News FAMHP

During the September 2022 meeting, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a referral of topiramate and also started a referral of pholcodine medicines.

The European Commission has launched a call for laboratories of Member States to apply to become European Union reference laboratories (EURLs) for in vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical devices. The possible designation of such EURLs is provided for in article 100 of the Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDR).

During its July 2022 meeting, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommends new measures to minimise the risk of meningioma with medicines containing nomegestrol or chlormadinone. The PRAC also starts the review on the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders with topiramate.

The availability of appropriate antimicrobial medicines is important to fight antimicrobial resistance. The FAMHP strives to keep or to bring essential antimicrobial products on the market and to keep healthcare professionals and patients well informed. Again, as a result of those efforts: amoxicillin for injection/infusion has been back on the market in Belgium since April.

Extensive analyses of Philips' CPAP, BiPAP and ventilator devices have not revealed toxicologically relevant levels of volatile organic compounds. Nevertheless, no risk can be excluded at this time: patients are advised to consult their physician about the further course of their treatment.

During its April 2022 meeting, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) discussed a direct healthcare professional communication (DHPC) containing important information for Defitelio.

The current war in Ukraine has had a huge impact on clinical trials in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. Due to the war, a large number of patients in these countries participating in clinical trials are no longer able to participate. There are also problems with the supply of medicinal products and other supplies for conducting clinical trials. The relevant authorities in countries within the European Union are making every effort to ensure the continuity of treatment for patients in ongoing clinical trials by providing the option to continue their treatment at trial sites abroad.

During its April 2022 meeting, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded that available evidence does not support a causal link between COVID-19 vaccines Comirnaty and Spikevax and very rare cases of autoimmune hepatitis.

The European Medicines Agency's Safety Working Party clarifies its recommendations on genotoxic medicines and the duration of contraception to apply to any genotoxic active substance, regardless of its therapeutic indication. However, the recommendations should not apply to active substances whose mechanism of genotoxicity is known to have a threshold which is not expected to be reached in patients. Marketing authorisation holders should take these new clarifications into account when considering the need to update their package leaflets.

Over the past few weeks, more than three hundred thousand citizens have obtained iodine tablets from their pharmacies as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. The FAMHP has listed a few recommendations.