Author: Brandon Miller

Waterfall Methodology

Posted on by Brandon Miller

Click now to watch Regulatory Compliance Associates® Dr. Stephen Coulter explain how design controls and risk management play an intricate role in the Waterfall methodology:

 

 

The Waterfall methodology incorporates the usage of FDA design controls into the medical device design process. It serves as the primary connection between quality system requirements (QSR) and current good manufacturing practices (CGMP).

 

Waterfall Method

 

Conceptually, the FDA Waterfall model is designed to provide engineers with the flexibility to mitigate product risk, meet regulatory compliance and satisfy customer needs. It is a sequential process based on the quality assurance and medical device engineering principles listed in 21 CFR 820. The methodology itself is conceptualized in the image below from the Medical Device Bureau of Health Canada. 

 

Waterfall Development

 

waterfall methodologyTo increase risk mitigation during the Waterfall methodology, both risk management & design controls are considered. They often become integrated processes during Waterfall product development. Many unique tools that medical device engineers use to define requirements & meet user needs are shared across these processes, even though each is based on a separate standard.

 

While design controls for FDA approval are referred to in 21 CFR 820, medical device risk management is internationally associated with ISO 14971. Three critical elements of risk mitigation strategies clearly focus on avoiding risk during product development:

 

  • Evaluating an associated risk
  • Controlling an evaluated risk
  • Monitoring risk control effectiveness overall

 

Input Requirements

 

The success of the Waterfall development method depends on early research & assessments conducted about input requirements that include strategic risk. Further, spending time documenting the inputs of user interface, user stories and product epics can help increase positive outcomes and reduce requirement risk overall.  Finally, any inconsistencies during the waterfall methodology between the proposed design & input requirements can be corrected across stages. This aligns with one of the primary motivations behind FDA originally developing 21 CFR 820 (e.g. helping medical device manufacturers find design deficiencies earlier in the process).

 

Risk Management

 

By starting the Waterfall process with this end state in mind, design inputs are more likely to pass failure testing & become a manufacturing output. This risk management strategy during a Waterfall project can begin with identifying the publicly known risks of competitive products. Second, the team is challenged to investigate if similar hazards could be associated with your medical device. When working with a Regulatory Compliance Associates risk management consultant, our clients are reassured that Waterfall development should detail how hazards can impact user needs & potential customers.

 

For example, design inputs should consider current regulations and global standards early in the waterfall process. This helps incorporate a risk management perspective even before verification and validation testing begins. Intended uses should consider predicate devices and if any causes for recalls are related to design, materials, or software. 

 

Waterfall Approach

 

So, does this mean risk management & design controls are connected in the waterfall approach? And if they are, how important is one over the other when leading to marketing approval or regulatory compliance? This process is often measured against a combination of factors, including:

 

  • Regulations & standards for clinical approval
  • Risk class of medical device being manufactured
  • Regulatory body reviewing the marketing submission

 

Enterprise risk management would consider all three of these factors individually and in combination when considering how to eliminate systemic risk. The Waterfall project management team can also use various tools and techniques while developing the risk management plan. These risk identification tools include conducting a risk analysis, performing an FMEA, and charting risk tolerance. 

 

Risk Analysis

 

Existing regulations & standards offer various types of risk tools that can be incorporated into design controls. This can include identifying risk levels and creating severity charts during the user needs & design inputs stages. Additionally, each new product will have different hazards and risk tolerance levels associated with the target patient. Being able to analyze the problem, control the problem, and mitigate the risk is essential to define in your risk analysis. Challenge yourself to reduce and identify hazards by analyzing the known data as much as possible.

 

FMEA

 

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a controlled technique to detect & concentrate on budding trouble. Each failure is commonly assigned a rating based on the negative effect it may cause. The Waterfall process would then take each rating and project how the marketplace, healthcare systems, or patients can be impacted. FMEAs are one of many risk mitigation tools that can help your team identify the hazards of your severity chart. Each charted hazard is established based on the severe nature of the hazard to the user and project requirements for design control.

 

Risk Tolerance

 

Further, after the severity is defined, all known or projected hazards can be developed into a risk tolerance chart. The risk tolerance chart can then be shared cross-functionally across the team to help everyone understand which design steps can increase user risk. One of the benefits of a risk tolerance chart is being able to show data visualization. The design team should consider how design controls and user needs can reduce the hazard’s impact. Finally, a waterfall chart could also project the negative consequences of adverse events and what the estimated cumulative impact might be during a product crisis scenario.

 

Risk Management Summary

 

Finally, once your team has evaluated the risks and decided on precautions, a risk management summary is developed. It may include involves multiple failure mode analysis types (e.g. product, process, etc.) and risk ratings. These initial ratings are typically based on the types of failures and the severity of the failure itself. Ranges can also be given to determine the risk management strategy and what is the acceptable level of product risk (e.g. high, medium, low).

 

About RCA’s Medical Device Consulting Services

 

medical device consultantThe regulatory process surrounding the medical device industry involves strict adherence to pre/post-market compliance throughout a device’s life cycle. Even a single compliance issue you have can turn into a significant effect on your business. Regulatory Compliance Associates® medical device consultants can help guide you through any stage of this strategic process, with capabilities during product development through the regulatory clearance/approval of your product.

 

Our team of over 500 medical device consultant Experts — including former FDA officials and other leaders in the field of medical device regulation — will work with your company to create a quality assurance and regulatory compliance approach tailored to your products and regulatory needs. Regulatory Compliance Associates® works with both international Fortune 100 companies and small local start-ups, as well as law firms requesting remediation for warning letters, 483s, import bans, or consent decrees. Very few medical device consulting companies have the same expertise in a variety of medical fields.

 

Cybersecurity

 

For medical device manufacturers, technology can be a double-edged sword. The innovative technologies that elevate the quality of life for patients can also be used to potentially undermine the organization using the device. The consequences can affect the device itself if Regulatory Compliance Associates® medtech consultants do not implement good IoT cybersecurity and FDA cybersecurity protocols.

 

At Regulatory Compliance Associates®, we offer a wide variety of services for medical device security to help ensure that your product is protected from cyber-attacks. With a well-planned waterfall methodology design, along with full visibility of product development and the supply chain, Regulatory Compliance Associates® medical device consultant Experts can help strengthen your device’s cybersecurity posture throughout. We partner with medical device companies for the entire life cycle, including from the development of your product to the regulatory submission services involved with medical technology consulting.

 

Regulatory Affairs

 

Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates® backbone, and we handle more submissions in a month than many manufacturers do in a lifetime. Our medical device regulatory consulting Experts have experience working with the FDA, global regulatory bodies and / or agencies, and notified bodies worldwide. Therefore, you can count on us for in-depth and up-to-date insights which increase speed-to-market.

 

As a trusted regulatory affairs consultant, our FDA veterans and industry experts represent Regulatory Compliance Associates® as one of the top medical device consulting firms. We’re here to help you navigate the difficulties associated with new product submissions. Regulatory Compliance Associates® medical device consulting company has expertise in both the approval process and post-approval support. 

 

  • New Product Approval
  • Post-Approval Support
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • EU MDR

 

Compliance Assurance

 

Increasingly, life science companies are feeling the pressure of greater scrutiny by regulators, and responding by developing sustainable compliance strategies. Whether it’s preparing for an audit, developing a response to an FDA finding, or remediation to an adverse event, Regulatory Compliance Associates® can help.

 

Our network of over 500 medical device consultant & FDA, MHRA & EMA veterans are industry professionals offers a unique blend of expertise. This allows Regulatory Compliance Associates® to handle both simple and complex regulatory compliance challenges within medical device consulting companies.

 

  • Gap Assessments
  • Internal Audits
  • Employee Training
  • Notified Body Response

 

Quality Assurance

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates® Quality Assurance consulting includes quality system assessments, strategy, implementations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement, aligning with your business needs and goals. Each Regulatory Compliance Associates® medical device consultant is a quality expert with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. We know firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality, and we excel in transferring this knowledge to your organization.

