31/07/2025
Expect these common questions during interviews and audits 👇👇
🎯 Ace your next regulatory interview for the US & EU by demonstrating knowledge
🧾 What is a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA)?
The MAA is a formal request to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or national authorities to approve a medicinal product for marketing in the European Economic Area (EEA) — including all 27 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
A successful MAA leads to the Marketing Authorisation (MA) — legally allowing the product to be placed on the market.
🔄 Types of EU Approval Procedures for MAA
The route you choose depends on the product type, target countries, and legal eligibility. There are four main routes:
1. ✅ Centralised Procedure (CP)
📌 Mandatory for: Biologics, Advanced Therapies, and Orphan Drugs
New Active Substances for: HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative, auto-immune, and viral diseases Products made using biotech processes (e.g., recombinant DNA) Medicines for rare diseases (Orphan Designation)
📝 Submit to EMA.
Evaluation done by CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use).
Approval by the European Commission. One single marketing authorisation valid in all EU/EEA countries.
2. 🌍 Decentralised Procedure (DCP)
📌 For products not yet authorised in any EU country
When simultaneous approval in multiple EU countries is desired for generic drugs, well-established use, or products not falling under Centralised
📝Choose a Reference Member State (RMS) and Concerned Member States (CMSs). Submit dossier to all states at once. RMS leads scientific review and shares with CMSs. If consensus is reached, each country grants national MA.
3. 🔁 Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP)
📌For products already approved in one EU country (RMS)
You want to extend approval to other EU/EEA states (CMS)
📝 Submit the existing MA and data to additional countries.
RMS shares original assessment report. If CMSs accept it, national approvals are granted.
4. EU National Procedure
📌Only when the product will be marketed in one country.
Each country has its own specific rules (e.g., Germany – BfArM, France – ANSM, etc.)
💬Comment: "Free session"
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