The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has partnered with three international organisations to bolster its position on setting standards for medicines and medical devices.
The MHRA has been accepted as a full member of the International Medical Device Regulatory Forum (IMDRF), the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), and the US-based Medical Devices Innovation Consortium (MDIC).
The IMDRF and the ICH are focused on improving the harmonisation and convergence of medicines and medical devices regulation globally.
The MHRA will now work with these organisations to support the development of regulatory guidelines and drive greater harmonisation of regulation around the world. The MHRA hopes this can deliver greater access to medical products not just in the UK but across the globe.
Official comments
Dr Glenn Wells, Chief International and Partnerships Officer at the MHRA, said: “We are delighted to join these three international organisations to collaborate on regulatory alignment that will help deliver safer, innovative, and more cost-effective medicines and medical devices to the people who need them sooner.
“We are currently building a world-leading regime for regulating medicines and medical devices in the UK that prioritises patient safety while fostering innovation, and we look forward to sharing expertise with partner organisations for the benefit of patients not just in the UK but worldwide.”