 

In the medical devices field, quality assurance (QA) is more than merely ensuring the quality of a finished product. You need the tools to monitor and regulate every process from the design of a new product to continued quality compliance as the device is sent to market. At Regulatory Compliance Associates®, we offer you the medical device consultant assistance you need to monitor these processes and ensure quality compliance every step of the way.

 

With more than 20 years experience working with medical device consulting companies, Regulatory Compliance Associates® trusted medical device quality assurance consultant team is fully equipped to handle your unique QA needs.

 

  • ISO13485 
  • 21 CFR 210
  • 21 CFR 211
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • MDSAP
  • Facility Validation
  • Equipment Validation

 

Remediation Support

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates® is widely recognized within medical device consulting companies & the life science industry for remediation support. Regulatory Compliance Associates® ability to help companies successfully resolve complex regulatory challenges have a proven track record of success. Our medical device consulting services include significant experience with the development of responses to 483 Observations, Warning Letters, Untitled Letters and Consent Decrees.

 

Our value goes beyond the initial response by helping companies successfully execute their action plans, develop an improved compliance culture tailored to the needs of their business, and ultimately move beyond the regulatory action to emerge as a stronger business. We negotiate difficult demands of remediation with insight and the clear advantage of our medical device consultant expertise and experience that makes partnering with Regulatory Compliance Associates®  a competitive differentiator in the remediation space.

 

  • Quality System
  • Technical File
  • Design History File
  • Data Integrity
  • cGMP 

 

Strategic Consulting

 

Whether it’s a strategy, a technical plan, or a project, Regulatory Compliance Associates® medical device consultancy can help ensure a successful project. Regulatory Compliance Associates® medical device strategy consulting can deliver your project on time, on budget, and you’re never embroiled in a costly mistake.

 

Our medical device consultant Experts are industry Experts who are here to provide the unique insight you need before an M&A deal, through a staffing crisis and in every area of your product’s development and life cycle. As the trusted medical device manufacturing consultants of thousands of companies around the world, we have the knowledge and expertise needed to deliver exceptional results to your business — no matter your size or unique needs.

 

  • Manufacturing Optimization
  • Product Lifecycle Management
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
  • Due Diligence
  • Device Vigilance
  • Product Complaints
  • Medical Information

 

About RCA®

 

medical device consultantsRegulatory Compliance Associates (RCA) provides medical device consulting to the following industries for the resolution of life science challenges:

 

 

We understand the complexities of running a life science business and possess areas of expertise that include every facet of R&D, operations, regulatory affairs, quality, and manufacturing. We are used to working on the front lines and thriving in the scrutiny of FDA, Health Canada, MHRA, and globally regulated companies.

 

As your partners, we can negotiate the potential minefield of regulatory compliance and regulatory due diligence with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience.

 

  • Founded in 2000
  • Headquartered in Wisconsin (USA)
  • Expertise backed by over 500 industry subject matter experts
  • Acquired by Sotera Health in 2021

 

About Sotera Health®

 

The name Sotera Health was inspired by Soteria, the Greek goddess of safety, and reflects the Company’s unwavering commitment to its mission, Safeguarding Global Health®.

 

sotera healthSotera Health Company, along with its three best-in-class businesses – Sterigenics®, Nordion® and Nelson Labs®, is a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry. With a combined tenure across our businesses of nearly 200 years and our industry-recognized scientific and technological expertise, we help to ensure the safety of over 190 million patients and healthcare practitioners around the world every year.

 

We are a trusted partner to more than 5,800 customers in over 50 countries, including 40 of the top 50 medical device companies and 8 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

 

 

To begin the Regulatory Compliance Associates® scoping process today, please enter your information in the blue form below and click the submit button at the bottom of the webpage. 

 

 

Product Development

Posted on by Brandon Miller

Click to watch Regulatory Compliance Associates medical device consultant, Dr. Stephen Coulter, discuss the common tools & processes used during product development. Early stages of new product development include analyzing user needs & translating design benefits into long-term patient efficacy.

 

 

Developing an original product idea is difficult but many common tools & processes are consistently used. The early stages of product development include analyzing user needs and how those translate into design inputs.

 

Product Development Strategy

 

Ideation and product development life cycle research can help you identify user needs. Additionally, increasing the quality of an existing product is often a successful new product development strategy. Your solution doesn’t have to be a radically new idea.

 

Does it have a substitute product that can take market share? Or, can you combine the features of multiple products during the product design process to make a combination product that patients prefer more? Could a product design consultant help answer these questions & provide knowledge transfer?

 

Product Development Cycle

 

Start by asking your cross-functional team an initial question: “What do we need to change to achieve success during the product development cycle?”. Product development strategy includes modifying existing systems & processes to accelerate efficiency. Refine your model or process based on the unique types of product solutions in your pipeline.

 

Product Research

 

Being able to understand & explain why your solution addresses a user needs statement is inherent to launch sales success.  Interactive activities can be useful for improving creative conversation during market development strategy sessions. Further, voice of the customer (VOC) research consistently helps target the patient population in mind. 

 

Finally, using VOC to identify early adopter audiences & the audience’s most important needs can increase early interest in your solution. Begin the sales process by determining core messaging ahead of the launch ramp-up based on device claims & if the regulatory submission is approved.

 

Market Development Strategy

 

User needs are the foundation of any successful market development strategy. Yet, being able to commercialize a new solution based on user needs using a team experiencing process problems is never an easy task. It requires the Engineering Team & Operations Team at the listening table earlier in the process than later. 

 

Product Design and Development

 

A critical to quality objective early in the new product development process is removing everything but the essentials. Research your users needs to create design inputs for a product that patients both need & generates revenue.

 

Product Planning Process

 

After a business case is determined in the waterfall method, the product planning process begins cross functionally to validate product ideas via new product development research. What user needs will accelerate a successful product launch the fastest?

 

Innovative product design means addressing honest opinions from your target audience to validate your medical device solves a problem. The product development management team must be convinced the product can win in the commercial marketplace sooner rather than later.

 

Software Product Design

 

Success during the launch of a software as a medical device is often found at the heart of the product development plan. Any new product design must incorporate value added for the audience in one way, shape or form. This can include lean product design as some of the most effective software in the industry is not complicated.

 

Software as a Medical Device

 

Consider the regulatory differences between a tangible product and a technology product very carefully. For example, Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) has changed the marketplace by increasing both clinical research success & primary care delivery. Include process improvement sessions during internal meetings where a collective group deciphers what the user need statements mean to their team. 

 

Agile Product Development

 

The vision for development begins with a minimum viable product, or MVP, during early software conceptualization & development; what is the business case of commercialization? How do we learn faster while making real time efficiency changes?  

 

Digital Product Development

 

Product development teams must answer several questions before undertaking product design. Further, one focal ask is are successful processes already in place for medical product development.

 

Do you have a RACI chart to show who is responsible, accountable, considered, and informed? Finally, a clear cross-functional understanding of timelines & milestones can help guide expectations during MVP product development, which can be stressful based on the speed of common work.

 

MVP Agile

 

MVP (Minimum Viable Product) a widely accepted concept in software development in digital product development. However, our medical product design discussion will take a different direction – what is the regulatory affairs process?

 

A project management software development team should deliver a safe, efficacious solution with the objective of delivering patient value. Define your value through a regulatory strategy based on device claims, clinical evidence, and how both help the patient population.

 

Regulatory Compliance

 

Software as a medical device involves regulatory compliance based on multiple, widely accepted global standards.

 

  • This includes:
    • ISO 13485
    • IEC 62304
    • IEC 62366
    • ISO 14791

 

The product development engineering team is responsible for the software process. Any prototype development assistance should begin with a regulatory compliance perspective of claims and predicate devices.

