Potential Drug Shortage
A potential drug shortage is described as the occurrence of internal or external situations (single or in a combination of both), which could result in an interruption of supplies of a medicinal product, if not properly addressed and controlled. (TR68)
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Preparation Site
The location where extemporaneous preparations of Clinical Trial Materials (CTM) are made. (TR63)
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Process
A series of operations and/or actions used to produce a desired result. (TR38)
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Practice of Pharmacy
The interpretation, evaluation and implementation of medical orders which may include the administering, preparing, compounding, preserving, and/or the dispensing of drugs, medicines and therapeutic devices on the basis of prescriptions, clinical protocol or other legal authority. Note: Many localities have broader definitions describing very specific activities and responsibilities that further defines the practice of pharmacy. (TR63)
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Transport Service Provider
Contracting party who mediates or executes the transportation of medicinal products on behalf of the shipper. (TR39)
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Transportation Service Providers (TSP)
Companies that physically transport the product. (TR52)
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Transportation Study
Study performed to generate data to evaluate the effect of temperature variation on the product during transportation on product quality. Other test, such as vibration, pressure, and drop tests, may be considered. (TR39)
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Stakeholder(s)
Any individual, group or organization that can affect, be affected by or perceive itself to be affected by a risk. Decision makers might also be stakeholders. For the purposes of this guideline, the primary stakeholders are the patient, health-care professional, regulatory authority, and industry (ICH Q9). (TR54) (TR54-2)
Any individual, group, or organization that can affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a risk. Decision makers might also be stakeholders. (TR54-5)
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Significant Body of Information
A significant body of information on the stability of the drug product is likely to exist after 5 years of commercial experience for new molecular entities, or 3 years of commercial experience for new dosage forms (TR38)
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Retailer
A “retailer” buys goods or products in large quantities from manufacturers or importers, either directly or through a wholesaler, and then sells smaller quantities to the end-user. Examples of retailers that sell pharmaceutical products are pharmacies and hospitals. (TR58)
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Reverse Logistics
The process of planning, implementing and controlling the efficient, cost-effective flow of raw materials, in-process inventory, finished goods and related information from the point of consumption to the point of origin for the purpose of recapturing value or proper disposal. (TR46)
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Shipping Lane
An established route of transportation between a specific point of origin to a specific destination. More defined routes will consistently use the same combination and types of transportation vehicles and transfer procedures, but this may not be observed through all shipping lanes throughout the last mile. (TR46) Lane described by origin, transportation node(s) and destination in combination with the used transport mode(s) (truck, aircraft, etc.). (TR58)
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Secondary Packaging Component
A component that is not nor will not be in direct contact with the drug product (e.g., vial seals, overwraps, container labels). The purpose of secondary packaging is to identify, protect, market, and communicate information about the product. Examples of secondary packaging include labels, cartons/folding boxes, and leaflets. (TR39)
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Shipping
The transit of any material by land, sea, or air from one site to another. This may include intraplant movements. (TR39)
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Shipper
An individual or company who tenders products for transportation. (TR39) The person or organization responsible for arranging transportation of goods with carriers and/or freight forwarders. (TR58)
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Shipping Container
A standardized reusable metal box used for safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system. Intermodal implies that the container can be moved from one mode of transport to another without unloading and reloading. They are the main type of equipment used in intermodal transport, particularly when one of the modes of transportation is by ship. They can also be referred to as ISO containers because the dimensions have been defined by ISO. Other types of transportation containers can include truck trailers. (TR55)
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Packout
Insulated container that uses refrigerant to keep a product within a specified temperature and time range; see passive system. (TR58)
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Pallets
Pallets are flat transportation structures that are used in the efficient shipping, warehousing and in-plant distribution of goods. A loaded pallet may be moved using a fork lift or pallet jack. They are usually 48 x 40 inches in dimension. They are most commonly constructed of wood but may be plastic, metal or even paper. (TR55)
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Opportunity Costs
This is defined as the value of the next-best choice available when choosing between several mutually exclusive choices (e.g., the decision to expand a facility may result in losing the opportunity to invest the maintenance funds in the financial markets). Opportunity costs are often excluded from estimates of fixed operation costs because they can be difficult for comparative analyses in the overall decision process. (TR66)
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Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drug Products
Drug products sold in drug stores directly to customers without a physician’s prescription. (TR67)
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Organohalogens
The major organohalogens or organic compounds containing chlorine, bromine or iodine of interest are halophenols and haloanisoles, especially 2,4,6 tricholorophenol (TCP), 2, 4, 6 tribromophenols (TBPs), 2, 4, 6 trichloroanisole (TCA), and 2, 4, 6 tribromoanisole (TBA). (TR55)
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Planning Bill of Materials (BOM)
A complete list of the raw material (chemicals, media, powders, resin, etc.) and consumables/components (filters, bags, tubing, containers, etc.) that are required to manufacture the product. (TR65)
