MHRA's GCP Inspection Metrics
The MHRA recently published their 'GCP Inspections Metrics Report', covering the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.
The following GCP inspections were conducted during this period:
- In the UK: 11 sponsor (4 non-commercial / 7 commercial), 5 CRO, 12 investigator site, 4 Phase I Unit, and 10 GCP laboratory (UK laboratory facilities conducting clinical trial sample analysis) inspections;
- Outside the UK: 4 Bioequivalence (BE) inspections;
- 2 triggered inspections (for example in response to a serious breach report or an identified concern): one each at a commercial sponsor and a UK Phase I Unit.
Overview of Observations
The MHRA GCP inspectors have reported the following observations:
- Commercial sponsors: 4 critical, 17 major, 34 other. All critical observations were related to pharmacovigilance (PV).
- CROs: 4 critical, 25 major, 41 other. Critical observations were related to data integrity, IMP management, and protocol compliance.
- Non-commercial sponsors: 4 critical, 12 major, 26 other. Critical observations were related to clinical sample analysis, data integrity, sponsor oversight, and PV.
- Phase I Units: 1 critical, 8, major, 28 other. The critical observation was related to dose escalation.
- Investigator Sites: 0 critical, 17 major, 64 other.
More detailed information about the MHRA´s expectations in GCP inspections and recent observations can be found at MHRA´s Official Statistics Good clinical practice inspection metrics website.