Fluoropolymers at a Crossroads: A Possible Ban that Shocks the Industry

Fluoropolymers at a Crossroads: A Possible Ban that Shocks the Industry

A proposal has emerged suggesting the potential ban of fluoropolymers, raising concerns and discussions within the industry. While it is currently just a proposal, if the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) concludes at the end of its decision-making process that fluoropolymers lack economic necessity, a ban on these materials could become a possibility. There will be more clarity in the next review conducted by REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which is scheduled for September 2023.

The proposal to ban fluoropolymers revolves around the assessment of their economic necessity. Fluoropolymers are widely used in various industries due to their unique properties, including heat resistance, chemical resistance, and low friction. The proposal raises questions about whether alternative materials or technologies could adequately replace fluoropolymers without compromising functionality and performance.

A ban on fluoropolymers seems inconceivable due to their irreplaceable properties and the extensive use of these materials in critical applications. Fluoropolymers play a vital role in several sectors and especially of course in healthcare for various medical devices and medicines, where their exceptional properties are critical to product performance, safety and reliability.

While the proposal emphasizes economic necessity, it is of course important to consider the environmental aspects associated with fluoropolymers. As with any material, their production, use, and disposal can have environmental implications. However, the focus should be on improving sustainability and implementing responsible practices rather than imposing a complete ban. Collaborative efforts between industry and regulatory bodies can help address environmental concerns without compromising the functionality and performance benefits offered by fluoropolymers.

When assessing the economic necessity of fluoropolymers, a comprehensive evaluation should consider factors such as the availability of alternative materials, potential impact on various industries, technological feasibility, and the overall economic implications of a ban. Collaboration between industry stakeholders, scientific experts, and regulatory authorities is crucial to ensure a well-informed decision that strikes a balance between economic and environmental considerations.

The proposal to ban fluoropolymers is currently under consideration and has raised discussions and concerns in the industry. It is difficult to imagine a scenario where fluoropolymers are deemed economically unnecessary. These materials play an important role in critical applications in various industries and alternative solutions may not offer comparable performance and functionality. Considering that the Medical Device Regulation is already having a significant impact on the market, this represents a further challenge to ensure the availability of urgently needed products. 

As the decision-making process continues, it is important for industry professionals, regulatory authorities, and environmental advocates to engage in constructive dialogue. Together, we can explore sustainable practices, enhance environmental responsibility, and find innovative solutions that address concerns without sacrificing the benefits fluoropolymers provide.

We should closely monitor the outcome of the decision-making process, taking into account both economic and environmental factors to ensure a balanced approach that promotes innovation, safety and environmental protection in the industry.

What challenges do you see and/or have you already considered alternatives to overcome the “ forever chemicals“?

Further references can be found here:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32022R2388&from=EN

https://www.echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table

https://echa.europa.eu/-/echa-receives-pfass-restriction-proposal-from-five-national-authorities

Exciting news for medical device manufacturers!

Exciting news for medical device manufacturers!

The amendment of Regulation (EU) 2023/607 opens up new opportunities for those transitioning their medical devices to the MDR. Legacy devices can now have the validity of their directive certificates extended (until the end of 2027/2028, depending on the device classification) if certain conditions are met.

To take advantage of this, you need to ensure that you set up an MDR-compliant QMS and submit a formal application for MDR conformity assessment to a notified body by 26 May 2024. Remember that signing a formal agreement with the Notified Body is crucial and must be done by 26 September 2024 at the latest.

Do not hesitate and submit your application to the notified body in time and preferably within the above-mentioned deadlines.

After the expiry of the certificates issued under the Directives and without a valid MDR certificate, manufacturers are no longer allowed to place these medical devices on the EU market. The overall goal of the proposed amendments is to maintain patients’ access to a wide range of medical devices while ensuring the transition to the new framework. The extension will be staggered depending on the risk class of the device, i.e. until December 2027 for devices with a higher risk and until December 2028 for medium and lower risk devices.

Official information can be found here:  https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/mdr_proposal.pdf

#MDR#Compliance#qms#medicaldevices#medical

Unlocking the Power of the 5HT-2A Receptor: Natural Ways to Enhance Mood and Cognition for Optimal Brain Function

Unlocking the Power of the 5HT-2A Receptor: Natural Ways to Enhance Mood and Cognition for Optimal Brain Function

The 5HT-2A receptor plays a crucial role in regulating mood and cognition. Discover natural ways to strengthen this receptor to improve brain function !!! Great to see that research is breaking new ground.