 

Prototype predicate concepts begin with identifying the current risk class & why use cases help validate your proposed risk class during regulatory submission. Finally, consider younger product developers who may have never been through regulatory approval in their career. FDA readiness training can be a powerful tool that increases marketing approval & how to carefully identify and isolate risk hazards.

 

Regulatory Pathway 

 

Planning the build for a product requires a regulatory pathway that includes risk management considerations based on the risk class. Create as much detail as possible during this prototyping and design inputs phase of NPD.

 

Product development companies, like Regulatory Compliance Associates, can help identify the correct predicate device based on a risk gap analysis.  Diagrams should include material ingredients that need to be sourced to create the product. This can help you determine the risk category of the product (e.g. patient daily use, HCP specialty use, etc.) and corresponding patient hazards.

 

About Regulatory Compliance Associates

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates (RCA) provides life science consultants & consulting services to the following industries for resolution of compliance and regulatory challenges:

 

 

 

We understand the complexities of running a life science business and possess areas of expertise that include every facet of R&D, operations, regulatory affairs, quality, and manufacturing. Our life science consultants are used to working on the front lines and thriving in the scrutiny of FDA, Health Canada, MHRA and globally-regulated companies.

 

As your partners, we can negotiate the potential minefield of regulatory compliance and regulatory due diligence with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience.

 

  • Founded in 2000
  • Expertise backed by over 500 industry subject matter experts
  • Acquired by Sotera Health in 2021

 

About Sotera Health

The name Sotera Health was inspired by Soteria, the Greek goddess of safety, and reflects the Company’s unwavering commitment to its mission, Safeguarding Global Health®.

 

Sotera Health Company, along with its three best-in-class businesses – Sterigenics®, Nordion® and Nelson Labs®, is a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry. With a combined tenure across our businesses of nearly 200 years and our industry-recognized scientific and technological expertise, we help to ensure the safety of over 190 million patients and healthcare practitioners around the world every year.

 

We are a trusted partner to more than 5,800 customers in over 50 countries, including 40 of the top 50 medical device companies and 8 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates Medical Device Consulting Services

 

The regulatory process surrounding the medical device industry involves a strict adherence to pre/post market compliance throughout a device’s life-cycle. Even a single compliance issue you have can turn into a significant effect on your business. RCA®‘s medical device consultants can help guide you through any stage of this strategic process, with capabilities during product development through the regulatory clearance/approval of your product.

 

Our team of over 500 life science consultants — including former FDA officials and other leaders in the field of medical device regulation — will work with your company to create a quality assurance and regulatory compliance approach tailored to your products and regulatory needs. RCA works with both international Fortune 100 companies and small local start-ups, as well as law firms requesting remediation for warning letters, 483’s, import bans or consent decrees. We offer expertise in a variety of medical fields, such

 

Cybersecurity

 

For medical device manufacturers, technology can be a double-edged sword. The innovative technologies that elevate the quality of life for patients can also be used to potentially undermine the organization using the device. The consequences can affect the device itself if we do not implement good IoT cybersecurity and FDA cybersecurity protocols. At Regulatory Compliance Associates®, we offer a wide variety of services for medical devices security to help ensure that your product is protected from cyber-attacks.

 

With a well-planned design, along with full visibility of product development and the supply chain, RCA can help strengthen your device’s cybersecurity posture throughout. We partner with medical device companies for the entire life cycle, including from the development of your product to the regulatory submission to your notified body.

 

Regulatory Affairs

 

Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates® ‘s backbone, and we handle more submissions in a month than many manufacturers do in a lifetime. We have experience working with the FDA, global regulatory bodies and / or agencies, and notified bodies worldwide. Therefore, you can count on us for in-depth and up-to-date insights which increase speed-to-market.

 

As a trusted regulatory affairs consultant, our FDA veterans and industry experts are here to help you navigate the difficulties associated with new product submissions. They have expertise in both the approval process and post-approval support. 

 

  • New Product Approval
  • Post-Approval Support
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • EU MDR

 

Compliance Assurance

 

Increasingly, life science companies are feeling the pressure of greater scrutiny by regulators, and responding by developing sustainable compliance strategies. Whether it’s preparing for an audit, developing a response to an FDA finding, or remediation to an adverse event, Regulatory Compliance Associates® Inc. can help.

 

Our network of over 500 FDA, Health Canada & MHRA veterans and industry professionals offers a unique blend of expertise that allows us to handle both simple and complex regulatory compliance challenges within the medical device industry.

 

  • Gap Assessments
  • Internal Audits
  • Employee Training
  • Notified Body Response

 

Quality Assurance

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates®‘s Quality Assurance services include quality system assessments, strategy, implementations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement, aligning with your business needs and goals. Our life science consultants are quality experts with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. We know firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality, and we excel in transferring this knowledge to your organization.

 

In the medical devices field, quality assurance (QA) is more than merely ensuring the quality of a finished product. You need the tools to monitor and regulate every process from the design of a new product to continued quality compliance as the device is sent to market. At RCA®, we offer you the assistance you need to monitor these processes and ensure quality compliance every step of the way.

 

With more than 20 years of experience as a trusted medical device quality assurance consultant, our team of over 500 industry Experts are fully equipped to handle your unique QA needs.

 

  • ISO13485 
  • 21 CFR 210
  • 21 CFR 211
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • MDSAP
  • Facility Validation
  • Equipment Validation

 

Remediation Support

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates® is widely recognized within the life science industry and global regulatory agencies for its ability to help companies successfully resolve complex regulatory challenges, including remediation. With a proven track record of success, we have significant experience with the development of responses to 483 Observations, Warning Letters, Untitled Letters and Consent Decrees.

 

Our value goes beyond the initial response by helping companies successfully execute their action plans, develop an improved compliance culture tailored to the needs of their business, and ultimately move beyond the regulatory action to emerge as a stronger business. We negotiate difficult demands of remediation with insight and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience that makes partnering with RCA® Inc. a competitive differentiator in the remediation space.

 

  • Quality System
  • Technical File
  • Design History File
  • Data Integrity
  • cGMP 

 

Strategic Consulting

 

Whether it’s a strategy, a technical plan, or project, Regulatory Compliance Associates® life science consultants can help ensure a successful mix of people and product so your project is on time, on budget, and you’re never embroiled in a costly mistake.

 

Our 500 industry Experts are here to provide the unique insight you need before an M&A deal, through a staffing crisis and in every area of your product’s development and life cycle. As the trusted medical device manufacturing consultants of thousands of companies around the world, we have the knowledge and expertise needed to deliver exceptional results to your business — no matter your size or unique needs.

 

  • Manufacturing Optimization
  • Product Lifecycle Management
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
  • Due Diligence
  • Device Vigilance
  • Product Complaints
  • Medical Information

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates Pharmaceutical Consulting Services

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates (RCA)® has helped thousands of pharmaceutical companies meet regulatory, compliance, quality assurance, and remediation challenges. With more than 20 years of experience with FDA, Health Canada, EU and global regulatory agencies worldwide, RCA offers leading pharmaceutical consultants that can help you navigate through the challenges associated with evolving industry regulations.

 

Our team of over 500 seasoned FDA, Health Canada and EU compliance consultants and regulatory affairs experts can understand the complexities surrounding the pharmaceutical industry and the unique inner workings of the regulatory process. 

 

Client Solutions

 

Whether you’re in the product planning, development or pharmaceutical lifecycle management stage or need a remediation strategy for a compliance crisis, RCA® will guide you through every step of the regulatory process and create a customized approach depending on your product and your pharma company’s individual needs. Our clients include:

 

  • Companies new to FDA, Health Canada or EU regulations and the pharmaceutical industry
  • Start-up organizations with novel submissions to 510(k) submissions from multi-national corporations
  • Investment firms seeking private equity due diligence for pre-acquisition and post-deal research
  • Law firms seeking expertise in the remediation of warning letters, consent decrees, 483’s or import bans

 

Regulatory Affairs

 

Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates®’s backbone and we fully understand the complexities of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. Our expertise spans all facets and levels of Regulatory Affairs, from Regulatory Support for New Products to Life Cycle Management, to other services like Outsourced Regulatory Affairs, Submissions, Training, and more.

