Procedure: REMS and ETASU Development
Country: United States
Version #: 01/05/2024
Author: Vlad Reznikov
Editor: Daria Kostiuchenko

ID: US-PhR-RMS-SR
Category: Pharmaceuticals
Validity: Next FDA call for action
Certified by: Vlad Reznikov
Copyright: Pattern of USA Inc.

SUMMARY

The FDA may require Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) and Elements to Assure Safe Use (ETASU) for drugs with specific safety concerns. REMS and ETASU are designed to identify, mitigate, and manage risks associated with certain pharmaceutical products. They help ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh potential risks, contributing to overall patient safety. While ensuring patient safety, REMS and ETASU also aim to avoid unnecessary restrictions that could hinder patient access to essential medications. The creation of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) and Elements to Assure Safe Use (ETASU) can take three forms: De Novo, Single-Shared System (SSS), and Updates and Modifications. Balancing safety measures with the need for timely access is a key consideration in the development of these strategies. These risk management strategies often involve communication and educational efforts directed at healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders. The development of REMS and ETASU involves collaboration with the FDA to align risk management efforts with regulatory expectations. This collaborative approach helps foster transparency and compliance with regulatory requirements. A comprehensive development approach involves Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior (KAB) testing. The timeline and KPI for development varies depending on the type and extent of the work undertaken.                                    

Us Pharmaceuticals Rems And Etasu Development Simplified Regulations Card Gantt Chart (1) Page 0001

Must-Have Requirements, Recognized Standards, and Certification:                                                                  

  • Risk Assessment
  • Benefit-Risk Analysis
  • FDA Request or Mandate
  • IND; NDA, BLA, or ANDA MA Application

Nice-to-have:

  • Risk Mitigation Plan (RMP), aRMM                
  • State-specific list of Healthcare Providers&Establ.                   

Typical Gaps and Deficiencies: Lack of time, incomplete communication system with healthcare establishments, IT issues                                            

Implementation Period: Upon FDA approval                                                   

Deliverables: digital safety monitoring system, educational programs, restricted distribution plan, healthcare provider training materials, patient education info, prescribing restrictions, including, but not limited to:                                                            

