The second day of the 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA), held at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi, concluded on October 15, 2024. The workshop featured several technical presentations and panel discussions focusing on the regulatory frameworks of various global drug regulatory agencies.
The event, hosted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), marks the first time India is hosting the ICDRA, which runs from October 14 to 18, 2024. Regulatory authorities, policymakers, and health officials from WHO member states have gathered to discuss key issues related to drug regulation.
The main objectives of the 19th ICDRA are to promote discussions on enhancing regulatory systems, ensuring the safety and quality of medical products, and addressing challenges related to substandard and falsified medicines. Key topics include access to quality medical products, smart regulation of clinical trials, collaboration among regulatory agencies, and the regulation of novel medical and herbal products.
Speakers and panelists from countries such as Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa, Brazil, the USA, and several African nations delivered presentations on topics including access to medical products, the regulation of advanced therapies, and improving medical device access through WHO prequalification. The African Medicines Agency (AMA) also provided an update on its operational progress.
The sessions focused on the impact of streamlined regulatory pathways in improving access to medical products and discussed the importance of ensuring the quality of pharmaceutical materials. Discussions also covered advanced therapy medicinal products, reducing reliance on animal studies, and WHO’s prequalification process for medical devices and medicines.
The day concluded with interactive panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and the formulation of key recommendations to guide future regulatory efforts in the pharmaceutical sector.