 

As your partner, we can negotiate the potential assessment minefield of pharmaceuticals with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our breadth and depth of knowledge and experience. We offer the following four regulatory affairs services for pharmaceutical companies.

 

  • New Product Support
  • Product Lifecycle
  • Other Regulatory Services

 

Compliance Assurance

 

The regulations process surrounding pharmaceutical companies can be tricky for even the most experienced industry veteran to understand, and just one misstep could mean significant and lasting consequences for your business. At RCA®, we offer the experience and resources necessary to guide you in quality compliance.

 

  • Assessments
  • Audits
  • Regulatory Agency Response
  • Preparation and Training
  • Inspection Readiness

 

Quality Assurance

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates® Quality Assurance services include assessments, strategy, implementations, staff augmentations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement, aligning with your business needs and goals. Our consultants are quality life science consultants with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. We know firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality, and we excel in transferring this knowledge to your organization.

 

  • 21 CFR Part 11
  • Data Integrity
  • Manufacturing Support
  • Facility Support

 

Remediation 

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates® has significant experience and a proven approach to managing FDA Warning Letters, Consent Decrees, Remediation and other serious regulatory situations. We know how to partner with executive, legal, and communication teams, and will assist management with a response that will be accepted by the regulatory agency and be realistic to execute.

 

We can develop a comprehensive proof book of documented objective evidence demonstrating the corrective actions taken to remediate non-compliant issues. In addition, RCA® can help prepare a comprehensive strategy to assist in your remediation efforts, drive continuous improvement, and maintain compliance with the regulations.

 

  • Regulatory Action
  • Warning Letter
  • 483 Observation
  • Oversight Services

 

To begin the Regulatory Compliance Associates scoping process today, please enter your information in the blue form below and click the submit button at the bottom of the webpage. 

 

AAPS PharmSci 360

Posted on by Brandon Miller

Regulatory Compliance Associates® will be exhibiting at AAPS PharmSci 360 in Orlando on October 22-25, 2023. Stop by booth #2210 to meet experts from each of our teams to learn how we can provide you with a complete solution for any of your projects. Together we understand your business and are prepared to discuss solutions to your regulatory, quality, compliance, sterilization, and lab testing needs to help ensure the safety of your product and process.

 

About AAPS PharmSci 360

AAPS is a dynamic forum where you have access to cutting-edge research you can apply to your current science.

  • Stay on top of the latest scientific trends by attending sessions featuring presentations by leading researchers and experts
  • Review hundreds of scientific posters and see new research that can help you advance your work
  • Participate in Partner Presentations focused on practical science and best practices that can improve the efficiency of your organization
  • Enjoy bite-sized insights presented through the popular Rapid Fires and Speaker Spotlights

Register Now

About RCA’s Pharmaceutical Consulting Services 

Whether you’re in the product planning, development or pharmaceutical lifecycle management stage or need a remediation strategy for a compliance crisis, RCA® will guide you through every step of the regulatory process and create a customized approach depending on your product and your pharma company’s individual needs. Our clients include:

  • Companies new to FDA, Health Canada or EU regulations and the pharmaceutical industry
  • Start-up organizations with novel submissions to 510(k) submissions from multi-national corporations
  • Investment firms seeking private equity due diligence for pre-acquisition and post-deal research
  • Law firms seeking expertise in the remediation of warning letters, consent decrees, 483’s or import bans

 

Regulatory Affairs

Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates® backbone and we fully understand the complexities of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. Our expertise spans all facets and levels of Regulatory Affairs, from Regulatory Support for New Products to Life Cycle Management, to other services like Outsourced Regulatory Affairs, Submissions, Training, and more.

As your partner, we can negotiate the potential assessment minefield of pharmaceuticals with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our breadth and depth of knowledge and experience. We offer the following four regulatory affairs services for pharmaceutical companies.

  • New Product Support
  • Product Lifecycle
  • Other Regulatory Services

 

Compliance Assurance

The regulations process surrounding pharmaceutical companies can be tricky for even the most experienced industry veteran to understand, and just one misstep could mean significant and lasting consequences for your business. At RCA®, we offer the experience and resources necessary to guide you in quality compliance.

  • Assessments
  • Audits
  • Regulatory Agency Response
  • Preparation and Training
  • Inspection Readiness

 

Quality Assurance

Regulatory Compliance Associates® Quality Assurance services include assessments, strategy, implementations, staff augmentations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement, aligning with your business needs and goals. Our consultants are quality experts with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. We know firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality, and we excel in transferring this knowledge to your organization.

  • 21 CFR 210
  • 21 CFR 211
  • Data Integrity
  • Computerized System Validation
  • Manufacturing Support
  • Facility Support

 

Remediation 

Regulatory Compliance Associates® has significant experience and a proven approach to managing FDA Warning Letters, Consent Decrees, Remediation and other serious regulatory situations. We know how to partner with executive, legal, and communication teams, and will assist management with a response that will be accepted by the regulatory agency and be realistic to execute. We can develop a comprehensive proof book of documented objective evidence demonstrating the corrective actions taken to remediate non-compliant issues. In addition, RCA can help prepare a comprehensive strategy to assist in your remediation efforts, drive continuous improvement, and maintain compliance with the regulations.

  • Regulatory Action
  • Warning Letter
  • 483 Observation
  • Oversight Services

 

About RCA

regulatory complianceRegulatory Compliance Associates® (RCA) provides regulatory compliance consulting to the following industries for resolution of life science challenges:

We understand the complexities of running a life science business and possess areas of expertise that include every facet of R&D, operations, regulatory affairs, quality, and manufacturing. Our life science consultants are used to working on the front lines and thriving in the scrutiny of FDA, Health Canada, MHRA and globally-regulated companies.

As your partners, we can negotiate the potential minefield of regulatory compliance and regulatory due diligence with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience.

  • Founded in 2000
  • Expertise backed by over 500 industry subject matter experts
  • Acquired by Sotera Health in 2021

 

About Sotera Health

The name Sotera Health was inspired by Soteria, the Greek goddess of safety, and reflects the Company’s unwavering commitment to its mission, Safeguarding Global Health®.

regulatory complianceSotera Health Company, along with its three best-in-class businesses – Sterigenics®, Nordion® and Nelson Labs®, is a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry. With a combined tenure across our businesses of nearly 200 years and our industry-recognized scientific and technological expertise, we help to ensure the safety of over 190 million patients and healthcare practitioners around the world every year.

 

We are a trusted partner to more than 5,800 customers in over 50 countries, including 40 of the top 50 medical device companies and 8 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

 

To begin the Regulatory Compliance Associates® scoping process today, please enter your information in the blue form below and click the submit button at the bottom of the webpage. 

 

Microbial Process Design

Posted on by Brandon Miller

Click now to learn from Sue Schniepp, Distinguished Fellow at Regulatory Compliance Associates, as she describes microbial process design and how your team can improve contamination control. 

 

 

Human microbes live in every part of a human being, including the skin, gut, and nose. Trillions of microorganisms live inside the human body — often outnumbering human cells by 10 to 1. However, microorganisms only make up roughly 1 to 3 percent of the body’s mass because of their tiny size. Sometimes microbes in food can lead to illness, but it is more common for microbes in human body functions to safely live in their host. Additionally, many types of microbes provide unique qualities that help increase life expectancy and human survival in general.

 

Annex 1

 

microbial process designWhen it comes to microbial control and process design, there are unique drivers listed in the EU’s Annex 1 regulatory guidance that can help your organization. This regulatory compliance guidance contains different types of contamination control requirements.