  • Medication guide for patients, Black box warning 
  • Communication plan for healthcare professionals
  • DHCP Letter
  • Implementation Plan
  • Monitoring and Assessment
  • Data Collection systems
  • Reporting Requirements
  • Documentation kit for FDA, etc.
PHASETASKTASKSTARTDURATION Fee KPI
NUMBERTITLEOWNERW/M/Q/Yin weeks3rd Party Service State 
0Initial Phase       
  0.1NDA signing or validationExecutorweek 11    
  0.2ProposalMAHweek 21    
  0.3Contract ClosingMAHweek 31    
  0.4POA issuance and shippingExecutorweek 31    
  0.5Invoice is sent to MAH and paidExecutorweek 42    
IPreproduction       
  I.1Team formationTBDTBDTBD    
  I.2Internal collaboration/communication, workflow establishmentTBDTBDTBD    
  I.3Understanding of specific drug requirements per FDA responseTBDTBDTBD    
  I.4RMP/REMS/ETASU/aRMM Assessment PlanTBDTBDTBD    
  I.5Goals and Objectives determinationTBDTBDTBD    
  I.6COA (Course of Action) identificationTBDTBDTBD    
  I.7Dev Plan Preparation, review, and approvalTBDTBDTBD    
  I.8Additional consultations and collaboration in development for Single-shared REMS/ETASUTBDTBDTBD    
  I.9Selecting sources of assessment data and metricsTBDTBDTBD    
IIProduction       
  II.1Medical writing: editing, proofreading, page proofingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.2Medical writing: visual graphic designTBDTBDTBD    
  II.3Medication Guide for patientsTBDTBDTBD    
  II.4Labeling and Black box warningTBDTBDTBD    
  II.5Patient Enrollment form for HCP and wallet cardTBDTBDTBD    
  II.6Patient Counseling ChecklistTBDTBDTBD    
  II.7Patient-Prescriber contract TBDTBDTBD    
  II.8Call Center guidelines and scriptsTBDTBDTBD    
  II.9KABs Survey/Protocols/Reporting development TBDTBDTBD    
  II.10Communication Plan Elements for HCPTBDTBDTBD    
  II.11DHCP letterTBDTBDTBD    
  II.12Prescriber BrochureTBDTBDTBD    
  II.13Prescriber Enrollment FormTBDTBDTBD    
  II.14Journal information piece TBDTBDTBD    
  II.15Certification and training materials development and approval TBDTBDTBD    
  II.16Certification body onboarding and training TBDTBDTBD    
  II.17Patient Focus Group SurveyTBDTBDTBD    
  II.18Usability Testing ReportTBDTBDTBD    
  II.19Validation/Quality Assurance confirmationTBDTBDTBD    
  II.20Patients KAB Survey/Protocol/ReportingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.21Distributor KAB Survey/Protocol/ReportingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.22AR KAB Survey/Protocol/ReportingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.23HCP KAB Survey/Protocol/ReportingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.24Pharmacy KAB Survey/Protocol/ReportingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.25Pharmacist KAB Survey/Protocol/ReportingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.26Hospital Nurse KAB Survey/Protocol/ReportingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.27Call Center KAB Survey/Protocol/Reporting/each CCTBDTBDTBD    
  II.28Module A Knowledge Assessment/Reporting by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  II.29Module B Knowledge Assessment/Reporting by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  II.30Module C Knowledge Assessment/Reporting by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  II.31Module D Knowledge Assessment/Reporting by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  II.32Module E Knowledge Assessment/Reporting by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  II.33Module F Knowledge Assessment/Reporting by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  II.34FDA Support/audits/inspections: Final REMS Document in MS Word and PDF, includingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.35REMS Website ScreenshotsTBDTBDTBD    
  II.36REMS App ScreenshotsTBDTBDTBD    
  II.37FDA Support/audits/inspections: Responses to FDA “Requests for Information or Comments”TBDTBDTBD    
  II.38FDA Support/audits/inspections: In-person meetings with FDA regarding REMS per meetingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.39 IT solutions EDC architecture development TBDTBDTBD    
  II.40 IT solutions Secure DB cloud hostingTBDTBDTBD    
  II.41 IT solutions Security, storage, routing and maintenanceTBDTBDTBD    
  II.42 IT solutions Develop flowcharts, UI/UX, sequence of operations, eTBDTBDTBD    
  II.43 IT solutions Technical Specification, Architecture and Design development TBDTBDTBD    
  II.44 IT solutions Visual Graphic DesignTBDTBDTBD    
  II.45 IT solutions Website development TBDTBDTBD    
  II.46 IT solutions App development TBDTBDTBD    
  II.47 IT solutions UI testing of staging site and, the site materials, if diff.TBDTBDTBD    
  II.48 IT solutions UX testing of digital items (web, mobile apps, etc.)TBDTBDTBD    
  II.49 IT solutions Final IT system setup or transfer, and fixing IT issuesTBDTBDTBD    
IIIPre-Launch       
  III.1Distributor Training for controlled distribution system by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.2Distributor certification by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.3AR Training by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.4AR certification by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.5HCP Training by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.6HCP certification by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.7Pharmacy management Training  by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.8Pharmacy certification by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.9Pharmacist Training by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.10Pharmacist certification by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.11Hospital Nurse Training by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.12Hospital Nurse certification by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  III.13Call Center management Training TBDTBDTBD    
  III.14Call Center certificationTBDTBDTBD    
  III.15Call Center technician trainingTBDTBDTBD    
  III.16Call Center technician certificationTBDTBDTBD    
  III.17LSM TrainingTBDTBDTBD    
  III.18LSM (Local Safety Manager) certificationTBDTBDTBD    
IVPostproduction       
  IV.1Certification body annual training TBDTBDTBD    
  IV.2Distributor re-certification/annual by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.3AR re-certification/annual by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.4HCP re-certification/annual by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.5Pharmacy re-certification/annual by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.6Pharmacist re-certification/annual by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.7Hospital Nurse re-certification/annual by stateTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.8Call Center re-certification/annualTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.9Call Center technician re-certification/annualTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.10LSM re-certification/annualTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.11Reporting: Metrics assessmentTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.12Reporting: Assessment ReportTBDTBDTBD    
  IV.13Reporting:  FDA Report submission according to the timetableTBDTBDTBD    
FClosure       
  F.1Prep, sunset date, acknowledgment distribution, reporting, archiveTBDTBDTBD    
  F.2Service Acceptance Certificate signingTBDTBDTBD    
  F.3Final Invoice and PaymentTBDTBDTBD    
  F.4Contract TerminationTBDTBDTBD    
  F.5Archiving and limiting access to internal documentsTBDTBDTBD

 

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