#innovation#innovationinhealthcare#research#clinicalresearch#psychedelics#psychedelictherapy

The Future of Life Science Research: Targeted Solutions and Collaborative Expertise with REAgency+

The Future of Life Science Research: Targeted Solutions and Collaborative Expertise with REAgency+

The business world is changing: REAgency+ stands for more flexibility and targeted resourcing solutions. We offer life science expertise for research and development in the true sense of the job description. Performance competence and also an understanding of business development are essential for efficient cooperation. From EXPERTS for EXPERTS, REAgency+ disruptively builds a bridge for a new and sustainable way of working together. In a perfect working environment, we create targeted solutions that meet the growing needs of people, exploratory business structures, young scientific experts and explorative thinking. Sustainable, diverse, efficient and with added value.

It is simply no longer contemporary or acceptable to provide or communicate expertise without added value and understanding in collaboration.

Let’s find new solutions together instead of just thinking about them.

#researchanddevelopment#lifescience#development#researchstudy#lifesciences#medicaldevices#regulatoryaffairs#collaboration#employeeengagement#employeeproductivity#NOprocrastination

CTIS Submission Planning and Implementation Expert at REAgency+ Available to Offer Support and Solutions

CTIS Submission Planning and Implementation Expert at REAgency+ Available to Offer Support and Solutions

The Clinical Trial Information System (CTIS) is an electronic system that supports the management and submission of clinical trials to regulatory authorities. With the new European Union Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR) come into force in 2022, companies conducting clinical trials in the EU will have to use the CTIS to submit their trial data. As a result, companies are currently integrating CTIS submissions into their processes for clinical trials. Some of the CTIS experiences of the REAgency+ experts in collaboration with a biotech client are presented here.

The company in the case is a US-based biotech company specialising in oncology pharmaceuticals. The company had previously conducted clinical trials in the EU, but had not yet implemented CTIS submission into the company’s processes. Here are some key learnings and lessons learned in the collaboration:

Start early and include delays: implementing CTIS submission processes can be a prolonged process that requires a considerable effort in planning and preparation. The company started planning more than a year before the next clinical trial. Nevertheless, unexpected delays and drawbacks occurred, so that the realisation went on a bit longer than expected.

Working with REAgeny+ experts: Implementing the CTIS submission requires a dedicated team of people who are familiar with the system and regulatory requirements. The company found that it was necessary to allocate additional resources to the CTIS submission to ensure that it could be completed in a timely and efficient manner.

CTIS submission can be a complex process and companies may not have the required expertise. The company found it helpful to work with external experts from REAgency+ who had experience with CTIS implementation and regulatory requirements.

Understanding of legal requirements: The CTIS system is designed to help companies comply with legal requirements, but it is important that companies understand these requirements to ensure that their CTIS submission is successful. The company found it helpful to work with REAgency+ experts to understand the regulatory requirements and timelines. Also, working with investigative sites, required OMS registrations, even though still with some system errors, were completed swiftly and required documents were obtained.

Communication and collaboration with stakeholders: CTIS submission can involve multiple parties within a company such as clinical teams, data management teams, regulatory affairs teams as well as involved stakeholders and vendors. The company found it beneficial, in cooperation with REAgency+ experts, to communicate and collaborate with these stakeholders on a regular basis to ensure that all requirements are met in a timely manner.

In conclusion, CTIS submission can be a complex and time-consuming process, but it is an important step for companies conducting clinical trials in the EU. In conclusion, the standardisation via CTIS submission is considered an advantage for the evaluation and timeline expectation. There are also significantly less documents needed for the submission (Part II). By starting early, allocating resources appropriately, working with experts, understanding regulatory requirements, and communicating and collaborating with stakeholders, companies can successfully incorporate CTIS requirements into their regulatory processes.

