Pharmacovigilance for founders & safety leads

Practical PV insights

No jargon for jargon's sake. No generic compliance checklists. Straight answers to the questions small pharma and biotech teams actually ask.

CROOutsourcingICSRCost

The hidden cost of outsourcing PV to a large CRO

Large CROs offer full-service PV at headline prices that look reasonable — until you see the out-of-scope charges, junior staffing, and average 14-day ICSR turnaround times that make inspections uncomfortable.

April 1, 2026·9 min readRead →
QPPVEU RegulationGVPMarketing Authorisation

What is a QPPV and does your biotech need one?

The Qualified Person for Pharmacovigilance is a legal requirement for any company holding an EU marketing authorisation — but QPPVs are expensive, scarce, and poorly understood by most startup leadership teams.

March 18, 2026·8 min readRead →
INDPhase 1FDAClinical Development

Do you need pharmacovigilance before your Phase 1 IND?

Most founders assume PV starts after approval. In reality, the FDA requires a functioning safety system before you enrol your first patient — and the clock starts at IND submission.

March 4, 2026·7 min readRead →
Fractional PVVP Drug SafetyPSMFOutsourcing

What does a fractional VP Pharmacovigilance actually do? A complete guide

Fractional VP of Drug Safety is not a vague consulting arrangement. It is a specific, accountable role with named responsibility in your PSMF. Here is exactly what it involves — and when it makes sense.

February 18, 2026·9 min readRead →
SUSARGCPICH E2AClinical Trials

5 SUSAR reporting mistakes early-stage biotechs make — and how to avoid them

Incorrect or late SUSAR reporting is one of the most common GCP findings at FDA and EMA inspections. These five mistakes show up repeatedly at companies running their first clinical trials.

February 4, 2026·8 min readRead →
EU-RMPEMARisk ManagementMAA

The EU Risk Management Plan: what early-stage pharma needs to know

An EU-RMP is required for every new EU Marketing Authorisation Application. Most early-stage companies first encounter it 6 months before their MAA — far too late. Here is when to start and what it must contain.

January 21, 2026·8 min readRead →
INDFDA21 CFR 312SAE Reporting

IND safety reporting timelines: the 7-day and 15-day rules explained

Missing an IND safety reporting deadline can trigger an FDA clinical hold. Most Phase 1 sponsors understand the rules in theory but make practical mistakes applying them. Here is a clear guide to counting days correctly.

January 7, 2026·7 min readRead →
InspectionGVPEMACompliance

EMA pharmacovigilance inspection readiness: what small biotechs consistently get wrong

EMA conducts routine PV inspections of marketing authorisation holders — and triggered inspections when something goes wrong. Small biotechs consistently make the same five mistakes. Here is how to avoid them.

December 16, 2025·10 min readRead →
EudraVigilanceEMAEU CTRICSR

How to set up EudraVigilance access as a small EU clinical trial sponsor

If you are running a clinical trial in the EU, you need EudraVigilance access to submit SUSARs. The setup process is bureaucratic and takes 8-12 weeks. Here is exactly how to do it before your first patient in.

December 2, 2025·7 min readRead →
DSURICH E2FClinical DevelopmentAnnual Report

The DSUR explained: what Phase 1 and Phase 2 sponsors must know

The Development Safety Update Report is an annual regulatory requirement that most Phase 1 sponsors discover for the first time when they have already missed the first deadline. Here is what it contains and when it is due.

November 18, 2025·8 min readRead →
Signal DetectionGVP Module IXPharmacovigilance

Signal detection in small pharma: what you actually need to do

Signal detection is not just a Big Pharma activity. Phase 2 sponsors have a regulatory obligation to detect, assess, and act on safety signals. Here is a practical framework for companies with limited resources.

November 5, 2025·7 min readRead →
ICSRMedWatchEudraVigilanceSAE

ICSR processing: a practical guide for small pharma sponsors

Individual Case Safety Reports are the backbone of pharmacovigilance. Here is what small pharma and biotech sponsors actually need to know about collecting, assessing, and submitting ICSRs to FDA and EMA.

October 22, 2025·9 min readRead →
PSMFGVPEMACompliance

PSMF: what it is, what goes in it, and why your biotech needs one

The Pharmacovigilance System Master File is a legal requirement for EU marketing authorisation holders. In practice, every clinical-stage company doing EU trials should have one. Here is exactly what goes in it.

October 8, 2025·8 min readRead →