Management Responsibility and Control in Pharmaceuticals

Management Responsibility and Control in Pharmaceuticals 

Management responsibility is fundamentally no different in the pharmaceutical industry than any other business. The quote “The buck stops here” made famous by the sign on the former U.S. President Harry S. Truman’s desk applies to anyone who holds the top job in any industry. The top job is where the ultimate accountability resides for the company strategies and decisions to achieve the intended outcomes of the enterprise. For pharmaceuticals, management is individually responsible for ensuring that systems to comply with current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations are effectively implemented in order to establish and maintain a state of control for drug manufacturing, holding, and distribution.

CGMPs and state of control are inextricably connected. Lack of control leading to a Field Alert and Recall due to the potential of product being materially affected will be cited as violations of CGMPs. The converse is also true. A pattern of CGMP violations observed during a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection will also be viewed as lack of control, whether or not the product is materially affected. Either way, the associated product will be deemed adulterated within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).

The implication of the impact of CGMP noncompliance on the business is not theoretical. There are ample examples in the pharmaceutical industry where ineffective implementation of CGMP systems resulted in loss of control that materially affected product quality, which, in turn, affected inventory and patient supply. Establishing a Pharmaceutical Quality System (PQS) that effectively implements the CGMPs is the means for maintaining a state of control—the fundamental intent of these regulations.

 

Management does not assume positions of responsibility with the intent of neglecting CGMP compliance. However, management may not enter the top position fully equipped to assume responsibility for CGMPs in a practical way. Management may delegate all CGMP matters to the Quality Department and take a hands-off approach and rely on this function to bring matters to its attention at their discretion. Such passivity leads to hearing only the bad news when it is far too late to contain and resolve the problem in the most cost-effective way with least risk to public safety.

Likewise, some Quality Departments may not be adequately equipped to bridge the space between top management and daily operations with effective structures and processes that enable management to exercise its responsibility for CGMP oversight. Too often, the default position is to rely upon the outcome of regulatory inspections. But as one might expect, a good outcome can give a false sense of security, and a poor outcome can be viewed as the exhaustive list of problems. As in any area of the business where risks must be managed, there is no better approach than having an intentional management system in place that provides actionable data to know internally where your daily operation stands at any given moment.

This chapter provides a model for structuring a practical and effective management system to fulfill this expectation. But first, it is useful to understand the background for the FDA requirement for management to exercise its responsibility for oversight and control.

 

THE REGULATORY BASIS FOR MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

Historically, the FDA has cited the Supreme Court decisions of United States v. Dotterweich (1943)1 and United States v. Park (1975)2 as FDCA legal cases that establish that the manager of a corpora- tion can be prosecuted under the Federal FDCA, even if there is no affirmation of wrong doing of the corporation manager individually.

In the Dotterweich case, the jury found Dotterweich, the president and general manager of a drug repackaging company, guilty on two counts for shipping misbranded drugs in interstate com- merce, and a third for shipping an adulterated drug. One dissenting judge of the Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision on the grounds that only the corporation was the “person” subject to prosecution, thus protecting the president personally. But the Supreme Court reversed the decision, thus holding Dotterweich individually responsible, not just the manufacturer. Justice Frankfurter delivered the opinion of the Court, “…under § 301 a corporation may commit an offense and all persons who aid and abet its commission are equally guilty….”

In the Park case, the chief executive officer was found guilty on all counts involving food held in a building accessible to rodents and being exposed to contamination by rodents, resulting in the adulteration of the food within the meaning of the FDCA. Park’s defense was that he had an organi- zational structure responsible for certain functions to handle such matters. However, evidence from inspections of multiple locations indicated the same problems and inadequate system for which he had overall responsibility. Chief Justice Burger delivered the opinion of the Court, “…by reason of his position in the corporation, responsibility and authority either to prevent in the first instance, or promptly to correct, the violation complained of, and that he failed to do so…the imposition of this duty, and the scope of the duty, provide the measure of culpability…”

More recently, Public Law 112–144 (July 9, 2012) called the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) added to the definition of CGMP in the FDCA (Section 501, 21 USC 351) to explicitly include management oversight of manufacturing to ensure quality. Section 711 of FDASIA states:

 

For the purpose of paragraph (a)(2)(B), the term “current good manufacturing practice” includes the implementation of oversight and controls over the manufacturing of drugs to ensure quality, including managing the risk of and establishing the safety of raw materials, materials used in the manufacturing of drugs, and finished drug products.

 

The addition of oversight and controls to the definition of CGMP has strengthened the FDA position with specific language for management’s responsibility for oversight and control as a requirement in the Act. The question remains how to practically and operationally to perform this responsibility. The fol- lowing model describes essential elements of a CGMP Management System for oversight and control.

