Understanding FDA Pre-Submissions

The FDA Pre-Submission (pre-sub) program is a game-changer for medtech and pharma companies. It allows you to get valuable feedback from the FDA before your actual submission – it’s like having the answers to the test ahead of time. The best part? It’s completely free to submit a Pre-Sub. This step saves time, resources, and helps guide/derisk your submission strategy.

What is a Pre-Submission?

A Pre-Submission is a formal way to get feedback from the FDA. It usually includes written responses and can also involve a one-hour meeting. This helps answer important questions that can impact product development, testing, choice of similar products, or other parts of regulatory submissions like 510(k), De Novo, PMA, or IDE applications.

Benefits of a Pre-Submission

1. Did you know that the FDA strongly recommends taking advantage of a presub opportunity?
It provides an opportunity to discuss specific regulatory questions with the FDA, which can be particularly beneficial for devices using novel technologies or those classified as “first of a kind”.

2. Feedback on Pre-Clinical and Clinical Strategies: During pre-subs, companies often obtain directional feedback on verification and validation testing, which streamlines submissions. The FDA aims to provide feedback within 60 to 75 days of receiving a complete submission package, so it’s crucial to submit a Pre-Sub early in the development process.

Making Your Pre-Submission Impactful

The true impact of a pre-submission is in knowing what questions to pose to the FDA. RLS’s team of experts have the experience to identify the areas that will help eliminate regulatory or clinical risks information, and where the process is most likely to stall due to high-risk questions. We allow manufacturers to align their strategies with FDA expectations, saving time and resources for you to focus on bringing your innovative products to market.

 

 

 

Commericalization GPS

roads representing-commercialization-gps

Envision taking a road trip to an unfamiliar state, navigating solely by your instincts and without a GPS.

Yeah, you may eventually figure it out but at what cost?

This is exactly what many of startups do, and wonder where they went wrong. It sounds blunt but it’s just a fact…

75% of MedTech startups fail!

When launching a new MedTech company or new medical device, make sure you have a GPS. Your commercialization strategy is not accurate if it doesn’t include a comprehensive clinical and regulatory roadmap.

Speed means nothing if you don’t know where you’re going and how you’re getting there.

Complex Landscape of MedTech Startups

medtech-ecosytem-diagram

Let’s delve into the intricate landscape of MedTech startups.

Research indicates a daunting reality, with a staggering 75% of medical device startups in the United States meeting failure. Looking deeper into this statistic, a substantial 30% experience setbacks in their second year, while an even higher 50% succumb to challenges in their fifth year.

The journey of bringing a new medical device to market spans an average of 3-7 years, contingent upon device classification. Key milestones unfold in a strategic sequence over this period…

  • Year 1 – focuses on formation, market and risk analysis, along with fundraising efforts.
  • Year 2 – sees critical developments such as hiring key personnel, product engineering, and additional fundraising initiatives.
  • Years 3 & 4 – involve product validation, commercial strategizing, and Yep, continued fundraising.
  • Years 5 – and beyond, the spotlight shifts to clinical studies and securing FDA approval for market launch.
  • The final phase – encompasses manufacturing and full-scale commercialization.

Contrary to common belief, the primary culprit behind these
failures isn’t the innovation itself, but rather the challenge lies in assembling
the right team with the requisite expertise to navigate the intricate
processes. Issues also arise when funds deplete precisely during clinical execution or due to the failure to construct a robust study, leading to costly rework.

The key takeaway is a recommendation to allocate THREE MONTHS in the second or third year of operation for meticulous strategizing and planning, particularly in the realms of clinical and regulatory considerations for commercial launch.

This proactive investment proves to be invaluable, ensuring a smoother trajectory for startups in the complex medtech ecosystem.