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Platform Manufacturing
Development of a production strategy for a new drug starting from manufacturing processes similar to those used to manufacture other drugs of the same type (the production for which there already exists considerable experience). (TR60)
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Platform-Based Method
Existing method based on the same basic principles and steps as a new method that is required and defined in the design/strategy phase; applies to multiple sample types and requires minimal changes or refinements based on specific product requirements. (TR57-2)
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Plant Utilities
Utilities include pharmaceutical-grade water systems, compressed gases, pharmaceutical-grade air systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and space pressurization. (TR67)
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Microprocessor
One of the five major components of a TCU, the unit interfaces with temperature sensors in the discharge and return air and adjusts the output rate of active cooling or heating to achieve the setpoint temperature. (TR64)
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Moisture Content of Wood
The moisture content of wood is calculated by the following formula: Moisture content = (Mg-Mod)/Mod. Where Mg is the green mass of the wood and Mod is its oven-dry mass (the attainment of constant mass generally after drying in an oven set at 103 ± 2 °C for 24h). The equation can also be expressed as a fraction of the mass of the water and the mass of the oven-dry wood rather than a percentage. For example, 0.59 kg/kg (oven-dry basis) expresses the same moisture content as 59% (oven-dry basis). (TR55)
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Medicinal Product
Any product intended for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease. (TR39)
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Meaningful Disruption
A meaningful disruption is a change in production that is reasonably likely to lead to a reduction in the supply of a drug by a manufacturer that is more than negligible and affects the ability of the manufacturer to fill orders or meet expected demand for its product. A meaningful disruption is not an interruption in manufacturing due to matters such as routine maintenance and does not include insignificant changes in manufacturing so long as the manufacturer expects to resume operations in a short period of time. (TR68)
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Manufacturing
The production, packing, testing, storage, release and distribution of drugs or medical devices for use in humans or animals where the manufacturing is indented to produce doses, typically in significant numbers, for an undefined population of future patients or clinical trial subjects. (TR63)
All operations including purchasing and receipt of materials to production, packaging, labelling, quality control, release, storage, distribution of components and the related controls. (TR 76)
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Medically Necessary Drug
Any drug product used to diagnose, treat, or prevent a serious disease or medical condition for which no other drug is judged to be an appropriate substitute or there is an inadequate supply of an acceptable alternative as determined by the relevant health authority. (TR68)
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Logistics Service Providers (ISP or 3PIs)
Freight forwarders and brokers that assist in moving the product, but may not physically touch the product. (TR52)
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Knowledge Management
Systematic approach to acquiring, analyzing, storing, and disseminating information related to products, manufacturing processes and components (ICH Q10). (TR54) (TR68) (TR54-5)
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ISTA: International Safe Transit Association
World-wide organization that supports its membership in designing and developing effective pre-shipment packaging performance standards, guides, and best practices for product distribution. (TR39)
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Life Supporting or Life Sustaining Drug
Life supporting or life sustaining is used to describe a product that is essential to, or that yields information that is essential to, the restoration or continuation of a bodily function that is important to the continuation of human life. (TR68)
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Incoterms
International commerce terms. These are a series of international sales terms, published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and widely used in international commercial transactions. (TR58)
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Heat-Treated Wood Pallets
Two types of methods to include kiln drying versus steam heat. (TR55)
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Incoming Inspection
A preventative program where parts or products are subjected to evaluation upon receipt.(TR43)
A program where, upon receipt, parts or products are subjected to measuring, examining, testing, or gauging one or more characteristics of a product or service, and comparing the results with specified requirements in order to establish whether conformity is achieved for each characteristic.(TR 76)
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Facilitator
Independent QRM expert who facilitates risk assessment; guides documentation, risk control, and risk review; and helps present risk assessment results and risk control proposals. (TR54-2) (TR54-5)
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Extemporaneous Preparation (EP)
A type of compounding whereby a drug or combination of drugs and/or excipients is prepared under the supervision of a pharmacist to create a customized medication dosage form in accordance with a clinical protocol. (TR63)
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Enabler
A tool or process which provides the means to achieve an objective (ICH Q10). (TR54)
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Economically Motivated Adulteration
The fraudulent, intentional substitution or addition of a substance in a product for the purpose of increasing the apparent value of the product or reducing the cost of its production (i.e., for economic gain). (TR54-3)
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Drug Shortage Prevention & Response Plan
A document that provides a structured action plan to proactively prevent drug shortages and also respond to a shortage in the event that one occurs. (TR68)
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Drug Shortage Risk Register
A single source of information on risks that can result in drug shortages, associated risk levels, risk control actions with owners, status, due dates and residual risk after appropriate risk control actions have been taken. (TR68)
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Decision Maker(s)
Person(s) with the competence and authority to make appropriate and timely quality risk management decisions.(TR54) (TR54-2)
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