 

Further, these drivers come in many different shapes and sizes, but all can impact manufacturing production if not carefully considered.

 

Sterile Preparations

 

Manufacturing sterile products covers a wide spectrum of decisions to be considered by the Quality team and manufacturing operations, including:

 

Sterile product types

  • Active substance
  • Sterile excipient
  • Packaging material
  • Finished dosage form

Packaging sizes

  • Single unit
  • Multiple units

Sterile processes

  • Automated systems
  • Manual processes

Technologies

  • Biotechnology
  • Small molecule manufacturing
  • Closed systems

 

Additionally, one of the quality assurance goals of sterile product manufacturing is to minimize risk associated with microbial, particulate, and pyrogen contamination.

 

Process Design

 

Contamination sources are the focus of process design and are commonly due to microbial and cellular debris, as well as particulate matter. Understanding how your facility, equipment and employees contribute to uncleanness (whether intentional or not) is essential to contamination control. Lastly, process design should consider each contamination source individually and as a whole to achieve regulatory compliance.

 

Manufacturing Plant

 

The facility your product is manufactured in is the first gap analysis that should be conducted. For example, a food manufacturing plant will have a different set of needs to be considered than a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. Each will have unique requirements based on equipment, environment and process. Further, pharmaceutical production follows unique FDA guidance recommendations that are unlike many commercialized products on the market.  

 

Cleanroom

 

One of the first priorities your team should understand is clean room classifications and differences in a regulated clean room environment. There are many types of cleanroom services that can help with clean room design and preparing for regulatory compliance (e.g. ISO 7 or ISO 8).

 

For example, cleanliness standards and cleanroom supplies should be maintained and monitored for environmental conditions. Finally, airlocks for both personnel and equipment should include HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) air filtration to increase air cleanliness and controls that reduce contaminants.

 

RABS

 

Restricted Area Barrier Systems (RABS) and isolators can help assure environmental conditions help minimize microbial contamination. Further, a reliable containment strategy should consider the types of human intervention that can impact the critical zone. This often goes hand-in-hand with the type of grade the zone is.

 

There are four primary types of critical zones:

 

  • Grade A: this area includes high risk operations that must consider air filtration, the aseptic processing line, and filling zone. Additionally, the stopper bowl, open ampoules and vials also must be studied based on contaminates & unidirectional air flow. Finally, process design & SOPs should minimize the number of operators who don’t use barrier protection or glove port
  • Grade B: this area is commonly a background cleanroom for Grade A aseptic preparation and filling zone. Most importantly, airflow visualization studies should show that air does not enter from any lower grade cleanrooms to Grade B. Air pressure differentials should be monitored to ensure clean airflow.
  • Grade C and D: These types of cleanroom spaces are used for lower risk manufacturing stages in the manufacturing process. The most often use class for Grade C and D are the preparation and filling of terminally sterilized

 

Finally, it is critically important when analyzing the grade of a zone when it comes to modular clean room or portable clean room designs. Make sure your cleanroom construction team understands the types of certified cleanroom principles that follow regulatory compliance.

 

Water Systems

 

A water treatment plant is one of the most critical elements of microbial process design. The water filter system should minimize both particulates and pyrogens to help reduce the potential for contamination. Further, special attention should be given to the different types of water filter products used & how they are monitored and maintained over time. Nevertheless, water flow should remain forceful & consistent through water filtration pipes to minimize microbial adhesion & the risks associated with biofilm formation.

 

Sterilizing Agent

 

When using a pure steam generator as a sterilizing agent, the design should be correctly purified. Additionally, these agents of sterilization should be designed & validated to confirm steam quality meets both chemical levels and endotoxin levels. For the same reason, measure your steam quality for any additional additives that can cause either contamination of your product or manufacturing equipment.

 

Central Vacuum System

 

Understanding when gases come into contact with the product or container surfaces is critical during process design. For example, here are process design concepts to validate proper chemical, particulate, and microbial quality:

 

  • Relevant parameters (e.g. oil and water content) should be specified in the documentation
  • Consider the use cases inside the facility & type of gas being used during the process
  • Respect the gas generation system & if the design complies with the Pharmacopoeia monograph

 

Gases used in aseptic processes should always be filtered through a sterilizing filter. If your sterilizing filter is used on a batch basis, consider integrity testing the results during batch certification. Finally, any backflow from vacuum systems or pressure systems can produce hazards to the product. Have your quality team consistently review the mechanisms that prevent backflow when the systems are shut down.

 

Hydraulic Systems

 

Manufacturing equipment connected by hydraulics or heating & cooling systems, when possible, should be preferably outside the filling room. Equally important, pump hydraulics or fluid hydraulics located in the filling room should include design controls to contain any spillage. Leaks from these types of systems could pose a contamination risk to the product that should be detectable.

 

Finally, incorporating an indication system can help monitor leakage scenarios where contamination can become an urgent problem. This can include manufacturing technology such as tank gauges, a tank level sensor, and advanced water level monitor functionality. 

 

About Regulatory Compliance Associates

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates (RCA) provides life science consultants & consulting services to the following industries for resolution of compliance and regulatory challenges:

 

Life Science consultants

 

We understand the complexities of running a life science business and possess areas of expertise that include every facet of R&D, operations, regulatory affairs, quality, and manufacturing. Our life science consultants are used to working on the front lines and thriving in the scrutiny of FDA, Health Canada, MHRA and globally-regulated companies.

 

As your partners, we can negotiate the potential minefield of regulatory compliance and regulatory due diligence with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience.

 

  • Founded in 2000
  • Expertise backed by over 500 industry subject matter experts
  • Acquired by Sotera Health in 2021

 

About Sotera Health

The name Sotera Health was inspired by Soteria, the Greek goddess of safety, and reflects the Company’s unwavering commitment to its mission, Safeguarding Global Health®.

 

sotera healthSotera Health Company, along with its three best-in-class businesses – Sterigenics®, Nordion® and Nelson Labs®, is a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry. With a combined tenure across our businesses of nearly 200 years and our industry-recognized scientific and technological expertise, we help to ensure the safety of over 190 million patients and healthcare practitioners around the world every year.

 

We are a trusted partner to more than 5,800 customers in over 50 countries, including 40 of the top 50 medical device companies and 8 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

 

About RCA’s Pharmaceutical Consulting Services

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates (RCA) has helped thousands of pharmaceutical companies meet regulatory, compliance, quality assurance, and remediation challenges. With more than 20 years of experience with FDA, Health Canada, EU, and global regulatory agencies worldwide, RCA offers leading pharmaceutical consultants that can help you navigate through the challenges associated with evolving industry regulations.

 

Our team of over 500 seasoned FDA, Health Canada and EU compliance consultants and regulatory affairs experts can understand the complexities surrounding the pharmaceutical industry and the unique inner workings of the regulatory process. 

 

Client Solutions

 

Whether you’re in the product planning, development or pharmaceutical lifecycle management stage or need a remediation strategy for a compliance crisis, RCA® will guide you through every step of the regulatory process and create a customized approach depending on your product and your pharma company’s individual needs. Our clients include:

 

  • Companies new to FDA, Health Canada or EU regulations and the pharmaceutical industry
  • Start-up organizations with novel submissions to 510(k) submissions from multi-national corporations
  • Investment firms seeking private equity due diligence for pre-acquisition and post-deal research
  • Law firms seeking expertise in the remediation of warning letters, consent decrees, 483’s or import bans

 

Regulatory Affairs

 

Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates backbone and we fully understand the complexities of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. Our expertise spans all facets and levels of Regulatory Affairs, from Regulatory Support for New Products to Life Cycle Management, to other services like Outsourced Regulatory Affairs, Submissions, Training, and more.

 

As your partner, we can negotiate the potential assessment minefield of pharmaceuticals with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our breadth and depth of knowledge and experience. We offer the following four regulatory affairs services for pharmaceutical companies.