 

  THE QUALITY MANAGEMENT TRIAD MODEL

Three elements form the framework of this model for designing and implementing structures and processes that enable management to exercise responsibility for oversight and control of CGMP compliance: Governance, the Pharmaceutical Quality System, and Quality System Ownership. These elements are interdependent, and the effectiveness of the model depends upon how well they are designed to work together. The following sections discuss the key attributes of each element of the Quality Management Triad model (Figure 3.1).

 

The Governance element

The governance body is comprised of the top leadership where the ultimate direction is given and decisions are made with respect to aligning resources, including those associated with CGMP compliance. Governance is the standard-bearer for what it endorses, enables, and oversees. To the watching organization, what management says, funds, and pays attention to, are the visible expres- sions of their values and the cultural setting for CGMP compliance.

Endorse

The governance body endorses a Quality Policy that declares the importance of CGMP compliance to the business by ensuring a continuous of supply of quality product to its patients. This policy provides the foundation for creating a set of Quality Standards that interprets and applies the CGMP regulations and current industry practice to its operations. Quality Standards are cross-functionally endorsed to demonstrate agreement with the minimum, irreducible requirements. Although Quality

Standards establish the “What,” there is latitude for designing processes for “How” requirements are met. Thus, CGMP processes are opportune targets for continuous improvement. The “How” described in standard operating procedures (SOP) is open to creative approaches for designing processes as efficiently as possible that also comply with the Quality Standards, and thus CGMP.

  Enable

The governance body enables CGMP compliance by providing the organization structure and resources to implement and support processes described in SOPs. While it is reasonable for manage- ment to question whether a process is designed as efficiently as possible, it is not reasonable to with- hold resources that affect the ability to comply with Quality Standard requirements. Governance also establishes and partners with an independent Quality Unit that has the product knowledge, technical experience, and CGMP background to perform its unique regulatory responsibilities. The Quality Unit has the responsibility to objectively measure and report on the effectiveness of the PQS, and management has the responsibility for oversight and control.

 

  Oversee

The governance body establishes the Quality Management Review (QMR) process to oversee the ongoing performance of the PQS and to give visibility to problems and risks as a means of under- standing the state of control. The QMR process is a data-driven and action-oriented process to ensure that unacceptable risks and trends are quickly identified and verifiably resolved. The Quality Unit is best positioned to administer the QMR process to ensure objective reporting, proper risk assessment, and verification that the intended results of QMR decisions have been achieved. Normal business processes, such as planning and budget cycles, and operational goals and performance objectives, serve also to prioritize and focus company attention where significant change or effort is necessary to improve CGMP compliance.

 

The PharmaceuTical QualiTy SySTem elemenT

The PQS is the interpretation and application of CGMP regulations to the operation. It is an integrated library of documents of increasing specificity from the Quality Policy and Quality Standards down to the SOP, and other executable work instructions. Like a balanced outline, the PQS has an overall structure with each topic taking its position as part of an intentional architecture. SOPs must be fit-for-purpose and remain relevant within a dynamic operational environment. Thus, the PQS is a living system that reflects the requirements, but it also is operational and sustainable the moment its documents become effective.

 

  Compliant

Procedures and the records created by following procedures provide the legal history that affirms that the work was performed in compliance with requirements and that the expected results were obtained. There is no work related to manufacturing, holding, or distributing of drug product that is not described in an approved, written procedure. There is a traceable path from the results entered onto a record up through procedures and directly to standards and policies. It cannot be underestimated the importance to CGMP compliance of having clearly written procedures that logically describe the process steps, the persons who perform them, where results are recorded, and who reviews and interprets. Writing simply and clearly, along with communication and training are special skills required to establish effective procedures so that CGMP requirements are faithfully translated to those doing the work.

 

  Operational

The PQS is intended to work in the actual operation as soon as a procedure is approved and implemented through training. Process flow diagrams are a useful tool in the hands of the user groups to visualize the real-world steps of a process. They facilitate discovery of the supplier of inputs, customers of outputs, and dependent linkages to other processes that may need to be developed or aligned for the overall process to be effective. When and who makes decisions, as well as the conditions or situations in which the Quality Unit is notified are also part of SOP content for the daily operation. For the PQS to be operational, the user groups must actively participate to identify the obstacles to getting work accomplished and having meaningful procedures.

