Implementation of a Centralized Pharmacovigilance System in
Multi-Country European Clinical Trials: Points to Consider for Academic
Sponsors and Lessons Learnt from EU-Response and Connect4Children
Consortia
Abstract
Setting-up a high quality and efficient pharmacovigilance (PV) system in
multi-country clinical trials can be more challenging for academic
sponsors than for industrials. Generating high-quality safety data,
compliant with legal and regulatory standards such as European or World
Health Organization (WHO), places special requirements on the PV system.
The scenario becomes more complicated when dealing with multi-country
European clinical trials where heterogeneity on safety process can be
encountered. Some Sponsors face these challenges are even more difficult
for pediatric trials. A possible solution to ensure that the safety of
all participants is equally guaranteed and the PV system fulfills all
regulations could be to set up a centralized PV system. This paper
introduces the key points to consider when implementing and organizing
such system in multi-national European clinical trials. It is based on
the Inserm-ANRS MIE pharmacovigilance department’s experience and aims
to harmonize and anticipate the needs, in particular by implementing
safety procedures and a network of local safety officers. This system is
very useful to respond to the challenges of a European clinical trial,
notably when considering the complexity of local safety requirements of
each country, signal management and the specificities of paediatric
regulation.