Amgen's Strategic Approach to Global Pharmacovigilance: Balancing Innovation with Patient Safety

Key Insights

• Amgen emphasizes patient safety as the cornerstone of its pharmacovigilance practices, continuously evaluating drug safety profiles while adapting to evolving regulatory requirements across global markets.
• The implementation of new EU pharmacovigilance legislation presents significant challenges for pharmaceutical companies, requiring process reengineering, enhanced systems, and updated governance structures.
• Digital technology and observational research are becoming increasingly critical in drug safety operations, with companies adapting to monitor social media for adverse events and conducting large-scale real-world studies.

In an exclusive interview, Amgen's Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs and Safety, Alan Morrison, reveals how the biotechnology pioneer approaches the complex landscape of drug safety and pharmacovigilance in an evolving regulatory environment.

Global Pharmacovigilance Challenges and Strategy

The pharmaceutical industry faces mounting challenges in maintaining effective pharmacovigilance systems, particularly with the implementation of new EU legislation. Morrison emphasizes that companies must reengineer processes, enhance systems, and modify internal governance while maintaining unwavering focus on patient safety.

"The industry will continue to face the challenges of undergoing innovation and change whilst ensuring continuous compliance," Morrison notes, highlighting the delicate balance between innovation and regulatory adherence.

Regional Variations in Safety Requirements

The UK market presents unique challenges with additional reporting requirements compared to other EU countries. The MHRA requires expedited submission of non-EU serious cases and employs a risk-based approach to inspections, potentially leading to more frequent oversight for innovative companies.

Digital Innovation in Safety Monitoring

The role of digital technology and social media has become increasingly significant in pharmacovigilance operations. Companies must now diligently screen digital platforms under their control for adverse event reporting, following new guidance (GVP VI) and ABPI recommendations for the UK pharmaceutical industry.

Observational Research and Real-World Evidence

Morrison emphasizes the critical importance of observational research in drug safety: "Clinical trials can be limited in the number of patients involved and thus their ability to detect potential rare safety events." Observational studies, involving larger patient populations from routine clinical practice, provide crucial insights into real-world drug safety and effectiveness.

Amgen's Approach to Patient Safety

At Amgen, patient safety is embedded within all pharmacovigilance practices. The company maintains a proactive stance on risk management and communication throughout product lifecycles. Morrison states, "We continuously evaluate the safety profile of all of our molecules and ensure proactive risk management and effective communication throughout their lifecycles."

Future Challenges and Opportunities

The pharmaceutical industry faces emerging challenges in areas such as adaptive licensing, personalized medicines, clinical trial data transparency, and biosimilars. These developments present both regulatory hurdles and opportunities for innovation in pharmacovigilance practices.

Morrison concludes that success in this dynamic environment will depend on achieving excellence in pharmacovigilance while maintaining operational effectiveness and efficiency. Companies that prioritize these aspects and stay ahead of regulatory curves will be best positioned for success in ensuring drug safety.