#401: FDA’s Vital Role in ISO Standards: Ensuring Global MedTech Integrity

Global Medical Device Podcast · 10 Apr 2025 · 48m · Episode 401

What this episode covers

Sarah Moeller, co-chair of ISO Working Group 4 and regulatory expert, discusses the critical role of the FDA in shaping global medical device standards, specifically ISO 14155 and ISO 18969. She highlights the challenges posed by the FDA's temporary withdrawal from standards-writing committees due to administrative changes and the potential risks to global harmonization and patient safety. Moeller advocates for maintaining FDA engagement, understanding the impact of MDUFA fees, and encourages industry professionals to contact their congressional representatives to support regulatory infrastructure.

Mentioned

Companies
Greenlight Guru, Medtronic, Abbott, Boston Scientific
Also
ISO 14155, ISO 18969, FDA, MDUFA, PDUFA, EU MDR

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Let's Combinate · 31m

    132 - IEC 60601, A Life Without Standards, Evolution of Standards, Standards Development, and Emerging Technologies with Leo Eisner

    Leo Eisner, founder of Eisner Safety Consultants, discusses the evolution and maintenance of medical device standards like IEC 60601, ISO 13485, and ISO 14971. He explains the distinction between IEC (electrical) and ISO (general/quality) standards, the challenges of auditing, and the bias in standards development voting. Eisner highlights the chaos of having no standards versus the handcuffs of having too many, noting the difficulty in pruning obsolete standards and the rise of new technologies like AI and cybersecurity in standards.

  • Let's Combinate · 17m

    189 - FDA, ISO, ICH, USP, PDA - What Are These Groups and Why Do They Matter?

    Host Subhi Saadeh breaks down the five categories of organizations that influence regulations for combination products: regulatory authorities like the FDA and EMA, harmonization bodies such as ICH and IMDRF, standards organizations including ISO and ASTM, pharmacopoeias like the USP, and industry groups like PDA and MDIC. He explains how to distinguish between legally binding requirements, such as 21 CFR 820, and consensus-driven best practices that fill regulatory gray areas. Saadeh emphasizes that understanding the source of a document helps professionals determine its weight in product development and quality systems.

  • Let's Combinate · 47m

    081 - ISO TC 84, ISO11608, Committee Work and Advancing the State of the Art with Bob Nesbitt

    Bob Nesbitt, Chair of ISO TC 84 and Senior Director at AbbVie, explains the structure and evolution of international standards for drug-device combination products, including ISO 11608 for needle-based injectors and ISO 21649 for needle-free systems. He details the governance model involving AAMI, ANSI, and ISO, emphasizing the 'Crazy Bob' heuristic used to ensure patient safety by anticipating misuse. Nesbitt discusses the expansion of TC 84’s scope from early pen injectors to complex on-body delivery systems and the integration of usability and risk management into these standards.

  • Let's Combinate · 10m

    198 - QMSR Explained, ISO 13485 Compared, and 5 Key Things You Might’ve Missed

    Subhi Saadeh, host of Let's Combinate and Quality Professional, breaks down five critical aspects of the FDA's new Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR). He explains that while QMSR harmonizes with ISO 13485, it retains 21 CFR 820 with FDA-specific overlays like UDI and complaint handling, and removes previous exemptions for certain manufacturers. Saadeh emphasizes that risk management remains mandatory despite not being explicitly named in the text, and warns that companies must complete gap assessments and training before the February 2, 2026 compliance deadline.

  • Let's Combinate · 54m

    003 - “Standard Understanding” with Mark Swanson

    Mark Swanson, President of QRx Partners, discusses his extensive background in medical device quality, including his work on the ISO 13485:2016 revision and ISO 9001:2015 standards. He explains the consensus-driven process of writing international standards, highlighting the semantic challenges of terms like 'and/or' and the specific risk definitions in medical device regulations versus generic business standards. Swanson also details the practical implications of ISO 13485 certification for small to mid-sized companies, weighing the $30,000 annual cost against regulatory requirements and market access.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Global Medical Device Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.