Ten years into FDA’s quality initiative, CDER Director Janet Woodcock acknowledges continued resistance to investing in QbD as a way of preventing quality problems in commercial manufacturing. Yet others in FDA and industry see adoption of the science- and risk-based approach spreading, even though manufacturers are often reluctant to disclose how much money it’s saving them.

The US FDA shaved months from review of Gilead’s Veklury (remdesivir) for COVID-19 with post-approval commitments for multiple stability studies. The Pink Sheet takes a deep dive look at discussions within the agency and with the sponsor.

FDA historically has based 100% of drug adulteration warning letters on inspections but COVID-19-related travel restrictions began changing that in FY 2020, when 2% of drug GMP warning letters were based on testing import samples. The change became even more pronounced in the first two months of FY 2021, with 59% of actions related to sample testing and 41% to inspections.