Tag: IVD

The application date of May 26, 2022, for the EU In-Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (2017/746) (IVDR) has created a huge challenge for IVD medical device firms planning to introduce or continue to market their IVD products to any of the European Union Member States. 

One of the biggest changes from IVDD to IVDR is the move from list-based IVD device classifications to a rule-based IVD medical device classification resulting in 4 new device classes: class A (lowest risk) to class D (highest risk), where class B, C, and D would require Notified Body involvement.

Need help with your transition to the EU IVDR? Contact Us Now →

“The combination of major changes to the IVDR device classification resulting in 3-fold increase in IVD medical devices requiring notified body involvement and lack of adequate IVDR designated notified bodies has created a huge bottle neck to getting ready for the EU IVDR by the application date of the EU IVDR.” says Seyed Khorashahi, Executive Vice President of Medical Device and CTO of Regulatory Compliance Associates Inc.® (“RCA”).

This change alone would result in a huge number of medical devices requiring Notified Body involvement. It is estimated this quantity of medical device products will increase from 20% under MDD to approximately 80% under IVDR.  As of this writing, there are only 4 IVDR designated Notified Bodies, which visibly increases the number of goods our clients must submit. 

 “Right now, we’re partnering with global clients that have both a small and sizable product portfolio of In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices, and they are at different stages in their IVDR implementation efforts,” says Lisa Michels, General Counsel for Regulatory Compliance Associates® Inc. (RCA). “Proactive strategic planning and effective resource allocation are critical for the timely execution and implementation of a comprehensive IVDR Implementation Plan. IVDR manufacturers must consider and prepare for potential delays such as scheduling bottlenecks for Notified Body Conformity Assessment activities, which may directly or indirectly impact their planned commercialization efforts for existing and/or new IVDR products. IVDR manufacturers must establish contingency plans to mitigate some of these potential challenges in this new regulatory environment under the EU IVDR since all IVDR manufacturers are facing the same task.”

Additional nuances from IVDD to IVDR are based on a medical device lifecycle approach and include:

• Requirements for medical device manufacturers to establish and demonstrate effective quality management systems (QMS)
• More stringent requirements for clinical evidence demonstrating conformity.
• New requirements for post-market performance monitoring and reporting
• Greater supply chain oversight and device traceability, including giving the notified bodies discretionary authority to supplier audits and subcontractor compliance.

The transition from IVDD to IVDR can be a time-consuming process, and many companies are still in the process of regulatory transition. 

“It’s time-sensitive because our clients are learning how to deal with their current notified body, and if they are still the correct partner to work with” continued Khorashahi. “We initially start with a strategic approach to plan their regulatory strategy of current IVD medical devices in the field and their IVDD certificate expiration date to prioritize the products that need immediate attention. “Each of the IVD medical devices has to be reclassified according to the new IVDR device classification rules.”

If you are a small to medium size company and have not already started your transition, now may be the opportune time to engage with a strategic partner like RCA to prepare for the IVDR deadline.

“Timely compliance to the IVDR requires a dedicated team of subject matter experts to properly implement and execute the compliance deliverables as laid out in your IVDR Implementation Plan” continued Michels. “These deliverables may require extensive updates to a manufacturer’s existing Quality Management System (QMS), technical documentation, and/or establishing or enhancing a manufacturer’s body of objective evidence of clinical performance validation with a defined blueprint to address the product lifecycle.”

Your organization has a better chance of a successful transition by engaging subject matter experts like RCA who have an intimate familiarity with the planning and implementation of IVDR.

“Our experts can help you identify the intended purpose and the inherent risks associate with your devices, determine the device classification, and help create technical documentation in compliance with IVD regulation 2017/746.:es” Khorashahi divulges.

More robust procedures for post-market surveillance and post-market performance follow up must be put in place to successfully transition.

“RCA has the subject matter expertise, experience, and dedicated resources available to assist our clients with the seemingly daunting task of ensuring timely IVDR compliance prior to the fast-approaching deadline. Our proven capability is what clients find to be of most value in the selection and utilization of a regulatory compliance consulting firm like RCA.” replied Michels.

About RCA’s Medical Device Services

The regulatory compliance process surrounding the medical device industry involves a strict adherence to pre/post market information 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 can help guide you through any stage of the medical device consulting process, with capabilities during product development through the regulatory clearance/approval of your product.

Our team of over 500 medical device consulting Experts — including former FDA officials and regulatory compliance 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 international Fortune 100 companies, venture capital start ups, and companies of all sizes and shapes. our compliance enforcement solutions for law firms include remediation for warning letters, FDA 483’s, import bans or consent decrees. Very few regulatory compliance services have the same regulatory compliance 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 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, Regulatory Compliance Associates medical device consultant Experts can help strengthen your device’s cybersecurity. We partner with medical device companies in each phase of the design cycle, including protecting inputs from threat exposure and hardening outputs for regulatory compliance & FDA submission approval of your medical technology.

• SaMD Consulting
• Threat Modeling
• Proof of Concept
• Quality Assurance Services
• TIR 57 & TIR 97
• ISO 62304
• ISO 27001

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 regulatory compliance 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
• Combination Products

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
• Data Integrity

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 quality assurance services 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
• Quality Metrics

Remediation Services

Regulatory Compliance Associates^® is widely recognized within medical device consulting companies & the life science industry for our remediation services & 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.

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

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 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 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
• Risk Management Plan
• Product Complaints
• Medical Information

About Regulatory Compliance Associates

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

• Life Sciences
• Pharmaceutical
• Biologic & Biotechnology
• Sterile compounding
• Medical device
• Lab Testing

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, Regulatory Compliance Associates 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 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.

Commitment to Quality

Our Certificate of Registration demonstrates that our Quality Management System meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2015, an internationally recognized standard of quality.

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.