparing it to _risk of no therapy_ to quantify risk and benefit with the same scale. This overview is relevant not only to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, but also the medical device industry.

• Is A SPAC The Right Option For Your Emerging Biotech?

  As biotech and emerging pharma companies weigh their options for raising capital, the popularity of the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) has surged, with a 175% increase in announced SPAC M&As seen between 2019 and 2020. This article examines the considerations you should make when weighing if a SPAC is the right option for your company.

• Is The FDA About To Reclassify Your Drug Product As A Device?

  Until Oct. 8, 2021, the FDA is seeking public comment on its plans to transition some drugs to device status. The agency's intended implementation will affect not only new products meeting both drug and device statutory definitions in connection with the approval process but also existing products on the market that may have been improperly classified as drugs.

• FMEA Vs. System Risk Structures (SRS): Which Is More Useful?

  In this article, Mark Witcher, Ph.D., discusses the many failure modes of FMEA and risk priority number (RPN), comparing and contrasting it with system risk structures (SRS) and adjusted risk likelihood (RPN). He concludes that one of these is more useful than the other for pharma and medical devices; which one is it?