SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO FEEDBACK FROM PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED REGULATION FOR CELL, TISSUE AND GENE THERAPY PRODUCTS UNDER THE HEALTH PRODUCTS ACT
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) initiated a Public Consultation from 6 November to 27 November 2020 on the 2 new pieces of legislation for Cell, Tissue and Gene Therapy Products (CTGTP):
a. Proposed Health Products Act (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2020; and
b. Proposed Health Products Act (Cell, Tissue and Gene Therapy Products) Regulations 2020
2. A total of 83 responses from 18 respondents were received at the close of the Public Consultation. The summaries of the respondents and feedback by category are provided in Table 1 and Table 2.
3. Most of the feedback on the 2 pieces of legislation for CTGTP sought clarifications on the definitions of various terminologies, classification of CTGTP, licensing conditions and duties, post market requirements, import and supply of an unregistered CTGTP, and impact to CTGTP that were allowed under the current Medical Devices Special Access Route (MDSAR). HSA has compiled a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) based on the responses received. Click here to access the FAQ through HSA's website.
4. The feedback and comments received on the technical guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Distribution Practice related to CTGTP will be taken into consideration as we refine these guidelines.
5. HSA would like to thank all stakeholders who have participated in the public consultation and prior focus group discussions related to the CTGTP regulations. The feedback received has helped to refine the proposed Regulations to facilitate patients’ access to medically important therapies that meet the appropriate standards of safety, efficacy and quality.
EALTH PRODUCTS REGULATION GROUP
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
6 JANUARY 2021
Introduction
1. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA), a statutory board of the Ministry of Health (MOH), invites stakeholders to provide feedback on the following 2 new pieces of legislation:
(A) Proposed Health Products Act (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2020; and
(B) Proposed Health Products (Cell, Tissue and Gene Therapy Products) Regulations 2020.
2. The Health Products Act (HPA) provides the legislative and licensing framework for different categories of health products. Currently, medical devices, cosmetic products, therapeutic products and oral dental gums are regulated under the HPA. HSA is introducing a new category of health products, namely cell, tissue and gene therapy products (CTGTP), in the First Schedule to the HPA.
3. CTGTP comprising stem cells, tissues and genetically modified organisms are a new class of health products. Cells and tissues can be engineered to grow healthy and functional tissues to reconstruct, regenerate or repair damaged tissues or organs; or new genes introduced into the body to treat or cure diseases. This area of therapy is developing rapidly and has the potential to transform the current practice of medicine and offer potential cures for chronic and debilitating diseases.
(A) Proposed Health Products Act (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2020
Overview of the proposed regulations
Risk-based product classification and controls
7. CTGTP will be risk-stratified into two classes as follows:
Licensing controls for dealers
8. The level of control for the activities of manufacture, import and supply is calibrated to the degree of manipulation of the product. CTGTP that are minimally manipulated have a lower risk and are subjected to minimal controls as they pose less risk and patient safety concerns. CTGTP that are more than minimally manipulated may carry significant risk regarding unintended tumour formation, immune rejection, genome integration and potential environmental contamination. Hence, rigorous assessment that is relevant to the manufacturing process for CTGTP that are more than minimally manipulated will be required.
9. A risk-based licensing approach based on the degree of manipulation of the CTGTP is proposed (see Table 1). Manufacturers, importers and wholesalers handling minimally manipulated CTGTP will not require dealers’ licences but will be required to notify HSA of their activities. They will be required to comply with the respective manufacturer’s, importer’s and wholesaler’s duties and obligations as specified in the CTGTP Regulations. These requirements include maintaining the appropriate quality standards (Table 1), record keeping, safety reporting, product defect reporting and ensuring traceability of the product.
10. For manufacturers, importers and wholesalers handling CTGTP that are more than minimally manipulated, the respective dealers’ licences (manufacturer’s, importer’s and wholesaler’s licences) will apply. HSA will conduct pre-approval audit assessment of the dealer to the appropriate quality standard (Table 1) before issuing the respective licences. Pre-approval audit assessment will entail the assessment of the manufacturer’s quality management system to ensure that CTGTP are consistently manufactured in accordance to quality standards. The assessment of the distribution practices of the importer and wholesaler is to ensure that the quality and integrity of the products are maintained during handling, storage and distribution. The licensee has to comply with the duties and obligations specified in the CTGTP Regulations. For information on good distribution practice and CTGTP good manufacturing practice standards, please refer to the attached guidance documents.
Table 1: Dealer’s licences and applicable quality standards for dealers of CTGTP
Product registration
11. The risk classification of CTGTP described in paragraph 7 will be used to determine the registration requirements as summarised below:
Clinical trials
12. A risk-based approach will be taken for the regulation of clinical trials of CTGTP.
14. Clinical trials of Class 1 CTGTP will not be regulated by HSA. Such research will be regulated under the Human Biomedical Research Act and must be conducted under the supervision of a research institution (RI) that has notified MOH of its operation. The research must also be reviewed and approved by the RI’s appointed Institutional Review Board.
Other requirements
15. All dealers and product registrants must comply with the duties and obligations prescribed in the regulations such as with respect to labelling, reporting of defects and serious adverse effects, and notification of product recalls.
16. Requirements that are unique to CTGTP include having a traceability system to enable bi-directional tracking of CTGTP from the point of sourcing, through manufacturing, up to the administration of the product to the patient and vice versa. Dealers and product registrants should maintain the records of traceability for 30 years after the expiry of the product.
17. Prior to the use of any unregistered Class 2 CTGTP, healthcare practitioners shall inform and obtain consent from the patient/legal guardian that the product is not registered with HSA and not evaluated for its quality, safety and efficacy.
18. HSA welcomes feedback on the proposed CTGTP Regulations. This consultation will be from 6 November 2020 to 27 November 2020.
19. Please provide your name, the organisation you represent, contact number and email address if you would like us to follow up with you to clarify your enquiries. Where possible, you should highlight the provisions in the proposed draft Regulations for which you are providing feedback.
20. Please note that the contents of any written feedback submitted, and the identity of the source, may be disclosed at the conclusion of this consultation. You may request for the feedback provided to be treated with confidence if the information is proprietary, confidential or commercially sensitive. Such requests will be taken into consideration.
21. Please provide your feedback by 27 November 2020 (Friday). Scan the QR code below or click HERE to access the feedback form.
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
6 NOVEMBER 2020
1 Under the Healthcare Services Act under the Ministry of Health, the administration of any CTGTPs for a clinical (non-research) purpose will be a licensable healthcare service that is expected to take effect in Q1 2023. In the meantime, all healthcare institutions and healthcare professionals in Singapore should abide by MOH’s current requirements for CTGTPs, such as any MOH directives under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act.