pharmacovigilance working party (phvwp)

The Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) provides recommendations about the risks of medicinal products after their authorisation for the European market. This advice concerns, for example, the evaluation of possible adverse reactions and the risks of medicinal products. The MEB is represented by Sabine Straus (Head of the Pharmacovigilance Department) in this working party of the CHMP in the field of pharmacovigilance. Eugène van Puijenbroek has been appointed an independent expert (co-opted member) of the PhVWP and works as Head of the Analysis Department at the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb.

The PhVWP publishes a monthly report about the most important advices and points of interest from the meetings.

The reports include:

  • information about products that are not authorised through the centralised procedure
  • recommendations to authorisation agencies in the member states concerning the benefits and risks of medicinal products
  • information about discussions concerning the risks of a particular medicinal product
  • definitive guidelines in the field of pharmacovigilance
  • draft guidelines and similar products in the field of pharmacovigilance which are available for consultation
  • contributions of the PhVWP to public meetings or consultations
  • general topics about the organisation of the European authorisation network

Overview of PhVWP-reports

March 2012

Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) March 2012 plenary meeting

Subjects:
Safety concerns

  • Perfalgan (paracetamol) 10 mg/ml solution for infusion – Risk of medication errors resulting in overdose
  • Proton-pump inhibitors – Risk of bone fracture
  • SSRIs – Update of product information to reflect animal data on the effect on sperm quality and an evaluation of its human relevance
  • Lovastatin – Risk of new onset diabetes

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February 2012

Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) February 2012 plenary meeting

Subjects:
Safety concerns

  • Docetaxel Actavis – Risk of infusion site reactions

Guidelines and general matters

  • Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP) for the EU – Release for public consultation

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January 2012

Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) January 2012 plenary meeting

Subjects:
Safety concerns

  • Ethinylestradiol + drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives (Yasmin, Yasminelle and other products) – Risk of venous thromboembolism

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December 2011

Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) December 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:
Safety concerns

  • Gonatropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists – Risk of depression
  • HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors – Risk of new onset diabetes
  • Methotrexate – Risk of overdose due to erroneous daily intake of the weekly dose in rheumatologic and dermatologic indications
  • Montelukast – Risk of psychiatric adverse reactions in children
  • Proton-pump inhibitors – Risk of hypomagnesaemia with long-term use

Guidelines and general matters

  • Work Plan for the CHMP Pharmacovigilance Working Party 2012
  • CHMP Guideline on Immunogenicity Assessment of Monoclonal Antibodies Intended for In-vivo Clinical Use

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November 2011

Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) November 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns

  • Atomoxetine – Updated information on effects on blood pressure and heart rate
  • Escitalopram – Risk of QT interval prolongation
  • Rosuvastatin - Risk of gynaecomastia
  • Tibolone – Risk of venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, breast cancer and ovarian cancer
  • Topiramate – Updated information on risk of congenital malformations

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October 2011
> download Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) October 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns 

  • Antiepileptics – Risk of bone disorder
  • Citalopram – Risk of QT interval prolongation
  • Domperidone - Risk of cardiac disorders

Guidelines and general matters

  • ICH Implementation Guide (ICH-E2B(R3)) for the International Standard for the Electronic Transmission of Individual Case Safety Reports

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September 2011
> download Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) September 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns 

  • Active substances with a known risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (allopurinol, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, meloxicam, piroxicam, tenoxicam, nevirapine, sulfadiazine, sulfadoxine, sulfafurazole, sulfamethoxazol and sulfasalazine)

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July 2011
> download Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) July 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns 

  • Antipsychotics - Risk of extrapyramidal effects and withdrawal symptoms in newborns after exposure during pregnancy
  • Fusidic acid - Risk of rhabdomyolysis due to interaction with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
  • Plantago ovata (syn.: P.isphagula) - Risk of allergic reactions after prolonged occupational exposure
  • Reboxetine - Confirmation of positive benefit-risk balance

Guidelines and general matters

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June 2011
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) June 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns 

  • Beta-blockers for ophthalmic use – Risk of systemic adverse reactions.
  • GEMCITABINE ACTAVIS – Risk of adverse reactions due to increased alcohol concentration after reconstitution error.
  • Hydrochlorothiazide – Use during breast-feeding.
  • Testosterone 10% for topical use – Risk of virilisation in children after exposure through interpersonal skin contact.

Guidelines and general matters

  • Meetings of the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) in June 2011.
  • Guide on the interpretation of spontaneous case reports of suspected adverse reactions to medicines.
  • Study of influential stakeholders’ expectations and attitudes regarding benefit-risk communication by the European Medicines Agency.
  • Driving under the Influence of Drugs, Alcohol and Medicines - The Integrated Project DRUID under the European Commission’s 6th Framework Programme.

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May 2011
> download Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) May 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns  

  • Ethinylestradiol + drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives (YASMIN, YASMINELLE and other products) – Risk of venous thromboembolism.
  • Yttrium citrate (90Y) – Risk of osteonecrosis with injection for inflammatory  rheumatism of the knee.

Guidelines and general matters

  • New term of PhVWP Patient Observers.