#clinicalresearch #outsource #clinicaltrials #consulting #research #researchanddevelopment   #healthcare #biotech #pharma #medicine #lifescience
#clinicaldevelopment #clinicaltrial #ClinicalResearchOrganisation #CTR #CTIS #regulatoryaffairs #CRO #biotechnology

Experienced Clinical Research Partner: REAgency+ Facilitates Biotech Industry Advancements and Product Introductions

Experienced Clinical Research Partner: REAgency+ Facilitates Biotech Industry Advancements and Product Introductions

REAgency+ had the pleasure of working with a variety of clients from the biotech industry, as well as others, for clinical research projects, supporting them to advance their research efforts and introduce new products to the market. We are an excellent option for companies that need specialised expertise with limited resources available to assist their research efforts. This post summarises some of the benefits in working with each other that were experienced over the past years. Here explaining what advantages REAgency+ can be a highly valuable resource for companies that are expanding.  

REAgency+ is flexible and cost effective. On a project basis, we can enable companies to access expertise without long-term commitment or having to manage complex, intransparent service structures. The focus of REAgency+ is to enable an efficient value creation chain from and for experts and to support companies with an individual approach, all in one.  This can be particularly beneficial for small or medium-sized companies that have no resources or access to the relevant expertise. REAgency+ provides a flexible, cost-effective and transparent cost control structure, which can be essential for companies managing their budgets effectively.

REAgency+ is a specialist. Another key advantage for clinical research projects is access to expertise. With REAgency+, you have the opportunity to cover specific areas of expertise. This allows REAgency+ to provide targeted solutions tailored to specific business needs. We also frequently experience a collaborative partnership, with new perspectives on project goals. This is especially appreciated. 

REAgency+ is available at short notice. We enable fast start-up times to get projects up and running quickly and efficiently. Especially in terms of planned timelines and KPIs, this is very valuable in collaboration. REAgency+ is committed providing practical expertise at a high quality level as fast as possible and in a target-oriented approach to the projects. Because of our extensive practical experience, we are very quick to integrate into work processes, structures and requirements. Also in terms of steakholder and vendor support and excellent understanding of practical workflows, REAgency+ enables companies to focus on core competencies while outsourcing sub-areas on an individualised basis. This can in combination accelerate companies‘ research efforts and help develop products and advance project goals more effectively.

REAgency+ is a solution to support growing corporate organisations with clinical research projects, hands-on, specialised with expertise, flexible and cost effective. Clients are provided with targeted solutions consistently, with a fast start-up time and a cost effective approach. 

A Case Study: Phase III Clinical Trial Impacts Survival of a Biotech Company

A Case Study: Phase III Clinical Trial Impacts Survival of a Biotech Company

As the clinical trials industry continues to grow and evolve, the role of contract research organisations (CROs) in managing clinical trials becomes increasingly important. CROs can provide valuable support to biotech companies by managing various aspects of clinical trials, including study design, patient recruitment and data analysis.

A case study in collaboration with a German biotech company demonstrated the importance of a specific analysis of requirements and objectives when working with service providers. Effective management of a clinical trial can have serious consequences for a small biotech company. In this case study, a biotech company partnered with a large service provider to conduct a phase III clinical trial for a promising oncology therapy. The biotech company expected the trial to be successful in generating financing for future research and development work and, more importantly, to obtain regulatory approval for this drug.

However, the partnership between the company and the contracted service provider unfortunately resulted in several serious errors that ultimately resulted in the breakdown of the study, the company’s objectives and also the continuation of the company’s business. 

In cooperation with independent consultants and experts, in SWAT function, the biotech company wanted to bring the study back into its internal administration in order to rescue what remained to be restored. To Date, the biotech had very carefully and with great effort and expense coordinated a workshop lasting several days, in which they discussed details of the further procedure and what they needed for this very demanding task.

In the course of the process of return the project to in-house administration , it turned out that the communication between the company and the contracted service provider already showed considerable and multi-layered deficits. As a result, only incomplete information was available regarding sponsor oversight, or contractually agreed work requirements were generally not performed. In an extensive procedure, missing documents, work processes and data from the last 2 years had to be retrospectively revised, compared and processed.

There was also a lot of uncertainty among the study sites, involved vendors and stakeholders. Study sites and vendors were not managed effectively and it was not ensured that the study protocol was adhered to. As a result, the study data were not considered to be of sufficient quality to demonstrate the efficacy of the drug. Many of the data were not valid or were not adequately verified. A substantial backlog of data became evident. With a great effort and the support of the study sites, all data had to be retrospectively assessed, transferred to the database, verified again and evaluated. 