 

  • New Product Support
  • Product Lifecycle
  • Other Regulatory Services

 

Compliance Assurance

 

The regulations process surrounding pharmaceutical companies can be tricky for even the most experienced industry veteran to understand, and just one misstep could mean significant and lasting consequences for your business. At Regulatory Compliance Associates, we offer the experience and resources necessary to guide you in quality compliance.

 

  • Assessments
  • Audits
  • Regulatory Agency Response
  • Preparation and Training
  • Inspection Readiness

 

Quality Assurance

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates Quality Assurance services include assessments, strategy, implementations, staff augmentations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement, aligning with your business needs and goals. Our consultants are quality life science consultants with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. We know firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality, and we excel in transferring this knowledge to your organization.

 

  • 21 CFR Part 11
  • Data Integrity
  • Manufacturing Support
  • Facility Support

 

Remediation 

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates has significant experience and a proven approach to managing FDA Warning Letters, Consent Decrees, Remediation and other serious regulatory situations. We know how to partner with executive, legal, and communication teams, and will assist management with a response that will be accepted by the regulatory agency and be realistic to execute.

 

We can develop a comprehensive proof book of documented objective evidence demonstrating the corrective actions taken to remediate non-compliant issues. In addition, RCA® can help prepare a comprehensive strategy to assist in your remediation efforts, drive continuous improvement, and maintain compliance with the regulations.

 

  • Regulatory Action
  • Warning Letter
  • 483 Observation
  • Oversight Services

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates Medical Device Consulting Services

 

The regulatory process surrounding the medical device industry involves a strict adherence to pre/post market compliance throughout a device’s life-cycle. Even a single compliance issue you have can turn into a significant effect on your business. RCA®‘s medical device consultants can help guide you through any stage of this strategic process, with capabilities during product development through the regulatory clearance/approval of your product.

 

Our team of over 500 life science consultants — including former FDA officials and other leaders in the field of medical device regulation — will work with your company to create a quality assurance and regulatory compliance approach tailored to your products and regulatory needs. RCA works with both international Fortune 100 companies and small local start-ups, as well as law firms requesting remediation for warning letters, 483’s, import bans or consent decrees. We offer expertise in a variety of medical fields, such

 

Cybersecurity

 

For medical device manufacturers, technology can be a double-edged sword. The innovative technologies that elevate the quality of life for patients can also be used to potentially undermine the organization using the device. The consequences can affect the device itself if we do not implement good IoT cybersecurity and FDA cybersecurity protocols. At Regulatory Compliance Associates®, we offer a wide variety of services for medical devices security to help ensure that your product is protected from cyber-attacks.

 

With a well-planned design, along with full visibility of product development and the supply chain, RCA can help strengthen your device’s cybersecurity posture throughout. We partner with medical device companies for the entire life cycle, including from the development of your product to the regulatory submission to your notified body.

 

Regulatory Affairs

 

Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates® ‘s backbone, and we handle more submissions in a month than many manufacturers do in a lifetime. We have experience working with the FDA, global regulatory bodies and / or agencies, and notified bodies worldwide. Therefore, you can count on us for in-depth and up-to-date insights which increase speed-to-market.

 

As a trusted regulatory affairs consultant, our FDA veterans and industry experts are here to help you navigate the difficulties associated with new product submissions. They have expertise in both the approval process and post-approval support. 

 

  • New Product Approval
  • Post-Approval Support
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • EU MDR

 

Compliance Assurance

 

Increasingly, life science companies are feeling the pressure of greater scrutiny by regulators, and responding by developing sustainable compliance strategies. Whether it’s preparing for an audit, developing a response to an FDA finding, or remediation to an adverse event, Regulatory Compliance Associates® Inc. can help.

 

Our network of over 500 FDA, Health Canada & MHRA veterans and industry professionals offers a unique blend of expertise that allows us to handle both simple and complex regulatory compliance challenges within the medical device industry.

 

  • Gap Assessments
  • Internal Audits
  • Employee Training
  • Notified Body Response

 

Quality Assurance

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates®‘s Quality Assurance services include quality system assessments, strategy, implementations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement, aligning with your business needs and goals. Our life science consultants are quality experts with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. We know firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality, and we excel in transferring this knowledge to your organization.

 

In the medical devices field, quality assurance (QA) is more than merely ensuring the quality of a finished product. You need the tools to monitor and regulate every process from the design of a new product to continued quality compliance as the device is sent to market. At RCA®, we offer you the assistance you need to monitor these processes and ensure quality compliance every step of the way.

 

With more than 20 years of experience as a trusted medical device quality assurance consultant, our team of over 500 industry Experts are fully equipped to handle your unique QA needs.

 

  • ISO13485 
  • 21 CFR 210
  • 21 CFR 211
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • MDSAP
  • Facility Validation
  • Equipment Validation

 

Remediation Support

 

Regulatory Compliance Associates® is widely recognized within the life science industry and global regulatory agencies for its ability to help companies successfully resolve complex regulatory challenges, including remediation. With a proven track record of success, we have significant experience with the development of responses to 483 Observations, Warning Letters, Untitled Letters and Consent Decrees.

 

Our value goes beyond the initial response by helping companies successfully execute their action plans, develop an improved compliance culture tailored to the needs of their business, and ultimately move beyond the regulatory action to emerge as a stronger business. We negotiate difficult demands of remediation with insight and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience that makes partnering with RCA® Inc. a competitive differentiator in the remediation space.

 

  • Quality System
  • Technical File
  • Design History File
  • Data Integrity
  • cGMP 

 

Strategic Consulting

 

Whether it’s a strategy, a technical plan, or project, Regulatory Compliance Associates® life science consultants can help ensure a successful mix of people and product so your project is on time, on budget, and you’re never embroiled in a costly mistake.

 

Our 500 industry Experts are here to provide the unique insight you need before an M&A deal. RCA can assist during a staffing crisis and in every area of your product’s development and life cycle. As the trusted medical device consultant for global clients, we have the expertise to deliver exceptional results for your business.

 

  • Manufacturing Optimization
  • Product Lifecycle Management
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
  • Due Diligence
  • Device Vigilance
  • Product Complaints
  • Medical Information

 

To begin the Regulatory Compliance Associates scoping process today, please enter your information in the blue form below and click the submit button at the bottom of the webpage. 

 

 

MD&M West 2023

Posted on by Brandon Miller

Join Regulatory Compliance Associates (RCA) at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California February 7th through 9th for MD&M West this year. Meet us in Nelson Labs booth #3135 to connect with RCA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Jordan Elder.

During the conference, Jordan will also be presenting “Ask the Expert: Regulatory Hot Topics” during the full-day seminar on Wednesday, February 8th: Medical Device Validation – Biocompatibility, Cleaning, Sterilization, and Packaging Testing in room 207CD. (We encourage you to register now for the full day seminar; however, we will allow on-site registration.)

Jordan Elder has almost 15 years of experience navigating regulatory pathways and identifying optimal regulatory strategies for both pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

 

Presentation: Ask the Expert: Regulatory Hot Topics

Abstract: Our regulatory expert weighs in on industry hot topics such as EO sterilization, Biocompatibility, EU MDR, and Clinical Evaluations, as well as questions asked by conference attendees. The discussion will include current trends and common regulatory pitfalls and aims to provide answers to unanswered attendee questions. If you are interested in having a question included for review and discussion, please reach out to J.elder@rcainc.com.

 

 

About Informa Markets Engineering and MD&M West

Informa Markets Engineering West (IME West), home to MD&M West, WestPack, ATX West, D&M West and Plastec West, is the largest annual advanced manufacturing event in the US, bringing together suppliers and buyers for every part of the product development cycle.

MD&M West encourages innovation that results in solutions – both simple and complex – by building a community of experts, engineers, and thought leaders and bringing them together every year to engineer life-saving devices.