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April 2011
> download Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) April 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns  

  • Bricanyl Turbohaler (terbutaline) - Effect of physical impact on accuracy of dose delivery and recommended 100 dose pack size
  • Isotretinoin – Risk of psychiatric reactions

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March 2011
> download Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) March 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns 

  • High-ceiling diuretics - Evidence does not confirm risk of basal cell

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Februari 2011
> download   Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) Februari 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns

  • Montelukast – Reports of psychiatric and behaviour-related adverse reactions
  • Paracetamol – Available evidence does not support a causal relationship between paracetamol and asthma in children after exposure in pregnancy or use in early infancy

Guidelines en general matters

  • European Medicines Agency’s Transatlantic Workshop on Drug-Related Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

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Januari 2011
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) Januari 2011 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns

  • Insulin products – Consistent product information regarding the risk of heart failure with concomitant use of pioglitazone

Guidelines and general matters

  • New legislation for pharmacovigilance in the European Union

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December 2010
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) December 2010 plenary meeting

Subjects:

Safety concerns

  • Fluoroquinolones – Risk of QT interval prolongation

Guidelines and general matters

  • Work plan for the CHMP Pharmacovigilance Working Party 2011
  • Meetings of the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) in November 2010

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November 2010
> download   Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) November 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

Safety concerns

  • Corticosteroids for inhalational or intranasal use – Risk of psychiatric, behavioural and other systemic adverse reactions

Guidelines and general matters

  • European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology and
    Pharmacovigilance (ENCePP)
  • Research on Direct Healthcare Professional Communications (DHPCs) in the Netherlands

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Oktober 2010
> download   Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) October 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

Safety concerns

  • Adrenaline-containing auto-injectors EPIPEN/ALTELLUS – Risk of failure of self-injection due to labelling
  • Bisphosphonates for oral use – Risk of oesophageal irritation but insufficient evidence to conclude a causal relationship with oesophageal cancer
  • Long-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist bronchodilators formoterol and salmeterol – Review of safety in the management of asthma

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September 2010
> download   Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) September 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

Safety concerns

  • Benzydamine – Risk of adverse reactions after incorrect oral intake
  • Lamotrigine – Risk of aseptic meningitis
  • Tamoxifen – Risk of reduced therapeutic response in patients who are poor CYP2D6 metabolisers or use medicines inhibiting CYP2D6

Guidelines and general matters

  • Election of PhVWP Vice-Chairperson
  • New legislation for pharmacovigilance in the European Union
  • 1st EMA Scientific Workshop on Nanomedicines on 2-3 September 2010

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August 2010
> download   Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) September 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

Safety concerns

  • Benzydamine – Risk of adverse reactions after incorrect oral intake
  • Lamotrigine – Risk of aseptic meningitis
  • Tamoxifen – Risk of reduced therapeutic response in patients who are poor CYP2D6 metabolisers or use medicines inhibiting CYP2D6

Guidelines and general matters

  • Election of PhVWP Vice-Chairperson
  • New legislation for pharmacovigilance in the European Union
  • 1st EMA Scientific Workshop on Nanomedicines on 2-3 September 2010

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July 2010
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) July 2010 plenary meeting 

subjects:

PhVWP discussions on safety concerns

  • Camphor for external or inhaled use – Risk of toxic effects after accidental oral intake
  • Isotretinoin for oral use – Risk of erythema multiforme, Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

Guidelines and general matters

  • Medical Dictionary for Drug Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) – List of Important Medical Event Terms (IME)
  • European Programme in Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology (Eu2P)

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June 2010
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) June 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

PhVWP discussions on safety concerns

  • Cisplatin – Risk of increased ototoxicity in patients with genetic variants of TMPT and COMT

Guidelines and general matters

  • CMD(h) & PhVWP Best Practice Guide on Communication and Implementation of Safety Information

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May 2010
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) May 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

PhVWP discussions on safety concerns

  • Low-molecular-weight iron dextran – Risk of allergic reactions
  • Rosuvastatin – Risk of diabetes

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April 2010
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) April 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

PhVWP discussions on safety concerns

  • Dipyridamole in combination with acetylsalicylic acid – No evidence for increased risk of ischaemic stroke versus acetylsalicylic acid alone in the European population
  • Latanoprost – No evidence for risk of malignant melanomas of the eye and skin

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March 2010
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) March 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

PhVWP discussions on safety concerns

  • Antidepressants – Risk of bone fractures
  • Isotretinoin for oral use – Risk of erythema multiforme
  • Lamotrigine – No evidence of increased risk of fatal liver failure
  • Omeprazole and esomeprazole – Risk of reduced plasma levels of clopidogrel due to interaction
  • PERFALGAN (paracetamol) 10 mg/ml solution for infusion – Risk of dosing errors in infants resulting in overdose with serious outcome
  • Serotonergic antidepressants – Risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
  • YASMIN/YIRA (ethinylestradiol 30μg + drospirenone) – Risk of venous thromboembolism

Guidelines and general matters

  • CHMP Guideline on Duplicate Detection and Management of Individual Cases and Individual Case Safety Reports

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February 2010
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) February 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

PhVWP discussions on safety concerns

  • Fluoxetine – Risk of cardiovascular birth defects

Guidelines and general matters

  • Pharmacovigilance for medicinal products used against novel Influenza A (H1N1) virus
  • Appointment of three new Co-opted PhVWP Members

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January 2010
> download  Monthly Report - Pharmacovigilance Working Party (PhVWP) January 2010 plenary meeting

subjects:

PhVWP discussions on safety concerns

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy containing oestrogen with and without progesterone – 3rd revision of Core Summary of Product Characteristics
  • Salmon calcitonin – No association with progression of prostate cancer
  • Valproic acid – Interaction with carbapenems

Guidelines and general matters

  • Pharmacovigilance for medicinal products used against novel Influenza A (H1N1) virus

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