Article: GDP - The Critical Link in Maintaining Quality from GMP to the Patient
By Michael Fleischer
Cell and gene therapies are manufactured to good manufacturing practice (GMP) and administered, through clinical trials, under good clinical practice (GCP). To maintain a quality product they should also be transported, globally, under good distribution practice (GDP). To achieve this, World Courier has attained global GDP certification throughout our office network against three major GDP standards, EU GDP, USP 1079 and WHO GDP [1].
1 European Union (EU GDP Guidelines), United States Pharmacopeia (USP 1079) and World Health Organization (WHO GDP).
WHO Technical report 937, annex 5, 2006
"The quality of pharmaceutical products can be affected by a lack of adequate control over the numerous activities which occur during the distribution process."
Process
GDP guidelines regulate the distribution of medicinal products from the manufacturer to the patient. However, transport is generally not covered by national regulatory authorities. The accreditation is therefore awarded by DQS, a leading certification body for management systems worldwide, and is based on a six–month long evaluation process, during which a team of DQS auditors analysed World Courier’s transportation, handling and storage
processes, and tested them against the relevant guidelines.
WHO technical report 957, annex 5, 2010
"Distribution is an important activity in the integrated supply-chain management of pharmaceutical products."
World Courier
World Courier connects therapies to patients. We comply with GxP standards, throughout our 140+ owned office network, have a cell and gene therapy dedicated business unit, and a track record of managing clinical and commercial scale therapies.
Building on successes in supporting cell and gene therapy developers, we have built a logistics platform that enables innovators to quickly utilize the capability of World Courier and distribute life changing therapies.
who technical report 957, annex 5, 2010
"The nature of risks involved is likely to be similar to that for risks encountered in the Manufacturing environment."
Beyond GxP
Our GxP (Good Practice) policy is founded on the established precepts of Good Distribution Practice (GDP), Good Storage Practice (GSP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP). GxP is more than a certificate, but a way of thinking and operating. World Courier, therefore, also operates to ICH Q10 – ISO certifications, SOP framework, a comprehensive training system, Overarching Management Review, Continuous Improvement, all supported by a Performance Review Program.