Much more than a medical technology trade show, MD&M West exists to improve lives through continuing education, sharing knowledge, and bringing opportunities to all.

 

About RCA® Medical Device Services

mdm westThe regulatory process surrounding the medical device industry involves a strict adherence to pre/post market compliance throughout a device’s life-cycle. Even a single compliance issue you have can turn into a significant effect on your business. RCA’s medical device consultants can help guide you through any stage of this strategic process, with capabilities during product development through the regulatory clearance/approval of your product.

Our team of over 500 industry experts — including former FDA officials and other leaders in the field of medical device regulation — will work with your company to create a quality assurance and regulatory compliance approach tailored to your products and regulatory needs.

RCA® works with both international Fortune 100 companies and small local start-ups, as well as law firms requesting remediation for warning letters, 483’s, import bans or consent decrees. We offer expertise in a variety of medical fields, such

 

Cybersecurity

For medical device manufacturers, technology can be a double-edged sword. The innovative technologies that elevate the quality of life for patients can also be used to potentially undermine the organization using the device. The consequences can affect the device itself if we do not implement good IoT cybersecurity and FDA cybersecurity protocols. At Regulatory Compliance Associates®, we offer a wide variety of services for medical devices security to help ensure that your product is protected from cyber-attacks.

With a well-planned design, along with full visibility of product development and the supply chain, RCA® can help strengthen your device’s cybersecurity posture throughout. We partner with medical device companies for the entire life cycle, including from the development of your product to the regulatory submission to your notified body.

 

Regulatory Affairs

Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates® backbone, and we handle more submissions in a month than many manufacturers do in a lifetime. We have experience working with the FDA, global regulatory bodies and / or agencies, and notified bodies worldwide. Therefore, you can count on us for in-depth and up-to-date insights which increase speed-to-market.

As a trusted regulatory affairs consultant, our FDA veterans and industry experts are here to help you navigate the difficulties associated with new product submissions. They have expertise in both the approval process and post-approval support. 

  • New Product Approval
  • Post-Approval Support
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • EU MDR

 

Compliance Assurance

Increasingly, life science companies are feeling the pressure of greater scrutiny by regulators, and responding by developing sustainable compliance strategies. Whether it’s preparing for an audit, developing a response to an FDA finding, or remediation to an adverse event, Regulatory Compliance Associates® can help.

Our network of over 500 FDA veterans and industry professionals offers a unique blend of expertise that allows us to handle both simple and complex regulatory compliance challenges within the medical device industry.

  • Gap Assessments
  • Internal Audits
  • Employee Training
  • Notified Body Response

 

Quality Assurance

Regulatory Compliance Associates® Quality Assurance services include quality system assessments, strategy, implementations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement, aligning with your business needs and goals. Our consultants are quality experts with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. We know firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality, and we excel in transferring this knowledge to your organization.

In the medical devices field, quality assurance (QA) is more than merely ensuring the quality of a finished product. You need the tools to monitor and regulate every process from the design of a new product to continued quality compliance as the device is sent to market. At RCA®, we offer you the assistance you need to monitor these processes and ensure quality compliance every step of the way.

With more than 15 years of experience as a trusted medical device quality assurance consultant, our team of over 500 industry experts and FDA veterans is fully equipped to handle your unique QA needs.

  • ISO13485 
  • 21 CFR 210
  • 21 CFR 211
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • MDSAP
  • Facility Validation
  • Equipment Validation

 

Remediation Support

Regulatory Compliance Associates® is widely recognized within the life science industry and global regulatory agencies for its ability to help companies successfully resolve complex regulatory challenges, including remediation. With a proven track record of success, we have significant experience with the development of responses to 483 Observations, Warning Letters, Untitled Letters and Consent Decrees.

Our value goes beyond the initial response by helping companies successfully execute their action plans, develop an improved compliance culture tailored to the needs of their business, and ultimately move beyond the regulatory action to emerge as a stronger business. We negotiate difficult demands of remediation with insight and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience that makes partnering with RCA® a competitive differentiator in the remediation space.

  • Quality System
  • Technical File
  • Design History File
  • Data Integrity
  • cGMP 

 

Strategic Consulting

Whether it’s a strategy, a technical plan, or project, Regulatory Compliance Associates® worldwide experience can help ensure a successful mix of people and product so your project is on time, on budget, and you’re never embroiled in a costly mistake.

Our 500 industry and FDA experts are here to provide the unique insight you need before an M&A deal, through a staffing crisis and in every area of your product’s development and life cycle. As the trusted medical device manufacturing consultants of thousands of companies around the world, we have the knowledge and expertise needed to deliver exceptional results to your business — no matter your size or unique needs.

  • Manufacturing Optimization
  • Product Lifecycle Management
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
  • Due Diligence
  • Device Vigilance
  • Product Complaints
  • Medical Information

 

About RCA®

Regulatory Compliance Associates® (RCA) provides healthcare consulting services to the following industries for resolution of compliance and regulatory challenges:

Life Science consultants

We understand the complexities of running a life science business and possess areas of expertise that include every facet of R&D, operations, regulatory affairs, quality, and manufacturing. Our life science consultants are used to working on the front lines and thriving in the scrutiny of FDA, Health Canada, MHRA and globally-regulated companies.

As your partners, we can negotiate the potential minefield of regulatory compliance and regulatory due diligence with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience.

  • Founded in 2000
  • Expertise backed by over 500 industry subject matter experts
  • Acquired by Sotera Health in 2021

 

About Sotera Health

The name Sotera Health was inspired by Soteria, the Greek goddess of safety, and reflects the Company’s unwavering commitment to its mission, Safeguarding Global Health®.

sotera healthSotera Health Company, along with its three best-in-class businesses – Sterigenics®, Nordion® and Nelson Labs®, is a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry. With a combined tenure across our businesses of nearly 200 years and our industry-recognized scientific and technological expertise, we help to ensure the safety of over 190 million patients and healthcare practitioners around the world every year.

We are a trusted partner to more than 5,800 customers in over 50 countries, including 40 of the top 50 medical device companies and 8 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

 

To begin the Regulatory Compliance Associates® scoping process today, please enter your information in the blue form below and click the submit button at the bottom of the webpage. 

 

MD&M East 2023

Posted on by Brandon Miller

Regulatory Compliance Associates® will be at MD&M East in New York City June 13th – 15th. Join us in the Sotera Health booth #1433 with Nelson Labs and Sterigenics to get answers for any of your medical device quality, regulatory, compliance, lab testing, and sterilization needs.

We will also be offering free presentations in the Tech Theater and a half day seminar, on the show floor.

Tech Theater:

Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Time: 1:30-2:15 PM
Location: Tech Theater
Title: Big Changes to ISO 10993-1, What is Happening to the Main Biocompatibility Standard Now?

In 2018, TC194, the ISO committee for biocompatibility, released a new version of 10993-1. This new version focused more on a risk-based approach and made significant changes. Then in 2021, a radical proposal to update the standard again was issued with a new draft of the standard. We are now more than a year into writing and compromising the draft of this crucial standard. In this talk we will go into the latest on the standard that is being changed, the reasoning behind those changes, and possible future acceptance of the standard around the globe.

Presenter: Thor Rollins
Vice President, Global Market Segment Leader—Medical Device

Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Time: 1:30-2:15 PM
Location: Tech Theater
Title: Cobalt-60: Investing for the Future of Gamma Sterilization

Gamma sterilization has been the predominant radiation sterilization modality for decades and accounts for more than 30% of all single-use medical device sterilization globally. Gamma sterilization relies on the ongoing supply of Cobalt-60 to the global market. In this session, you will learn how Cobalt-60 is produced, and get updated information on efforts underway in the global supply chain to not only expand production to meet growing demand but also improve utilization of this critical resource. The presentation will also include a discussion on the sustainability of Cobalt-60 and gamma sterilization.

