FDA Inspections: From Site Preparation to Response

FDA Inspection Preparedness and Compliance Course Description

This is a practical, hands-on two-day seminar designed to provide pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biologics and medical device professionals with the information and tools they require to prepare for and manage an FDA inspection efficiently, effectively and successfully. Many regulated companies preparing for FDA inspections are not prepared and the outcome can be negative as we see all the time with enforcement actions. This seminar provides the fundamentals and the ground rules on how to prepare for and survive an FDA inspection no matter if you are a Class I, II, III device or a pharmaceutical or biologics manufacturer. This presentation will review and emphasize the do's and don'ts and cardinal rules as to interviewing, how to respond, reviewing documentation, etiquette, use of certain words, body language, responding to questions/requests, etc., and certainly replying to 483's and Warning Letters.

The course will go through what typically goes on during an FDA Inspection and will then cover how to prepare for, host and follow up to a regulatory inspection. It will emphasize and focus on the critical and vital elements that you should do or not do during the inspection. Typically, FDA inspections can be highly structured and there are procedures that are to be followed as you prepare for state of readiness. It is important for anyone who might be involved in the inspection to be aware of these procedures, including all employees and personnel to ensure there are no surprises.

The course will also provide information for inspections conducted by international agencies as well as non- FDA agencies, including self-inspections for manufacturing and the famous FDA Mock Inspection or Mock Audit. It will explain how to prepare for an inspection, how to handle a scheduled or non-scheduled inspection, what to expect during an inspection and what follow up to expect after an inspection.

This live training Seminar includes the following for each registered attendee:

• A copy of the presentation slides by download
• A certificate of participation for attendee training records
• Q/A Session
• Free Handouts on FDA Inspection

Training Agenda

Day 1

• ·      Introductions and Background
• ·      FDA’s Inspectional Authority and History
• ·      FDA Inspection Program Overview
• ·      Key factors for a successful FDA inspection
• ·      Quality System Readiness
• ·      Organization Readiness
• ·      Manage Inspection Outcomes
• ·      Information and Documentation
• ·      How a firm should prepare for an FDA inspection?
• ·      Ways to train employees in view of the inspection
• ·      How to ensure that required documentation is in place
• ·      How to interact with the investigator-DO's and DON'T's
• ·      What companies should do when the inspection ends
• ·      How to reply to 483's and warning letters
• ·      Legal implications of non-compliance
• ·      Why inspections are conducted and by what statutory authority
• ·      The emphasis on systems-based inspections...and the IOM and other crucial FDA reference documents
• ·      What is subject to FDA purview and what's off-limits
• ·      Understand and apply the do's and don'ts and comprehend that preparation is the key to success
• ·      What are the prohibited "Acts" and the enforcement categories that you need to deal with?
• ·      What you need to know and do to prepare for, during and even after the inspection...and why your inspection response team is key
• ·      The company's Inspection Plan (SOP) can make or break the inspection depending on how to use it and training your personnel
• ·      How to respond to findings and facilitating the documentation and remediation process...and reaching final closure
• ·      Define clear responsibilities, roles and goals for personnel involved in FDA inspections and SOP development
• ·      Exit Interview
• ·      FDA interviewing employees and personnel

Day 2

• ·      Maintain, or return to, regulatory compliance and minimize downtime
• ·      Establish a risk management plan in place to proactively manage compliance, including a crisis-management plan
• ·      Set post-inspection deadlines and working closely with FDA’s regulatory partners
• ·      Compliance remediation is the process of recognizing problems, creating a plan to correct and prevent them from occurring in the future, and executing to that plan to helps with your GxP Compliance Strategy.
• ·      Guidance on how to request and conduct PDUFA meetings and expectations for Sponsor-FDA Meetings
• ·      Guidance outlining clear recommendations for sponsors and for FDA staff and managers as well for Pre-Submission meetings as expected timeframes for scheduling meetings
• ·      Mechanics of requesting any FDA meeting and what you need to know to be successful with communication style, approach and tactics
• ·      Prioritize follow-up on warning letters and other enforcement actions
• ·      Develop and implement a formal warning letter “close-out” process
• ·      Untitled Letter and the Warning Letters
• ·      Recent Trends and Enforcement Actions for 2017
• ·      Mock Inspections and Mock Audits and why role playing is important

Recap of Day 1 and Day 2

Exercise on Day 2

• ·      Interactive Discussions
• ·      Review Regulatory and Compliance Documentation
• ·      Recent Enforcement Actions for 2017 and Emerging FDA Trends
• ·      Classroom Project: Prepare for and Host an FDA Mock Inspection and Prepare Effective Company Response to FDA 483 and/or Warning Letter

Debrief/Adjourn/Wrap-Up

Who Will Benefit

This seminar will provide an overview and in-depth snapshot of the entire process for preparing for and managing and FDA inspection and external regulatory inspections and for those companies who must establish proven and sustainable GXP Compliance Strategies and risk mitigation strategies when responding to a crisis. Employees who will benefit include all levels of management and departmental representatives from key functional areas and those who desire a better understanding or a "refresh" overview of the FDA inspection process from preparing for the inspections, during the inspections and post-inspection responsibilities and follow up activities with FDA, including:

• Executive Management
• Regulatory Affairs Management
• Regulatory Affairs Specialist
• Auditors
• QC/QC Management
• Compliance Officer
• Compliance Specialist
• Clinical Affairs
• Quality Assurance Management
• Marketing & Sales
• Laboratory Operations
• Distributors/Authorized Representatives
• Legal Counsel
• Engineering/Technical Services
• Operations/Manufacturing
• Consultants
• Individuals who come in contact with regulatory inspectors
• Auditors
• Compliance/Regulatory affairs professionals
• QA/QC professionals
• Manufacturing managers, supervisors & personnel
• Project Managers
• Regulatory Affairs Management
• Regulatory Affairs Specialist
• Compliance Officer
• Compliance Specialist
• Clinical Affairs
• Distributors
• Legal Counsel
  

How to Attend:

All WCS Seminar live training programs audio and visuals are delivered via Go to Webinar with a basic system requirement of a computer with internet access. You do not require a Go to Webinar account to join WCS Seminar live training courses, participants receive an email invitation that provides the access you need to join the meeting.