GVK Biosciences
- Procedure started
- Under evaluation
- CHMP opinion
- European Commission final decision
Table of contents
Overview
GVK Biosciences: European Medicines Agency confirms recommendation to suspend medicines over flawed studies
Medicines considered critically important for patients to remain available
On 21 May 2015, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed its recommendation to suspend a number of medicines for which authorisation in the European Union (EU) was primarily based on clinical studies conducted at GVK Biosciences in Hyderabad, India. This is the outcome of a re-examination requested by marketing authorisation holders for seven of the medicines concerned.
EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) had adopted its original recommendation in January 2015 following an inspection of GVK Biosciences' site at Hyderabad by the French medicines agency (ANSM) that raised concerns about how GVK Biosciences conducted studies at the site on behalf of marketing authorisation holders.
The inspection revealed data manipulations of electrocardiograms (ECGs) during the conduct of some studies of generic medicines, which appeared to have taken place over a period of at least five years. Their systematic nature, the extended period of time during which they took place and the number of members of staff involved cast doubt on the integrity of the conduct of trials at the site generally and on the reliability of data generated.
During the re-examination, the CHMP concluded that concerns about reliability of the clinical studies remain and therefore maintained its recommendation of January 2015 to suspend medicines for which no supporting data from other studies were available. This is with the exception of one medicine included in the re-examination for which concerns about studies were addressed. This medicine was removed from the list of medicines recommended for suspension.*
As a result of the CHMP's January 2015 opinion and the re-examination, around 700 pharmaceutical forms and strengths of medicines studied at the Hyderabad site were recommended for suspension. For around 300 other pharmaceutical forms and strengths, sufficient supporting data from other sources had been provided; these medicines will therefore remain on the market in the EU.
The
updated list of medicines for which the CHMP recommended suspension
is available on the EMA website.
The CHMP noted that there is no evidence of harm or lack of effectiveness linked to the conduct of studies by GVK Biosciences at Hyderabad. Some of these medicines may remain on the market in some countries if they are of critical importance for patients because alternatives cannot meet patients' needs.
The decision on whether a medicine is critical for patients lies with the national authorities of EU Member States. For medicines that are considered critical, companies are given 12 months to submit additional data.
EMA and national authorities work closely with international partners to ensure that studies underpinning marketing authorisations in the EU are carried out to the highest standards and that the companies involved comply fully with all aspects of Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
The CHMP's recommendation was sent to the European Commission for a legally binding decision. The Commission has issued its decision which applies to all Member States irrespective of whether or not they have taken interim measures to suspend medicines.
* Bivolet (nebivolol) 5 mg tablets (marketing authorisation holder: Neo Balkanika EOOD); the product has now been removed from the list of medicines recommended for suspension.
Key facts
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About this medicine
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| Approved name |
GVK Biosciences
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| International non-proprietary name (INN) or common name |
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About this procedure
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| Current status |
European Commission final decision
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| Reference number |
EMEA/H/A-31/1408
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| Type | |
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Key dates and outcomes
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| CHMP opinion date |
21/05/2015
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| EC decision date |
16/07/2015
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All documents
Procedure started
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - CHMP list of questions to all marketing-authorisation holders (PDF/70.79 KB)
First published: 27/10/2014
Last updated: 27/10/2014
EMA/CHMP/658332/2014
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - Review started (PDF/63.67 KB)
First published: 26/09/2014
Last updated: 26/09/2014
EMA/580140/2014
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - CHMP list of questions (PDF/58.79 KB)
First published: 26/09/2014
Last updated: 26/09/2014
EMA/590962/2014
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - Timetable for the procedure (PDF/86.68 KB)
First published: 26/09/2014
Last updated: 10/04/2015
EMA/591005/2014 Rev. 5
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - Notification (PDF/163.37 KB)
First published: 26/09/2014
Last updated: 26/09/2014
Opinion provided by Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - GVK Biosciences: European Medicines Agency confirms recommendation to suspend medicines over flawed studies (PDF/78.65 KB)
First published: 22/05/2015
Last updated: 22/05/2015
EMA/324341/2015
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - GVK Biosciences: European Medicines Agency recommends suspending medicines over flawed studies (PDF/74.36 KB)
First published: 23/01/2015
Last updated: 27/02/2015
EMA/37763/2015
European Commission final decision
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - GVK Biosciences: Final assessment report following the re-examination procedure (PDF/205.84 KB)
First published: 04/08/2015
Last updated: 04/08/2015
EMA/348074/2015
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - Annex II (PDF/84.19 KB)
First published: 04/08/2015
Last updated: 04/08/2015
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - Annex III (PDF/40.1 KB)
First published: 04/08/2015
Last updated: 04/08/2015
GVK Biosciences Article-31 referral - Annex I (PDF/2.5 MB)
First published: 23/01/2015
Last updated: 04/08/2015
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.