244 - 5 Critical Quality Differences Between Drugs and Devices
Subhi Saadeh, a consultant specializing in drug-device combination products, explains five critical quality differences between pharmaceuticals and medical devices. He contrasts the drug industry's focus on consistent manufacturing of clinically proven products (ICH Q8/Q9) with the device industry's emphasis on design robustness and user needs (ISO 13485/14971). The discussion covers divergent approaches to risk management, regulatory submission evidence, and lifecycle change control, urging teams to intentionally integrate these systems rather than forcing one onto the other.