Change management system – Innovation, continual improvement, the outputs of process performance and product quality monitoring and CAPA drive change. In order to evaluate, approve and implement these changes properly, a company should have an effective change management system. There is generally a difference in formality of change management processes prior to the initial regulatory submission and after submission, where changes to the regulatory filing might be required under regional
requirements.
The change management system ensures continual improvement is undertaken in a timely and effective manner. It should provide a high degree of assurance there are no unintended consequences of the change.
The change management system should include the following, as appropriate for the stage of the lifecycle:
a) Quality risk management should be utilised to evaluate proposed changes. The level of effort and formality of the evaluation should be commensurate with the level of risk;
b) Proposed changes should be evaluated relative to the marketing authorisation, including design space, where established, and/or current product and process understanding. There should be an assessment to determine whether a change to the regulatory filing is required under regional requirements. As stated in ICH Q8, working within the design space is not considered a change (from a regulatory filing perspective). However, from a pharmaceutical quality system standpoint, all changes should be evaluated by a company’s change management system;
c) Proposed changes should be evaluated by expert teams contributing the appropriate expertise and knowledge from relevant areas (e.g., Pharmaceutical Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory Affairs and Medical), to ensure the change is technically justified. Prospective evaluation criteria for a proposed change should be set;
d) After implementation, an evaluation of the change should be undertaken to confirm the change objectives were achieved and that there was no deleterious impact on product quality.
Application of change management system throughout the product lifecycle
Pharmaceutical Development :-
- Change is an inherent part of the development process and should be documented;
- the formality of the change management process should be consistent with the stage of pharmaceutical development.
Technology Transfer:-
- The change management system should provide management and documentation of adjustments made to the process during technology transfer activities.
Commercial Manufacturing :-
- A formal change management system should be in place for commercial manufacturing.
- Oversight by the quality unit should provide assurance of appropriate science and risk based assessments.
Product Discontinuation:-
- Any changes after product discontinuation should go through an appropriate change management system.