Alkem

  • Procedure started
  • Under evaluation
  • CHMP opinion
  • European Commission final decision
Current status
European Commission final decision

Overview

On 23 June 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the suspension of a medicine (Riluzole Alkem), for which studies were conducted at the Alkem Laboratories Ltd site in Taloja, India, and has required companies to provide new data for another medicine before it can be authorised in the EU.

The recommendations followed a joint routine inspection by German and Dutch authorities in March 2015, which revealed misrepresentation of data during the conduct of two different trials performed in 2013 and 2014 at the Taloja site. The findings cast doubts on the quality management system in place at the site, and thus on the reliability of the data of bioequivalence studies conducted between March 2013 and March 2015.

EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) noted that, although there is no evidence of harm or lack of effectiveness linked to the conduct of studies by Alkem Laboratories Ltd, the studies cannot be accepted in marketing authorisation applications in the EU. Therefore, the Committee recommended that medicines authorised or being evaluated on the basis of these studies should be suspended or refused authorisation, unless alternative data are available from other sources.
The specific recommendations of the CHMP are as follows:

  • Riluzole Alkem, a medicine for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which has yet to be marketed in the EU, should now be suspended.
  • Ibuprofen Orion, a painkiller currently under evaluation by national authorities, cannot be authorised on the basis of studies carried out at Alkem Laboratories Ltd. So far no alternative studies from other sources have been provided
  • Cefuroxime Ingen Pharma, currently under evaluation by national authorities, can still be considered for authorisation, as studies from other sources have been provided.
  • Cefuroxime Alkem and Cefuroxime Krka (antibiotics) can remain on the market in the EU, as alternative studies have been provided that support a positive benefit-risk balance.

The CHMP's recommendations concerning these medicines were sent to the European Commission, which issued a legally binding decision valid throughout the EU.

EMA will continue to work closely with national authorities and international partners to ensure that studies underpinning marketing authorisations in the EU are carried out to the highest standards and that companies continue to comply fully with all aspects of Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

Key facts

About this medicine
Approved name
Alkem
About this procedure
Current status
European Commission final decision
Reference number
EMEA/H/A-31/1436
Type
Article 31 referrals

This type of referral is triggered when the interest of the Union is involved, following concerns relating to the quality, safety or efficacy of a medicine or a class of medicines.

Key dates and outcomes
CHMP opinion date
23/06/2016
EC decision date
08/09/2016

All documents

Procedure started

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - Annex I (PDF/59.07 KB)


    First published: 01/04/2016
    Last updated: 07/10/2016
    EMA/239593/2016 Rev. 1

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - Review started (PDF/74.26 KB)


    First published: 01/04/2016
    Last updated: 01/04/2016
    EMA/186742/2016

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - CHMP List of questions to Alkem BE Centre (PDF/66.99 KB)


    First published: 01/04/2016
    Last updated: 01/04/2016
    EMA/CHMP/228248/2016

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - CHMP list of questions (PDF/68.2 KB)


    First published: 01/04/2016
    Last updated: 01/04/2016
    EMA/CHMP/228189/2016

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - Timetable for the procedure (PDF/67.26 KB)


    First published: 01/04/2016
    Last updated: 01/04/2016
    EMA/CHMP/228190/2016

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - Notification (PDF/30.46 KB)


    First published: 01/04/2016
    Last updated: 01/04/2016

  • Opinion provided by Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - Studies from Alkem Laboratories Ltd cannot be used to support medicines approval in the EU (PDF/83.14 KB)


    First published: 24/06/2016
    Last updated: 07/10/2016
    EMA/427636/2016 Rev. 1

  • European Commission final decision

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - Assessment report (PDF/119.1 KB)

    Adopted

    First published: 16/11/2021
    EMA/630996/2016

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - Annex II (PDF/40.14 KB)


    First published: 07/10/2016
    Last updated: 07/10/2016

  • List item

    Alkem Article-31 referral - Annex III (PDF/17.55 KB)


    First published: 07/10/2016
    Last updated: 07/10/2016

  • Description of documents published

    Please note that some of the listed documents apply only to certain procedures.

    • Overview - lay-language summary of the stage of the procedure
    • Notification – a letter from a Member State, the European Commission or the marketing authorisation holder requesting the initiation of the procedure
    • Scientific background – further background information from the triggering Member State on the issues leading to the initiation of the procedure (if applicable)
    • List of questions – questions agreed by the Committee requesting further information from the marketing authorisation holder(s) / applicant(s) to evaluate the issues identified
    • Timetable for the procedure – agreed timeframe to respond to the list of questions, to assess the issues and to adopt a conclusion
    • List of medicines concerned by the procedure – medicine(s) / active substance(s) concerned, and marketing authorisation holder(s) / applicant(s)
    • List of questions to be addressed by the stakeholders – call for data to be submitted by stakeholders (e.g. healthcare professionals, patient organisations, individual patients) (if applicable)
    • Stakeholder submission form – form to be used by stakeholders to submit data (if applicable)
    • Scientific conclusions – scientific conclusions of the PRAC and/or CHMP and/or CMDh
    • Assessment report – PRAC or CHMP assessment and conclusions on the issues investigated, including divergent positions (if applicable)
    • Divergent positions – divergent positions of the CHMP or CMDh members for pharmacovigilance procedures (if applicable)
    • Changes to the summary of product characteristics, labelling and package leaflet (amended sections or fully revised version) (if applicable)
    • Condition(s) to the marketing authorisation(s) – condition(s) for the safe and effective use of the medicine(s) (if applicable)
    • Condition for lifting the suspension – condition to be fulfilled for the suspension of the marketing authorisation(s) to be lifted (if applicable)
    • Timetable for implementation of CMDh position – agreed timeframe to submit and finalise the variation(s) implementing the outcome of the procedure (if applicable)

    Note that older documents may have different titles.

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