Many sponsors and CROs conduct mock inspections to determine organizational inspection and audit readiness. Investing in a regulatory mock inspection demonstrates a serious commitment to patient safety, data integrity, and regulatory compliance. It is also a proactive strategy to safeguard financial health, particularly for startups and companies with sparse pipelines.
10 Key Ingredients For Small Pharma GCP Quality Systems
Small to midsize pharmaceutical or biotech companies (small pharma) are enjoying the best of times. Many have exciting products with fantastic preclinical and/or clinical results, great platforms for long-term company growth and licensing possibilities, outstanding medical and technical expertise, and support from intellectual/academic experts. However, from a quality systems perspective, it could be the worst of times. Many have weak quality systems, are not following global regulatory authority regulations and/or guidance, or lack the level of documentation required to reconstruct every aspect of clinical trials.
About the Author

Penelope Przekop, CEO
Penelope Przekop is a is a biopharmaceutical quality assurance and corporate compliance executive consultant with global R&D and commercial PV expertise. During the early 2000s, she developed and oversaw the first global PV quality and compliance departments established for Wyeth as well as Johson & Johnson. Her work includes qualification and oversight of numerous PV vendors covering all aspects of clinical safety and post-marketed PV. Penelope has facilitated numerous PV regulatory inspections. She frequently leads and conducts PV mock inspections and provides in-depth PV training.
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Many sponsors and CROs conduct mock inspections to determine organizational inspection and audit readiness. Investing in a regulatory mock inspection demonstrates a serious commitment to patient safety, data integrity, and regulatory compliance. It is also a proactive strategy to safeguard financial health, particularly for startups and companies with sparse pipelines.
Developing storyboards for regulatory inspection readiness and facilitation is a growing trend, yet the tool is shrouded in mystery for many pharma industry professionals. Storyboarding is a powerful approach for boiling down your company’s unique drug development journey into compartmentalized, positive short stories or messages that clarify pivotal points in time or scenarios. They provide a framework for creating clear messaging that can be consistently communicated by the inspection team. This is particularly needed for situations when opportunities for company growth, mitigation of existing gaps, and/or other unique compliance scenarios were self-identified and action was taken to ensure compliance and enable forward movement. They ultimately serve to remove confusion, contradiction, and on-the-spot decision-making when addressing inspection questions about the most difficult, convoluted aspects of your product’s drug development story. All companies have those; you are not alone.
Developing storyboards for regulatory inspection readiness and facilitation is a growing trend, yet the tool is shrouded in mystery for many pharma industry professionals. Storyboarding is a powerful approach for boiling down your company’s unique drug development journey into compartmentalized, positive short stories or messages that clarify pivotal points in time or scenarios. They provide a framework for creating clear messaging that can be consistently communicated by the inspection team. This is particularly needed for situations when opportunities for company growth, mitigation of existing gaps, and/or other unique compliance scenarios were self-identified and action was taken to ensure compliance and enable forward movement. They ultimately serve to remove confusion, contradiction, and on-the-spot decision-making when addressing inspection questions about the most difficult, convoluted aspects of your product’s drug development story. All companies have those; you are not alone.
The clinical quality management systems approach developed 20 years ago is not sustainable in the today's industry because we've seen dramatic industry changes in outsourcing, remote monitoring, the use of electronic systems in clinical research, and more. But how do we update our approach for 2022 pharma? This article examines 4 imperatives, including how to accomplish them.
The clinical quality management systems approach developed 20 years ago is not sustainable in the today's industry because we've seen dramatic industry changes in outsourcing, remote monitoring, the use of electronic systems in clinical research, and more. But how do we update our approach for 2022 pharma? This article examines 4 imperatives, including how to accomplish them.
Despite recent progress in executing and documenting oversight, sponsor oversight remains a challenge, especially with monitoring reports. Penelope Przekop detail three reasons why they must remain top of mind.
Despite recent progress in executing and documenting oversight, sponsor oversight remains a challenge, especially with monitoring reports. Penelope Przekop detail three reasons why they must remain top of mind.