DRAP issued Consolidated Notification for Regulatory Fees

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) issued a consolidated notification of Regulatory fess for various functions and services. This notification is issued under the section (1) of section 20 of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Act, 2012 (XX.I of 2012) read with sub-rule (3) of rule 4 of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Fee and Levy) Rules, 2022, and in supersession of all such previous Notifications. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan with the approval of the Policy Board has specified these regulatory fees. The Notification is provided as under: –

Proposed Amendments in the Rules: Stakeholders Comments are invited on Draft Amendments in the Drugs (Research) Rules, 1978

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a proposal to amend the current version of the Drugs (Research) Rules, 1978. These draft amendments are herby notified seeking comments from stakeholders.

Stakeholders can submit their comments within 14 (fourteen) days of the publication of this Notification using prescribed format, via email to aamar.latifdra.gov.pk, or can be posted at mailing address, Additional Director, Division of Legal Affairs, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, 1st floor, TF Complex, 7th Mauve Area, G-9/4, Islamabad. Further information on comments submission can be accessed on this link.

Proposed Amendments in the Rules: Stakeholders Comments are invited on Draft Amendments in the Drugs (Licensing, Registering & Advertising) Rules 1976 and the Medical Device Rules, 2017

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a proposal to amend the current version of the Drugs (Licensing, Registering and Advertising) Rules, 1976 and the Medical Device Rules, 2017. These draft amendments are herby notified seeking comments from stakeholder.

Stakeholders can submit their comments within 14 (fourteen) days of the publication of this Notification using prescribed format, via email to aamar.latifdra.gov.pk, or can be posted at mailing address, Additional Director, Division of Legal Affairs, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, 1st floor, TF Complex, 7th Mauve Area, G-9/4, Islamabad. Further information on comments submission can be accessed on this link.

Notification: Directions of Registration Board on Labeling Requirements of Drug Products to Comply Pharmacopeial Specifications for Dissolution Testing

Registration Board in its 323rd meeting observed that various USP monographs for drug products prescribe more than one dissolution tests and that the pharmacopoeia in such cases recommends that “When more than one Dissolution Test is given, the labeling states the Dissolution Test used only if Test 1 is not used.”

Keeping in the USP labeling requirements narrated above and to comply to the Pharmacopeial specifications, the Board decided as under:

“The manufacturer shall mention the dissolution test Number on the secondary packing / unit carton of product for dissolution tests No 2,3 or 4 as per requirement of USP otherwise it would be presumed that dissolution test No.1 shall be performed on the finished product.”

Accordingly, the decision of Registration Board is circulated for information and compliance by relevant stakeholders / manufacturers.

Notification: Directions of Registration Board on Reference Product data submissions for conducting Pharmaceutical Equivalence and Comparative Dissolution Profile Studies

Registration Board of DRAP has issued a Guidance document for applicants on submission of application on form 5-F (CTD) for registration of pharmaceutical drug products for human use. Submission of data of pharmaceutical equivalence and Comparative Dissolution Profile (CDP) is required under section 3.2.P.2.2.1 (Formulation Development) of Form 5F (CTD).

In order to further harmonize the submission of such data and ensure data integrity, Registration Board in its 322nd meeting held on 8th & 10th November, 2022 decided as under:

Firm shall submit the image/picture/snapshot of the innovator/reference/comparator pack against which Pharmaceutical equivalence / Comparative Dissolution Profile studies have been performed and shall reveal the details of brand name, manufacturer, batch# and expiry date of the innovator/reference/comparator product in the section 3.2.P.2.2.1 (Formulation development) of Form 5F.

Accordingly, above decision of Registration Board is hereby notified and circulated for information and compliance by relevant stakeholders / applicants.

Notification: Directions of Registration Board on the Drug Substance (DS) for Product Development, R&D, and Stability Testing

The Registration Board of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan grants registration to pharmaceutical and biologicals drug products for human and veterinary use. The Drugs (Licensing, Registering and Adverting), Rules, 1976 as amended requires that applicant shall submit applications for human use on Form 5F (CTD), along with submissions of product development, and stability studies, etc under the relevant modules.

For these studies, applicants firms have to procure the Drug Substance / Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) from licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers only having valid Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Certifications and/or Drug Manufacturing Licenses form the relevant Regulatory Authority of the Country of origin.

The DRAP Authority, upon the request of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has allowed the manufacturers to acquire Drug Substance / Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (except controlled Drugs / Substance) from another Drug Manufacturing License (DML) holders which has already imported / procured from an authorized source, only for conducting product development and stability studies to submit application for registration to DRAP on Form 5F. However, all requirements of quality and traceability would be applicable in such cases and will be the responsibility of the manufacture/applicant. Further, the products so manufactured in NO case shall be allowed for commercial sale.

The directions of DRAP Authority and Registration Board is notified accordingly.