Non-interventional pharmacovigilance studies - an analysis of real-world data sources in the HMA-EMA catalogs
Authors/Creators
- 1. Medical University-Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
Description
Real-world data catalogs established by the Heads of Medicines Agencies and the European Medicines Agency (HMA–EMA RWD catalogues) represent a centralized digital approach for broad access to reliable data to ensure patient safety. In this study, RWD catalog analysis was conducted in order to identify best practices and challenges, focusing on finalized non-interventional studies (NISs) with a scope specified as 'safety'. The results (n = 240) show a predominance of studies required by a pharmaceutical regulator (56.6%) as well as the importance of NIS in pharmacovigilance via inclusion in risk management plans (RMPs) (52%) and broad use of NIS in risk minimization measure (RMM) evaluation. However, the lack of a unified regulatory framework, insufficient published data, and the recognized need for digital tool implementation create the necessity for improvement within the European Union (EU) pharmaceutical legislation.
Files
PHAR_article_170867.pdf
Files
(357.2 kB)
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:18c4959782671caddd45c9158738bfd8
|
305.5 kB | Preview Download |
|
md5:b008301c1555c37f80f21ac914945290
|
51.7 kB | Preview Download |
Additional details
References
- Acha V, Barefoot B, Juarez Garcia A, Lehner V, Monno R, Sandler S, Spooner A, Verpillat P (2023) Principles for Good Practice in the Conduct of Non-interventional Studies: The View of Industry Researchers. Ther Innov Regul Sci 57(6): 1199–208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43441-023-00544-y
- Carlson MDA, Morrison RS (2009) Study design, precision, and validity in observational studies. J Palliat Med 12(1): 77–82. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2008.9690
- CIOMS (2014) Practical approaches to risk minimisation for medicinal products: Report of CIOMS Working Group IX. https://cioms.ch/sd7fdh93gewd882ds/jkdf79ds7dl092dq-purple-book/CIOMS_IX_Risk_minimisation_SECURED_20140811v8.pdf
- Chan EW, Liu KQL, Chui CSL, Sing CW, Wong LYL, Wong ICK (2015) Adverse drug reactions – examples of detection of rare events using databases. Br J Clin Pharmacol 80(4): 855–861. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12474
- Degun R, Patel D, Marinsek N, Chalmers M (2014) Value of rare disease non-interventional studies to support payer & clinical decision making. Value Health 17(3): A206. https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(14)01257-1/fulltext
- FDA (2018) Real-World Evidence Program. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/media/120060/download?attachment
- EMA (2024) HMA-EMA Catalogues of real-world data sources and studies. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/launch-new-hma-ema-catalogues-real-world-data-sources-studies
- EMA (2025) Homepage. Launch of new HMA-EMA catalogues of real-world data sources and studies. https://catalogues.ema.europa.eu/
- EUR-Lex (2014) Regulation 536/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/536/oj/eng
- ENCePP (2025) Code of Conduct. European Union. https://encepp.europa.eu/encepp-toolkit/code-conduct_en
- ENCePP (2025a) Discontinuation of the ENCePP Seal. European Union. https://encepp.europa.eu/newsroom/news/discontinuation-encepp-seal-2025-02-18_en
- Jungkunz M, Köngeter A, Mehlis K, Winkler EC, Schickhardt C (2021) Secondary use of clinical data in data-gathering, non-interventional research or learning activities: definition, types, and a framework for risk assessment. J Med Internet Res 23(6):e26631. https://doi.org/10.2196/26631
- Leducq S, Zaki F, Hollestein LM, Apfelbacher C, Ponna NP, Mazmudar R, Grana S (2024) The majority of observational studies in leading peer-reviewed medicine journals are not registered and do not have a publicly accessible protocol: a scoping review. J Clin Epidemiol 170: 111341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111341
- Pereira PL, Helmberger T, Taieb J, Vilgrain V, de Baere T (2020) Scientific societies should start sponsoring observational studies. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 43(12): 1865–1867. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-020-02649-5
- Schneider A, Wagenknecht A, Sydow H, Riedlinger D, Holzinger F, Figura A, Deutschbein J, Reinhold T, Pigorsch M, Stasun U, Schenk L, Möckel M (2023) Primary and secondary data in emergency medicine health services research – a comparative analysis in a regional research network on multimorbid patients. BMC Med Res Methodol 23(1): 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-023-01855-2
- Thiese MS (2014) Observational and interventional study design types: an overview. Biochem Med (Zagreb) 24(2): 199–210. https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2014.022
- Vreman RA, Bloem LT, Van Oirschot S, Hoekman J, Van Der Elst ME, Leufkens HG, Klungel OH, Goettsch WG, Mantel-Teeuwisse AK (2022) The role of regulator-imposed post-approval studies in health technology assessments for conditionally approved drugs. Int J Health Policy Manag 11(5): 642–650. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2020.198
- Wang X, Kattan MW (2020) Cohort studies: design, analysis, and reporting. Chest 158(1): S72–S78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2020.03.014
- WHO (2024) Number of clinical trials by year, location, disease, phase, age and sex of trial participants. Global Observatory on Health R&D. https://www.who.int/observatories/global-observatory-on-health-research-and-development/monitoring/number-of-trial-registrations-by-year-location-disease-and-phase-of-development
- WHO (2025) Clinical trials and observational studies. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/tools/antiretrovirals-in-pregnancy-research-toolkit/clinical-trials-and-observational-studies