[Review process of new oncology drug application in Japan--role of MD reviewer].
On the basis of discussion by the Committee for Drug Safety Ensuring Measures, the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW) has amended the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and related laws, and is reforming its review system for approving new drugs. One of the most important changes in the review system is the establishment of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Evaluation Center (PMDEC) in July, 1997 under the National Institute of Health Sciences, a research institute under MHW. PMDEC, the Evaluation and Licensing Division at MHW and the Organization for Drug ADR Relief, R&D Promotion and Product Review (the Drug Organization) are in charge of drug approval, and reexamination and reevaluation applications. Before the reform new drug application reviews had been conducted mainly by the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council (CPAC). After the reform PMDEC, employing technical officials who have expertise in pharmacology, toxicology, biostatistics, clinical medicine, or other scientific fields, jointly review the applications with CPAC. The Evaluation and Licensing Division takes charge of administrative matters, such as final decisions on approvals, developing guidelines concerning the review process, international affairs, and regulatory instructions. During the early part of review the Drug Organization conducts a compliance review on the documents, which a sponsor submits with the approval application, and GCP inspection.
Fujiwara
Y
Y
Evaluation Division I, National Institute of Health Sciences.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017277:Drug Approval; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D006077:Government Agencies; D007564:Japan; D011367:Professional Staff Committees