Essay Topic:

“Why Validation is Required for the Manufacture of a Medicinal Product”. In other words, it is all about proving systems are fit for their intended use in the context of product quality and patient safety.

1. Introduction – Choose Any 3 to 4 of the Following Headings (3-to-4-Pages)

The introduction section should introduce various high-level concepts associated with the manufacture of medicinal products and pertinent to product quality and patient safety. A list of suggested concepts is mentioned in the section headers below. Pick any three or four of the suggested headings (or any other you may have) and write up to 3-to-4-pages combined.
1.1 Medicinal Product Terms (1-Page)
Outline various terms such as drug substance, drug product, and finished products), and various administration techniques such as enteral, parenteral, topical, etc.
1.2 Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) – (1-Page)
Describe the basis of typical GMPs and what they contain. Identify some regulatory agencies that issue GMPs. What global harmonization initiatives exist?
1.3 Quality Management Systems (QMS) – (1-Page)
Give an explanation of the contents of a suitable QMS for the manufacture of medicinal products (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ICH Q10, etc.)
1.4 Validation and the V-Model (1-Page)
Describe the classic V-Model and how it relates to testing activities against specification documents.
1.5 Good Automated Manufacturing Practices (1-Page)
Describe the GAMP5 approach to categorizing computer systems that impact on the manufacture of medicinal products.
1.6 Drug Substance Manufacturing (1-Page)
Outline, in simple terms, the manufacturing sequence for a typical chemically derived Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), and for a typical Biopharmaceutical Protein Therapeutics
1.7 Drug Products Manufacturing (1-Page)
Outline, in simple terms, the manufacturing sequence for finished medicinal products such as tablets, vials, etc.
1.8 Medical Devices (1-Page)
Describe the various classifications of medical devices (Class I, II, and III), give examples of each, and explain why they are under that particular class.
1.9 Quality Risk Management (1-Page)
Elaborate on how science-based decision can be made using the classical risk management process:

1. Identify major risks with respect to product quality and patient safety.
2. Evaluate and prioritize the list of faults.
3. Decide what risks are currently acceptable, and subsequently decide on a suitable mitigation strategy(s) for priority risks.
4. List a post-implementation review strategy both to ensure successful risk-mitigation strategy(s) and identify any new risks.

1.10 Any Other Heading (1-Page)
Feel free to add any other heading to support your paper.

2. Discussion- Choose 3 to 4 of the Following Headings per the Introduction (3-to-4-Pages)

Based on the three or four concepts you chose in the ‘Introduction’ section critically discuss them in the context of validating the critical product quality attributes and process parameters. The following sequence of headings directly aligns with the ‘Introduction’ section. Select the three or four suggested headings that compliment your initial choice and write up to 3-to-4-pages combined.
2.1 Medicinal Product – Key Product Quality Attributes and Process Parameters (1-Page)
Identify key product quality attributes associated with the administration of enteral, parenteral, and topical products. Describe key process considerations and related testing activities associated with the manufacture of their various constituents in the sequence of drug substances, drug products, and finished products. Identify major validation activities.
2.2 GMP Compliance Efficiencies (1-Page)
Describe why regulatory authorities inspect a pharmaceutical manufacturer against pertinent GMPs. Compare and contrast specific GMPs for the manufacture of for example drug substance versus finished product (e.g. ICH Q7 versus 21 CFR Part 211). Summarise the GMP’s requirement for ‘Validation’.
2.3 Key Enablers for a QMS (1-Page)
Describe the business drivers for a QMS and the key enablers to make a QMS successful. Briefly describe a ‘Product Realisation’ strategy that aligns design activities against specification activities.
2.4 Cost-Effective Validation (1-Page)
Describe an efficient approach to ‘Validation’ driven by subject matter expertise and risk-based decision making.
2.5 Product Lifecycle Activities (1-Page)
In accordance with GAMP5, explain typical product lifecycle activities across the ‘concept’, ‘project’, ‘operation’, and ‘retirement’ phases of a computerized system with respect to specification and testing activities.
2.6 Priority Testing for Drug Substance Manufacturing (1-Page)
For a typical API and biopharmaceutical process identify Key product quality attributes and associated process parameters for priority testing.
2.7 Priority Testing for Drug Products Manufacturing (1-Page)
For typical finished products, (e.g. tablets, vial, etc.) processes identify Key product quality attributes and associated process parameters for priority testing.
2.8 Priority Testing for Medical Devices (1-Page)
Select any device in each of the major medical device categories and identify Key product quality attributes and associated manufacturing process parameters for priority testing.
2.9 Science-Based Decision Making (1-Page)
Explain the merits of using science-based decision making to identify priority specification and testing activities for any manufacturing/equipment system.
2.10 Any Other Heading (1-Page)
Feel free to add any other heading to support your paper.

3. Conclusion

Based on the items you covered in the previous ‘Discussion’ section, make a clear deduction that validation is undoubtedly a requirement for the Manufacture of a Medicinal Product.