Presenter: Richard Wiens,
Director, Business Development & Strategic Supply, Nordion

Free Seminar: 

Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Time: 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Location: MDM Show floor- 3D06
Title: Updates & Trends: Learn about the Most Recent Biocompatibility and Reprocessing Updates to Standards

10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Title: Updates on Biocompatibility Standard Changes, What is Happening With 10993-1, 5, 10, 12, 17, 18, and 23.

Over the past decade, biocompatibility standards have been constantly evolving. In recent years, we have witnessed the introduction of a new standard (10993-23), significant updates to existing ones (10993-12 and 10993-18), as well as the development of new drafts (10993-17) and active working groups that are working on making further changes (10993-1 and -5). During this talk, we will review these standards and discuss the modifications that have already been implemented, as well as those that are currently being proposed. Attendees will gain comprehensive knowledge of the latest biocompatibility standards and understand how they should be applied when submitting regulatory documents.

Presenter: Thor Rollins
Vice President, Global Market Segment Leader—Medical Device

12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Title: Updates on Reprocessing Validations for Reusable Medical Devices

As reusable medical devices continue to advance, the validations used to evaluate the reprocessing (cleaning, disinfection, and/or sterilization) procedures have had to advance as well. These advancements have resulted in numerous standards and guidance documents being either updated or created to ensure that reusable medical devices can be safely reprocessed. This presentation will discuss these changes as found in documents such as AAMI ST98, AAMI TIR12, ISO 17664, as well as others. Additionally, this presentation will discuss how these changes impact new and already completed reprocessing validations for reusable medical devices.

Presenter: Griffin Cammack
Expert Technical Consultant

About RCA® Medical Device Services

mdm westThe regulatory process surrounding the medical device industry involves a strict adherence to pre/post market compliance throughout a device’s life-cycle. Even a single compliance issue you have can turn into a significant effect on your business. RCA’s medical device consultants can help guide you through any stage of this strategic process, with capabilities during product development through the regulatory clearance/approval of your product.

Our team of over 500 industry experts — including former FDA officials and other leaders in the field of medical device regulation — will work with your company to create a quality assurance and regulatory compliance approach tailored to your products and regulatory needs.

RCA® works with both international Fortune 100 companies and small local start-ups, as well as law firms requesting remediation for warning letters, 483’s, import bans or consent decrees. We offer expertise in a variety of medical fields, such

Cybersecurity

For medical device manufacturers, technology can be a double-edged sword. The innovative technologies that elevate the quality of life for patients can also be used to potentially undermine the organization using the device. The consequences can affect the device itself if we do not implement good IoT cybersecurity and FDA cybersecurity protocols. At Regulatory Compliance Associates®, we offer a wide variety of services for medical devices security to help ensure that your product is protected from cyber-attacks.

With a well-planned design, along with full visibility of product development and the supply chain, RCA® can help strengthen your device’s cybersecurity posture throughout. We partner with medical device companies for the entire life cycle, including from the development of your product to the regulatory submission to your notified body.

Regulatory Affairs

Regulatory affairs is Regulatory Compliance Associates® backbone, and we handle more submissions in a month than many manufacturers do in a lifetime. We have experience working with the FDA, global regulatory bodies and / or agencies, and notified bodies worldwide. Therefore, you can count on us for in-depth and up-to-date insights which increase speed-to-market.

As a trusted regulatory affairs consultant, our FDA veterans and industry experts are here to help you navigate the difficulties associated with new product submissions. They have expertise in both the approval process and post-approval support. 

  • New Product Approval
  • Post-Approval Support
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • EU MDR

Compliance Assurance

Increasingly, life science companies are feeling the pressure of greater scrutiny by regulators, and responding by developing sustainable compliance strategies. Whether it’s preparing for an audit, developing a response to an FDA finding, or remediation to an adverse event, Regulatory Compliance Associates® can help.

Our network of over 500 FDA veterans and industry professionals offers a unique blend of expertise that allows us to handle both simple and complex regulatory compliance challenges within the medical device industry.

  • Gap Assessments
  • Internal Audits
  • Employee Training
  • Notified Body Response

Quality Assurance

Regulatory Compliance Associates® Quality Assurance services include quality system assessments, strategy, implementations, and identification of quality metrics to ensure continuous improvement, aligning with your business needs and goals. Our consultants are quality experts with experience spanning major corporations and start-ups. We know firsthand how to achieve, maintain, and improve quality, and we excel in transferring this knowledge to your organization.

In the medical devices field, quality assurance (QA) is more than merely ensuring the quality of a finished product. You need the tools to monitor and regulate every process from the design of a new product to continued quality compliance as the device is sent to market. At RCA®, we offer you the assistance you need to monitor these processes and ensure quality compliance every step of the way.

With more than 15 years of experience as a trusted medical device quality assurance consultant, our team of over 500 industry experts and FDA veterans is fully equipped to handle your unique QA needs.

  • ISO13485 
  • 21 CFR 210
  • 21 CFR 211
  • Outsourced Staffing
  • MDSAP
  • Facility Validation
  • Equipment Validation

Remediation Support

Regulatory Compliance Associates® is widely recognized within the life science industry and global regulatory agencies for its ability to help companies successfully resolve complex regulatory challenges, including remediation. With a proven track record of success, we have significant experience with the development of responses to 483 Observations, Warning Letters, Untitled Letters and Consent Decrees.

Our value goes beyond the initial response by helping companies successfully execute their action plans, develop an improved compliance culture tailored to the needs of their business, and ultimately move beyond the regulatory action to emerge as a stronger business. We negotiate difficult demands of remediation with insight and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience that makes partnering with RCA® a competitive differentiator in the remediation space.

  • Quality System
  • Technical File
  • Design History File
  • Data Integrity
  • cGMP 

Strategic Consulting

Whether it’s a strategy, a technical plan, or project, Regulatory Compliance Associates® worldwide experience can help ensure a successful mix of people and product so your project is on time, on budget, and you’re never embroiled in a costly mistake.

Our 500 industry and FDA experts are here to provide the unique insight you need before an M&A deal, through a staffing crisis and in every area of your product’s development and life cycle. As the trusted medical device manufacturing consultants of thousands of companies around the world, we have the knowledge and expertise needed to deliver exceptional results to your business — no matter your size or unique needs.

  • Manufacturing Optimization
  • Product Lifecycle Management
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
  • Due Diligence
  • Device Vigilance
  • Product Complaints
  • Medical Information

About RCA®

Regulatory Compliance Associates® (RCA) provides healthcare consulting services to the following industries for resolution of compliance and regulatory challenges:

Life Science consultants

We understand the complexities of running a life science business and possess areas of expertise that include every facet of R&D, operations, regulatory affairs, quality, and manufacturing. Our life science consultants are used to working on the front lines and thriving in the scrutiny of FDA, Health Canada, MHRA and globally-regulated companies.

As your partners, we can negotiate the potential minefield of regulatory compliance and regulatory due diligence with insight, hindsight, and the clear advantage of our unique expertise and experience.

  • Founded in 2000
  • Expertise backed by over 500 industry subject matter experts
  • Acquired by Sotera Health in 2021

About Sotera Health

The name Sotera Health was inspired by Soteria, the Greek goddess of safety, and reflects the Company’s unwavering commitment to its mission, Safeguarding Global Health®.

sotera healthSotera Health Company, along with its three best-in-class businesses – Sterigenics®, Nordion® and Nelson Labs®, is a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions and lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry. With a combined tenure across our businesses of nearly 200 years and our industry-recognized scientific and technological expertise, we help to ensure the safety of over 190 million patients and healthcare practitioners around the world every year.

We are a trusted partner to more than 5,800 customers in over 50 countries, including 40 of the top 50 medical device companies and 8 of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies.

 

To begin the Regulatory Compliance Associates® scoping process today, please enter your information in the blue form below and click the submit button at the bottom of the webpage. 

 

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