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Spurring Efficient Drug Development Through a Processes Management Framework
Currently in the clinical development ecosystem, industry guidance for quality is fragmented across multiple documents from multiple sources. Although quality systems exist in other industries, there was not yet an industry-wide framework for Clinical Quality Management that aims to improve performance in complex clinical development specific environments. As a result, organizations have historically struggled to deliver promising treatments to patients without delay.
This challenge led TransCelerate’s Quality Management System (QMS) Initiative to develop a vision and outline for a clinical QMS (cQMS) conceptual framework, which provides support to allow companies to develop an integrated and flexible system through which organizations can systematically define quality objectives linked to their broader strategic goals. Three years later, at the start of in 2019, TransCelerate took an important step to help clinical organizations implement a primary element of an effective cQMS: clearly defined, documented and managed processes.
In this article, we sat down with Lora Lee Zoller-Neuner, Senior Quality Document Manager, Clinical Quality Systems at Sanofi, to discuss why a Process Management Framework is fundamental to ensure the efficient delivery of clinical development programs, enhance quality and productivity, and deliver needed treatments to patients faster.
Development and distribution of medicines on a global scale has served to significantly benefit many, but has also added certain complexities. The need for clear and consistent processes, associated documentation, and training to help staff execute these processes is becoming increasingly important for the effective delivery of medicines worldwide, while safeguarding patient safety.
To help address this, TransCelerate’s QMS Initiative published a new Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science (TIRS) manuscript in January 2019, titled, “Process Management Framework: Guidance to Successful Implementation of Processes in Clinical Development.” The intent of the manuscript, notes Zoller-Neuner, “was to create a model framework for process mapping, risk-based process documentation, and training to assist clinical development organizations in understanding the basic components of process management.” It describes how companies can begin managing their cQMS to certify that processes are identified, defined and implemented in a clear and uniform way.
This is a fundamental shift from the traditional (function-driven) approach to an end-to-end process (customer-driven approach). In a traditional approach, organizations are often siloed since they are structured and measured by individual department goals and objectives. The executive leaders operate as a team, but are dedicated to sometimes singular functions. Comparatively, in a customer-driven approach, organizations concentrate on cross-functional process capabilities and serving the needs of their customers. “These organizations realize that products and services for customers aren’t produced by departments or functions, but by processes that span across functions. This is important to our industry, since our central focus is on the patient,” says Zoller-Neuner.
To further aid clinical organizations in the implementation of the process framework, TransCelerate also developed the “Toolkit for Implementing Processes.” The interactive toolkit provides specific tools to support clinical organizations with the application of the concepts described in the Process Management Framework manuscript. It takes the user through six main steps, as seen in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1
Overall, the toolkit helps sponsors identify clear and consistent end-to-end (E2E) processes, ensure well-defined documentation with the appropriate level of detail and controls to mitigate risk, and implement an optimal learning approach to drive business deliverables and performance.
“This is a ‘must have’ in today’s landscape,” adds Zoller-Neuner. “It allows the Sponsor, Service Providers, Regulatory Authorities and Investigators to better understand the key activities needed to get drugs approved in a compliant and efficient manner, which ultimately benefits our most important customer—the patient.”
These resources have also created tangible value for stakeholders. In fact, according to a recent TransCelerate Member Company case study, “key elements from the QMS Process Management manuscript and Toolkit for Implementing Processes were used to simplify and harmonize multiple documents into one global process. This helped to reduce the number of quality documents by 83%.”
While impressive and helpful progress has been made in process management, implementation for many companies is still ongoing and may take many years to complete. Moreover, as the clinical trial ecosystem continues to evolve, and additional process complexities inevitably arise, there will be a need to provide further support for members and the industry at large.
“That’s why,” Zoller-Neuner highlights, “enabling adoption, sharing key learnings and finding new and innovative ways to add value to all stakeholders in this space will be a key focus for the QMS Initiative, and TransCelerate, as we look ahead.”
For additional supportive resources, check out this list of Process Scenarios that offer practical examples for how organizations can apply the Process Management Framework. You can also visit TransCelerate’s Quality Management System Initiative website to learn more.
Back To The TopIndustry Lens
3 Questions for Drug Sponsors to Ask Themselves While Collaborating with PatientsBy Mary Elmer, executive director, Patient, Caregiver, and Consumer Experience, Merck & Co., Inc.
While a patient’s input has always been important to the design and execution of clinical trials, in recent years there has been even more of a push to engage patients in the drug development process from start to finish. This movement is a good thing – improved patient involvement is beneficial to the entire clinical trial process. Improved patient experiences lead to increased study participation and reduced dropout rates, which can, subsequently, speed up the delivery of medicines to market.