  Sustainable

The PQS must be sustainable by providing a supporting organization structure, adequate number of skilled personnel, and an operating budget that are balanced with the demands on the system. Significant operational changes such as acquisitions, facility repurposing, production volume, port- folio complexity, and workforce levels invariably impact the effectiveness of PQS and present a compliance risk if not anticipated and addressed. Performance metrics are the primary tools to continually monitor the performance of the PQS and to provide the operational capability to self- detect and self-correct problems. This capability is essential since continual performance feedback is fundamental for sustaining performance and operating in a state of control.

 

The Quality System ownership element

The PQS lives in a dynamic business and regulatory environment. Thus, the PQS must be continually reevaluated to ensure its purpose is served. The Head of Quality has functional responsibility for the overall PQS, and management has the overall responsibility for oversight and control. But knowledgeable and skilled Quality System Owners (QSO) at the operational level are needed to take responsibility for ensuring that their respective processes and procedures are continuously relevant, compliant, and integrated. Each QSO has the responsibility for managing their part of the PQS, monitoring performance, and escalating significant issues to management.

 

  Manage

The QSO is responsible for the resilience of their respective parts of the PQS amidst the business changes around them. The QSO has the knowledge and skills to ensure that his/her processes continue to meet compliance requirements, are relevant to the operation, fit-for-purpose, and perform effectively and efficiently. This requires being up to date with CGMP regulations and developing industry awareness to remain current with industry best practices. The QSO is the champion for their respective processes and leads the adoption of significant changes, as well as ongoing continuous improvement. The QSO is the subject-matter-expert and the face of their respective PQS processes.

 

  Monitor

Data-driven information in the hands of a responsible and empowered QSO is essential to the ongoing management of the system and maintaining a state of control. Each QSO has carefully selected metrics that provide ongoing and objective feedback about their respective part of the PQS. There may be key performance metrics adopted by the company or a site operation. There may also be popular ideas about metrics and what they should or should not be. There may even be rules of thumb to limit the number of key performance metrics. However, these should not be confused with whatever performance metrics are personally needed by each QSO to have the data necessary to take responsibility for the daily management and problem detection. In the end, the QSO must be able to answer two questions at any moment: How well is the system operating? What problems or potential problems is the system detecting? The QSO is in the best position to decide on the performance metrics for the systems for which they are responsible.

 

  Escalate

The QSO must have directed a path to management to escalate problems or potential problems that represent unacceptable or unmanageable risk to the patient, the business, or CGMP compliance. The Quality Management Review is the regularly occurring forum where QSOs have the opportunity to report on the state of their system. But there are instances where the degree of risk must permit a direct and unfiltered alert to management. Some problems or potential problems rise to the level where either the cost of the permanent solution or the cross-functional impact requires making the case directly and expeditiously to higher levels of management.

 

The role of Quality

Everyone owns “CGMP compliance” much like everyone owns safety. Everyone has personal responsibility for having general CGMP knowledge and awareness, and also having and following specific procedures relevant to their areas of responsibility. However, the Quality Unit ensures that a strategy, such as this Quality Management Triad model, is in place procedurally, in use behavior- ally, and has the capability to objectively measure and report on the state of control.

 

  CONCLUSION

Management has the legal responsibility for implementing the CGMP regulations and overseeing and ensuring the operational state of control. To operate in a state of control does not mean perfection. It does mean, however, the capability of a firm to self-detect and self-correct potential problems. And whenever a problem does emerge, the firm is capable of taking action to understand the underlying causes the problem or unacceptable trend, and make decisions that favorably effect the trend, or that prevent recurrence of the problem. The model described here provides the framework for developing and implementing a practical and integrated system for management to have the means to exercise responsibility and have data-driven knowledge of the state of control.

 

  REFERENCES

1.   United States v. Dotterweich, 320 U.S. 277 (1943)

2.   United States v. Park, 421 U.S. 658 (1975)

   SUGGESTED READINGS

•      J. Snyder, “Management Oversight of the Pharmaceutical Quality System: Obstacles and Opportunities.” Journal of GXP Compliance 17 (2), 2013, available at: http://www.ivtnetwork. com/management-oversight.

•      J. Snyder, “Management Responsibility for the Quality System: A Practical Understanding for the CEO in FDA-Regulated Industries.” Journal of cGMP Compliance 3 (3), 55–59, 1999.

•      J. Snyder, “Good Manufacturing Practices: Steps to Improve Quality,” invited author for chapter in Pharmaceutical Sciences Encyclopedia: Drug Discovery, Development, and Manufacturing. Ed. Shayne Gad. New York, John Wiley & Sons, 2010, Published online doi:10.1002/9780470571224.pse406.

J. Snyder, “Mindful Compliance: Where Knowledge and Regulations Meet.” BioPharm International Supplement, Guide to Good Manufacturing Practices, 26–34, 2004.

Reference: Good Manufacturing Practices for Pharmaceuticals (2020)