The pharmaceutical industry is no stranger to complex regulations and compliance requirements. Among them, the Identification of Medicinal Products (IDMP) standards set by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) stand out for their potential transformative power.
The EMA’s new European Shortage Monitoring Platform provides a powerful real-life demonstration of how IDMP data standards have the potential to transform patient care. Starting in February 2025, Marketing Authorisation Holders of medicines on the EMA list of critical medicines will provide data on the supply and availability of critical medicines, helping to prevent shortages in Europe and ensuring patient access to critical medicines.
Beyond compliance, embracing IDMP offers an opportunity to change the game in pharmaceutical operations and patient safety.
IDMP: An Opportunity, Not Just a Requirement
While IDMP compliance is a requirement, it’s crucial to recognize it as more than just a box to tick. By adopting these standards, pharmaceutical companies stand to gain long-term advantages, such as improved data management, efficiency and enhanced patient safety. Optimizing data and processes for IDMP is a real opportunity to advance in those critical areas.
Redefining the Supply Chain
IDMP has the potential to redefine the pharmaceutical supply chain. By enabling precise product identification and tracking, it can provide real-time visibility into product movement and usage. This can significantly enhance supply chain efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure timely delivery of medicines to patients. Imagine the ability to accurately predict and plan for product demand, reducing stockouts and overstocks, and optimizing the supply chain to ensure the right product gets to the right place at the right time.
The EMA’s European Shortage Monitoring Platform (ESMP) aims to use IDMP data standards to monitor and manage the supply of critical medicines. Product information, transformed and enriched from xEVMPD and SIAMED, is provided through SPOR Product Management Service (PMS), aligned with IDMP standards for product information. Data will be drawn from a number of systems at the EMA, National Competent Authorities and supplied by Marketing Authorisation Holders. IDMP Product definitions provide a consistent definition of each medicinal product, allowing data from disparate systems to be linked with ease.
Impacting Accuracy
Implementing IDMP standards into end-to-end processes will enhance the accuracy of data handling. For example, when a shared language is used to describe medicinal products, the chances of misinterpretation and errors reduce dramatically. It facilitates smoother communication both internally and with external stakeholders like regulators or partner organizations.
Powering Cross-functional Collaboration
Uniform data standards like IDMP aren’t just for regulatory affairs – they impact the entire organization. They provide a foundation for cross-functional cooperation, breaking down data silos and enabling departments to work together more effectively. For instance, the product development team will use IDMP-standard substances and terminology codes, allowing an immediate hand-off to the regulatory affairs team. With all teams using the same terms and codes, data discrepancies are identified and corrected quickly. This harmonization can lead to noticeable improvements in productivity and decision-making.
Advancing Patient Safety
The true value of IDMP lies in its potential to enhance patient safety. IDMP was from the start focused on improving pharmacovigilance. A common language for medicinal products means quicker, more efficient adverse event reporting and recall processes. It also reduces potential errors with contraindicated products and ultimately leads to improved public health outcomes.
Catalyzing Innovation
As global IDMP data becomes more robust, it could be an innovation driver. The requirement to streamline and harmonize data could give rise to advances in analytics, artificial intelligence, and other forward-thinking initiatives within the pharmaceutical industry. Companies could leverage AI to sift through IDMP-standardized data to identify trends and anomalies, helping make informed strategic decisions faster and with greater confidence. Imagine a future where data is not only compliant but is leveraged to its full potential to drive growth and innovation.
Creating A Data Goldmine
The comprehensive data management inherent to IDMP could result in a goldmine of insights. With the consistent, structured, and detailed data required for IDMP, pharmaceutical companies will have unprecedented access to their own data assets. By harnessing analytics and machine learning, companies could identify trends, make informed decisions, and uncover hidden opportunities faster and with more precision than ever before. IDMP could, therefore, be the bedrock of a new data-driven era in pharmaceuticals.
Ensuring Sustainability
In a world where sustainability is becoming a critical business concern, IDMP can play a significant role. A harmonized data system allows for increased efficiency, reduced duplication, and waste reduction. This improved process not only benefits the bottom line but also contributes to the broader goal of a sustainable, environmentally conscious pharmaceutical industry.
Preparing for the Shift
Compliance with IDMP is not just an obligation, but a strategic move. Companies that are proactive in preparing for these changes will be better positioned to reap the benefits that come with them. Conversely, non-compliance or last-minute preparation will lead to wasted hours, penalties, or missed opportunities. Organizations should look to develop comprehensive strategies for data management and cross-functional collaboration. Initiating internal audits, aligning IT infrastructures with IDMP standards, and fostering a culture of continuous learning can prove beneficial in the long run.
Final Thoughts
The full potential of IDMP, however, lies in its proper implementation. Pharmaceutical companies have the opportunity to leverage IDMP as a catalyst. But doing so demands preparedness, adaptability, and an innovative mindset. The IDMP transition is coming, and prepared companies will realize the potential to improve accuracy, collaboration, innovation, and ultimately patient safety.
And so, we turn the conversation over to you. What do you see as the potential impact of IDMP on your organization? Are you ready to harness the transformative power of IDMP?
At Ennov, we’ve made it our mission to support this transition. That’s why we’ve developed the EASI Connector, a tool to bridge the gap between existing systems and IDMP compliance, ensuring a smooth transition. It serves as an innovative tool to support companies on their IDMP journey. Watch this on-demand webinar: Ennov’s Agnostic Solution for IDMP, the EASI connector to begin your proactive approach towards IDMP compliance. To learn more about how we can support your journey, please get in touch with us.