To help guide to sponsors looking to enhance their partnerships with patients, TransCelerate launched its Patient Experience Initiative. The initiative aims to establish ways to engage with patients in the design and execution of clinical studies. One way of doing so is through the utilization of the initiative’s toolkits: the Patient Protocol Engagement (P-PET) Toolkit and the Study Participant Feedback Questionnaire (SPFQ). These tools can be employed by sites, sponsors, regulators and others to elevate the understanding of patient experiences during clinical trials through a variety of means, such as questionnaires, resource guides, and user guides.
Moreover, the development on this initiative enabled the team to work side by side with patients, sponsors, regulators and all other major stakeholders in the drug development process. From this experience, we learned a few takeaways on how sponsors can kick-start their own collaborative efforts with patients. As sponsors continue to try and better integrate the patient’s voice into the design and execution of clinical trials, here are three questions they can ask themselves to make sure they’re still on track:
1. Have I connected with patients and patient advocates?
It goes without saying that it’s critical to garner information directly from patients when drafting a patient engagement plan. There are several ways to go about doing this: sponsors can engage via patient platforms and networks, establish patient focus groups, conduct one-on-one interviews with patients or collaborate with patient advisory boards to gather real-time feedback. For developing the Patient Experience Initiative’s toolkits specifically, TransCelerate included a patient advisor on the development team so patient input would be integrated throughout the entire process.
If you’re a sponsor looking to take the relationship a step further, you may also consider partnerships with other stakeholders like advisory boards and clinical research organizations. Since the patient will also have interactions with these groups throughout the drug development process, collaboration and input from these stakeholders would be valuable to improving the patient experience and journey.
2. Do I understand current landscape and regulations surrounding patient involvement?
As with any other massive operation, it is vital to begin with primary research. We began with a comprehensive literature review that considered the current landscape surrounding patient involvement in clinical trials. This included collecting and reading materials from every corner of the industry, especially those that helped us develop a framework for the current regulatory landscape. We also benefited from resources that outlined how to engage patients as partners and even guidances for patients on how they can become partnership ready. We cite several of the most helpful resources in our Patient Protocol Engagement Toolkit User Guide.
Furthermore, we took some time to connect with regulators, which included face-to-face meetings with the FDA. Current regulation, such as the 21st Century Cures Act, which was designed to expediate innovation and advances to patients who need them, demonstrate that patients are also at the forefront of regulators’ minds. Regulators have also started to realize a need for guidance documents on how to include patient voices in trials, and as sponsors establish their own engagement plans, it’s advantageous to be sure their goals align with regulations such as the Cures Act or the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
3. Have I prioritized building long-term trust?
To truly produce meaningful tools for patients, a level of shared alignment, clarity and joint respect between all invested groups is imperative. Sponsors must assert each stakeholder is linked by the common goal: bettering the patient experience. Only once that link is established can sponsors then take the necessary steps to improve transparency by assigning specific roles and responsibilities among stakeholders.
Internal processes can be aligned, and points of contact established. It’s our hope that during this process, a greater level of trust is developed leading to increased mutual respect. This can then lead to longstanding continuity of relationships and elevated levels of responsiveness across stakeholders.
It is true that sponsors stand to gain from better patient engagement. Improved engagement has the potential to increase patient participation, decrease attrition rates and ultimately advance the delivery of medicines to market. Ultimately, however, we are obligated to keep the end goal in sight: to decrease patient burdens, integrate their perspective into drug development, and boost patient satisfaction. Only with this clear objective in mind, will we be able to continue making strides in incorporating the patient voice into the design and implementation of clinical trials.
Back To The TopSpotlight
Protocol Deviations
Catherine Stewart of Pfizer and Laura Galuchie of Merck Discuss TransCelerate’s Protocol Deviations Initiative
Within the biopharmaceutical industry, the topic of Protocol Deviations (PD) is met with a wince. Currently, clinical research sponsors struggle to interpret certain elements of ICH E3 and other associated guidelines related to PD which has led to both over and under interpretation of deviations. These challenges are echoed by sites who report receiving conflicting instructions for the same scenarios.
This ambiguity has led to an opportunity to share ideas and experiences about how to make improvements in this area.
In this Spotlight, we sat down with Catherine Stewart and Laura Galuchie, co-leads of TransCelerate’s PD Initiative to discuss the value TransCelerate’s PD Initiative delivers to the biopharmaceutical industry.
With feedback from the FDA, the Protocol Deviations team has proposed a revised definition of important protocol deviations and developed a toolkit.
Back To The TopMark Your Calendars
TransCelerate leaders and member companies are invited to participate and present at many biopharmaceutical research industry conferences and meetings across the globe to provide a perspective on industry challenges and clinical trial issues. Take a peek at a few places we will be presenting early next year. For detailed information on speaker presentations, visit the events page on the TransCelerate website.
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Patients as Partners January 27-28, 2020 London, United Kingdom |
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SCRS EU March 9-10, 2020 Lisbon, Portugal |
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DIA Europe March 17-19, 2020 Brussels, Belgium |
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Eyeforpharma Barcelona March 31-April 2 Barcelona, Spain |
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Eyeforpharma Philadelphia April 15-16 Philadelphia, United States |