A Comparative Study of the Regulatory Landscape for Pre-filled Syringes (PFS) in the Philippines and Uganda

  • Bhumi Solanki K.B. Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research
  • Maitreyi Zaveri Department of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, K. B. Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, A constituent college of Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya, Gate No 1, Kadi Campus Rd, Sector 23, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382016
  • Zuki Patel Department of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, K. B. Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, A constituent college of Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya, Gate No 1, Kadi Campus Rd, Sector 23, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382016
  • Vinit Movaliya Department of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, K. B. Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, A constituent college of Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya, Gate No 1, Kadi Campus Rd, Sector 23, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382016
  • Rahul Nayak Makcur Laboratory Pvt. Ltd., Near Sola Bridge, SG Highway, Thaltej, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India 380013.
  • Niranjan Kanaki Department of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, K. B. Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, A constituent college of Kadi Sarva Vishwavidyalaya, Gate No 1, Kadi Campus Rd, Sector 23, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382016

Abstract

The regulatory approval of pharmaceutical products like Pre-filled Syringes (PFS) differs significantly among various international health authorities due to the format of the dossier, the time taken to evaluate the product, and the legal requirements that must be fulfilled. This paper seeks to compare the registration procedures of the National Drug Authority (NDA) of Uganda, which follows a five-module format of the Common Technical Document (CTD), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines, which follows the ASEAN format of the Asian Common Technical Dossier (CTD) comprising four parts. Unlike the NDA of Uganda, which regulates the Ugandan market, where 90% of the drugs used are imported, the FDA of the Philippines requires a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) to market a product.


Conclusion: Regulatory approval for pre-filled syringes varies between Uganda and the Philippines in dossier format, timelines, and legal requirements. Uganda follows a five-module CTD, while the Philippines uses the ASEAN ACTD and requires a Certificate of Product Registration.

Keywords: Pre-filled Syringe (PFS), Uganda, Philippines, NDA, FDA Philippines, CTD, ACTD