The biotech company was not sufficiently informed about the status of the study until this date, which led to misunderstandings and delays in decisions and effective work processes. This had a significant impact on compliance processes, the regression of the study and the retrospective processing of the study data.

As a result of these errors, the Phase III trial failed and the biotechnology company was no longer able to secure the funding it needed to continue its research and development efforts. In the end, the focus was on saving data and properly closing the trial. The overall situation was a fatal hit to the company, which was finally forced to reduce its staff, downsize its operations and ultimately be liquidated. 

This case study demonstrated the importance of carefully selecting external service providers. As a start-up or growing company, it is important to ensure that their CRO partners have demonstrated success and expertise in the therapeutic area and are able to effectively manage all aspects of a clinical trial. In this specific case (which is not the only case in the past 10 years), it turned out that significant additional costs were planned for insufficient resources. The biotech company was no longer able to oversee the study status. An unbalanced dependence of the biotech company on the service commitment of the CRO occurred. This was an insidious process and resulted in the complete breakdown of the study targets. Finally, the financial resources ran out and the CRO was no longer able to provide specific results of work activities. 

Biotech companies with specialised, exploratory clinical trial requirements need to actively track trial progress and ensure that their service partners are meeting their specific expectations and milestones as expected. Effective communication can be essential for the success of the clinical trial.

REAgency+ is happy to advise you on the strategic planning and implementation of clinical trials, also in a CRO context as a second-tier partner or independent consultancy.

The power of engineered T cells – a new treatment option for cancer patients ….and more !

The power of engineered T cells – a new treatment option for cancer patients….and more !

The use of T cell receptor-directed T cells to target cancer antigens is an exciting area of cancer research. Realising the full potential of a personalised therapy option, it still presents challenges.

There is a clear need for collaboration between researchers, clinicians and industry leaders to overcome these challenges and advance the field of T-cell receptor-directed therapy opportunity. The potential benefits of this approach are significant, and with continued research and development, there is potential for personalised and effective treatments.

CAR-T cell therapies are a promising new approach to cancer treatment that is gaining increasing attention around the world. In Germany, the introduction of CAR-T cell therapies has been relatively slow, but the country is starting to make up ground. 

For CAR-T cell therapies, the patient’s own T cells are genetically modified to recognise and target cancer cells. For this purpose, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is added to the surface of the T cells, allowing them to recognise and bind to specific proteins on the surface of cancer cells. Once the CAR T cells have bound to the cancer cells, they can destroy them.

The first CAR-T cell therapy was approved by the FDA in the United States in 2017, and since then several more CAR-T cell therapies have been approved in the US and Europe. These treatments have shown remarkable results in clinical trials. By the end of 2021, three autologous anti-CD19 CAR-T cell products, Yescarta, Kymriah and Tecartus, received marketing approval based on positive clinical data from phase I/II trials. In the EU, all three products have been subject to an accelerated review (PRIME designation process) to facilitate the development and clinical use of advanced therapy medicinal products that meet an unmet medical need.

CAR-T cell therapies are not yet widely used in Germany, but the country is starting to catch up with other countries in terms of acceptability. Several clinical trials of CAR-T cell therapies are currently in progress in Germany, including trials for the treatment of lymphoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma.

Challenges to introducing CAR-T cell therapies in Germany include the financial investment required for these treatments. The production and administration of CAR-T cell therapies are still quite cost-intensive, so health insurance companies are still hesitant to cover the costs of these treatments. However, as more data on the efficacy of these therapies becomes available, it is likely that more health insurance providers will cover the costs.

Despite the challenges, the potential benefits of CAR-T cell therapies are significant. CAR-T cell therapies are a highly personalised treatment that is tailored to each individual patient. This treatment offers versatile and personalised ways to treat different types of cancer. The potential for other personalised immunotherapies is also of great interest. For patients who have exhausted all other treatment options, CAR-T cell therapies offer hope.

CAR-T cell therapies are an exciting new development in cancer treatment and more. While the introduction of these therapies in Germany has been slow, the country is starting to make up ground with several clinical trials currently ongoing. As more and more data becomes available on the effectiveness of these treatments, it is likely that CAR-T cell therapies will become an important treatment option.

