The Wider Use of Fixed-Dose Combinations Emphasizes the Need for a Global Approach to Regulatory Guideline Development

A fixed-dose combination (FDC) is a drug product in which two or more separate drug components (active pharmaceutical ingredients) are combined in a single-dosage form. Interest in developing FDCs is increasing in a range of diseases. This project investigated the regulatory environment for FDCs in the EU and US. A review of the FDC guidelines set forth by the EMA, FDA, and ICH, followed by interviews of key informants in industry, identified 5 main industry concerns related to development of FDCs. These concerns were presented to key informants from both the EU and US regulatory authorities. It was clear from the results that the current regulatory environment for FDCs lacks consistency. This may create a barrier to innovation moving from the laboratory to the clinic, as companies cannot clearly see the development path requirements. This project also highlighted certain challenges that currently face the regulatory world: how to improve the role of regulatory science and provide clear quantification in assessment decisions; the role of guidelines and their impact on innovation; and, most important, the question of globalization and how to move toward a more harmonized regulatory system.