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Huma T, Peng Z. Introduction to regulatory affairs and different regulatory bodies for pharmaceutical products and the impact of digitalization on regulatory affairs. PharmacolPharm[Internet]. 2023[Cited 2026 Jan 27];14:463–477. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.4236/pp.2023.1411030
2. Gupta A, Rai S. Regulatory dossier submission in India. Asian J Pharm Res Dev[Internet]. 2015[cited 2026 Jan 27];3(4):1–8. Available from:
https://www.ajprd.com
3. Jordan D. An overview of the Common Technical Document (CTD) regulatory dossier. Med Writ [Internet]. 2014[cited 2026 Jan 27];23 (2):101–105. Available from:
https://doi.org/10 .1179/2047480614Z.000000000207
4. Makwana S, Basu B, Makasana Y, Dharamsi A. Prefilled syringes: An innovation in parenteral packaging. Int J Pharm Investig[Internet].2011[cited 2026 Jan 27];1(4):200–206. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-973X.93004
5. Sassalos TM, Paulus YM. Prefilled syringes for intravitreal drug delivery. Clin Ophthalmol[Internet].2019; [cited 2026 Jan 27];13 :701–706. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S179442.
6. Ingle RG, Agarwal AS. Pre-filled syringe drug delivery system: a review. Expert Opin Drug Deliv[Internet].2014[cited 2026 Jan 27];11(9):[1391–1399.Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1517/17425247.2014.918101.
7. Sacha G, Rogers JA, Miller RL. Pre-filled syringes: a review of the history, manufacturing, and challenges. Pharm Dev Technol[Internet].2015[cited 2026 Jan 29];20(1):1–11 Available from:
https://doi.org/10.3109/10837450.2013.879932.
8. Jerry N, Patravale VB. Prefilled syringes: a comprehensive overview. APTI Women’s Forum Newsletter [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2026 Jan 29];1(2):30–35.Available from:
https://www.aptiindia.org.
9. Lubowa N, Ekeocha Z, Byrn S, Clase K. Pharmaceutical industry in Uganda: a review of the common GMP non-conformances during regulatory inspections. BIRS Afr Tech Rep[Internet]. 2021[cited 2026 Jan 26]; Paper 10. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284317442
10. Brhlikova P, Maigetter K, Murison J, Agaba AG, Tusiimire J, Pollock AM. Registration and local production of essential medicines in Uganda. J Pharm Policy Pract[Internet].2020; [cited 2026 Jan 29];13(1):31. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-020-00234-2
11. Green A, Lyus R, Ocan M, Pollock AM, Brhlikova P. Registration of essential medicines in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda: a retrospective analysis. J R Soc Med[Internet]. 2023[cited 2026 Jan 29];116(10):331–342.Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1177/01410768231181263
12. National Drug Authority (UG). Good manufacturing practice, the WHO prequalification scheme, and other quality assurance mechanisms. Presented at: Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (PHARMEXCIL)[Internet]. 2016 Feb 8–10; Hyderabad, India. Kampala: National Drug Authority; 2016[cited 2026 Jan 29]. Available from:
https://www.nda.or.ug
13. Jordan D. An overview of the Common Technical Document (CTD) regulatory dossier. Med Writ[Internet].2014[cited 2026 Jan 29];23(2):101–105. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.1179/2047480614Z.000000000207
14. Uganda National Drug Authority. Guidelines on submission of documentation for registration of a pharmaceutical product for human use in Uganda [Internet]. Doc No.: PAR/GDL/004. Kampala: NDA; 2023[cited 2026 Jan 29]. Available from:
https://www.nda.or.ug
15. National Drug Authority (UG). Good manufacturing practice, the WHO prequalification scheme, and other quality assurance mechanisms. Presented at: Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (PHARMEXCIL) [Internet]. 2016 Feb 8–10; Hyderabad, India. Kampala: National Drug Authority; 2016[cited 2026 Jan 29]. Available from:
https://www.nda.or.ug
16. Patel R, Patel A, Gohil T. Regulatory requirement for the approval of a generic drug in Cambodia as per ASEAN Common Technical Dossier (ACTD). Int J Drug RegulAff[Internet]. 2018[cited 2026 Jan 29];6(2):67–71. Available from:
http://ijdra.com/index.php/journal/article/view/245
17. Sai Bhavana J, Venkata Sowmya M, Bonthagarala B, Ramakrishna G, Nagabhushanam MV, Nagarjuna Reddy D. Regulatory requirements for registration of drugs in ASEAN countries[cited 2026 Jan 29] World J Pharm Res[Internet]. 2019[cited 2026 Jan 29];8(10):396–407. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr201910-15640
18. Venkateswarlu B, Nagarjuna D, Ramaiah M, Nagabhushanam M, Akram MV. Regulatory requirements for the registration of generic solid orals in the USA, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. J Glob Trends Pharm Sci[Internet]. 2014[cited 2026 Jan 29];5(4):2225–2232. Available from:
http://www.jgtps.com
19. Jaikumar P, Jaganathan K, Senthilkumar B, Vijayamirtharaj R. Comparison of administrative information (Module 1) in East African countries. World J Pharm Res[Internet]. 2024 [cited 2026 Jan 29];13(17):383–393. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpr202417-33768
20. Mohit, Deep A, Khurana G, Kumar J, Monga A. Comparison of regulatory requirements for registration of pharmaceutical drugs in ASEAN and GCC regions. Appl Clin Res Clin Trials RegulAff [Internet]. 2019[cited 2026 Jan 29];6(1):62–70. Available from:
https://doi.org/10.2174/2213476X0666619012814552
Statistics
43 Views | 44 Downloads
How to Cite
1.
Solanki B, Zaveri M, Patel Z, Movaliya V, Nayak R, Kanaki N. A Comparative Study of the Regulatory Landscape for Pre-filled Syringes (PFS) in the Philippines and Uganda. Int J Drug Reg Affairs [Internet]. 2026Jun.15 [cited 2026Jul.10];14(2):38-4. Available from: https://www.ijdra.com/index.php/journal/article/view/883

Most read articles by the same author(s)