It remains exciting…

#clinicalresearch #outsource #clinicaltrials #consulting #research #researchanddevelopment #share #like #healthcare
#biotech #pharma #medicine #oncology #lifescience #neurology #autoimmune #immunology #clinicaldevelopment #clinicaltrial #ClinicalResearchOrganisation #celltherapy #cartcelltherapy #biotech #biotechnology #cancerresearch #cancer #immunology #immunooncology #immunotherapy #collaboration

The Future for Clinical Research and Development in Germany – What’s Next ?

The Future for Clinical Research and Development in Germany

What’s Next ? Reduce dependencies, take more risks!

Prof. Bernd Raffelhüschen is a famous German economist who has been drawing attention to the demographic changes in Germany for years.  
In his lectures he often suggests and calls for a more independent position from the demographic problems in Germany.

In the scope of many conferences and network cooperations, REAgency+ is a representative for the promotion of young academics and a contact person for business advice and development in clinical research. In the interaction with young research academics, innovators and industry, there is a great demand for business and personal development opportunities, added value in collaboration and an effective value chain.

Bernd Raffelhüschen, for example, once recommended in one of his lectures to focus on future-relevant areas and to push the development of new industries and technologies. Economic growth should be supported and the quality of life in Germany improved.

Providing research funding, especially for areas relevant to the future, can help researchers develop their skills and expertise.
Above all, and REAgency+ is committed to and supports this approach, it is particularly important to promote a culture of innovation. Raffelhüschen suggests to be encouraged to take risks and explore new ideas.

International collaboration also creates opportunities for researchers to work with international partners.
Business entrepreneurship needs to be boosted and researchers need to be supported more. Start-ups and small businesses could be supported more by a supportive legal environment.

What is your opinion on the topic?

Here is one of the available lectures by Prof. Bernd Raffelhüschen

#clinicalresearch #outsource #clinicaltrials #consulting #research #researchanddevelopment #healthcare
#biotech #pharma #medicine #oncology #lifescience #neurology #autoimmune #immunology #clinicaldevelopment #clinicaltrial #ClinicalResearchOrganisation  #regulatoryaffairs #demographics #futureofhealthcare # #entrepreneurship #work #innovation #opportunities #funding #growth #future #development #academics #researchers

Breaking Down the Expectation-Reality Gap in Outsourcing Solutions

Breaking Down the Expectation-Reality Gap in Outsourcing Solutions

Following numerous meetings held last week, the central theme of discussion was centered around CRO outsourcing solutions in the clinical research industry. Over the past few years, there has been a rising expectation which has often been met with certain limitations. If you have personally experienced any challenges while working with service providers, we welcome you to share your experiences with us.

Outsourcing services to CROs is very popular in clinical research. Increasingly, companies want to focus on their core competencies and/or separate from peripheral areas. In addition, outsourcing can reduce costs and increase efficiency. In this context, the success of outsourcing solutions depends on the right strategy. Currently, there is an increasing requirement for the know-how of consultants and experts to launch efficient outsourcing solutions. Benefit from a strong, efficient team! REAgency+ promotes added value for employees and growing company structures for success. The introduction of functional areas should not only demonstrate business growth, but also a strategic vision and action plan. REAgency+ has the vision to create added value in the collaboration with growing, researching corporate structures. Our focus is on sustainable collaboration and access to effective expert solutions for growing, research-based companies. Flexible, with the ability to define, adapt and integrate new work processes. From experience REAgency+ knows that to achieve impact, expertise for clinical operational projects must be defined and implemented in a targeted manner to develop and gain market access for high quality pharmaceutical products. Fundamentally, the clinical team needs to understand product-specific, technical and business objectives of growing corporate structures. This understanding of needs and objectives helps to translate knowledge into product impact and development. The availability and flexibility to engage in clinical operational processes and growing enterprise structures is critical in this regard, especially in start-up companies where working groups are yet to find each other and work processes are yet to be defined. REAgency+ knows that when working with outsourcing providers, there are often hurdles to overcome to ensure sponsor oversight and budget planning. REAgency+’s expert solution has the corporate objective of enabling product and company identification in cooperation with and by experts.


#clinicalresearch #outsource #clinicaltrials #consulting #research #researchanddevelopment #share #like #healthcare
#biotech #pharma #medicine #oncology #lifescience
#clinicaldevelopment #clinicaltrial #ClinicalResearchOrganisation