Quality Management
cGMP and other higher industry quality standards are an integral part of the comprehensive quality system of DOTTIKON's independent Quality Management department.
DOTTIKON meets the high quality requirements of its customers thanks to the strict adherence to a quality system based on the process approach of ISO 9001:2015, which includes cGMP according to ICH Q7 as well as safety, health and environmental (SHE) protection.
DOTTIKON is authorized by Swissmedic (Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products) to manufacture and sell active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) including liquid and solid dosage forms. It is subject to regular inspections by the Regional Medicines Inspectorate of North-Western Switzerland. The most recent audit was completed in February 2022.
The Quality Management system is based on a 3-level hierarchy
- Quality manual with a general overview and the perspectives of quality management
- Processes and general instructions for the main business processes
- Standard operating procedures with detailed description of each operational step
As part of the company's Quality Management, the Quality Control unit is responsible for testing raw materials, intermediates and final products to ensure compliance with specifications. The process analytics unit is responsible for in-process tests as well as release of cleaning results. The Quality Assurance unit monitors compliance with cGMP requirements such as review of batch records. Activities such as cleaning and process validation are performed by the responsible Quality Management project manager.
Active Substance Master Files (ASMF) or Drug Master Files (DMF) are prepared in the new eCTD format and are registered with the respective authorities worldwide
- In Europe with the EMA (European Medicines Agency) in the 'centralized procedure' and with the several national authorities in the 'national procedure'
- In USA with FDA as Drug Master File Type II
- In Japan with PMDA (Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency)
- In several other countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada
DOTTIKON's most recent FDA inspection was completed in December 2022.
ISO
DOTTIKON complies with the process approach of ISO 9001:2015.
In 1992, DOTTIKON decided to implement a Quality System according to ISO 9001. The subsequent project was successfully completed with the certification according to ISO 9001:1994 in 1994. ISO 9001 is a general quality system which is not especially designed for the chemical or pharmaceutical industry. It defines the framework and allows the company to define its own procedures within this framework. The advantage became even greater with ISO 9001:2000, DOTTIKON ES was able to integrate cGMP as well as safety, health and environmental (SHE) protection requirements into their ISO Quality Management System.
Within this integrated quality system, ISO has the benefit to cover all business areas of a company and to ensure effectiveness and efficiency throughout the whole organization. The most recent recertification according to ISO 9001:2015 took place in October 2021. The strict adherence to ISO 9001:2015, cGMP and SHE requirements allows DOTTIKON to consistently meet the high quality, safety and environmental requirements set by authorities and customers.
cGMP
DOTTIKON is committed to the high cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) standards.
DOTTIKON is authorized by Swissmedic (Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products) to manufacture and sell active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) including liquid and solid dosage forms based on regular inspections by the Regional Medicines Inspectorate of North-Western Switzerland.
The most recent inspection was satisfactorily completed in February 2022. This demonstrates that DOTTIKON is well in compliance with the current GMP regulations according to ICH Q7 (Eudralex, Vol. 4, Part II, PIC/S PE 009-12, Part II) as well as 21 CFR.
cGMP is an integral component of DOTTIKON's Quality System according to ISO 9001:2015. Compliance with cGMP is ensured through a Quality Management System that places special emphasis on equipment qualification and process validation including risk management.
Active Substance Master Files (ASMF) or Drug Master Files (DMF) are prepared in the eCTD format and are registered by the competent authorities worldwide. DOTTIKON is and remains committed to the high established cGMP quality standard and to developing it further in order to continue serving its customers as an approved supplier of products manufactured under cGMP requirements.
FDA
The last US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection was passed in December 2022.
Registered products that are distributed to the US are subject to FDA approval. Part of the FDA's approval process are inspections to determine if the specific products, services and implemented systems are in compliance with the current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
In 1983 the FDA requested the Swiss Authorities to carry out an inspection at DOTTIKON on its behalf in accordance with the terms of the 1968 agreement between the US and Switzerland regarding the inspection of bulk pharmaceuticals.
DOTTIKON's first FDA inspection took place in May 1996 and was followed by subsequent inspections in June 1999, September 2004, October 2007, September 2012, September 2015, July 2017 and December 2022. The eighth and most recent inspection was a five-day routine surveillance inspection, focusing on adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
Based on these FDA inspections, DOTTIKON has registered with the FDA as a facility for manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients. The respective registration number for the facility is FEI 3002806909 (DUNS 48 000 0413). In addition, the initial self-identification of the DOTTIKON site, as required by the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments since 2012 (GDUFA), has successfully passed validation and has also been accepted by the FDA.
DOTTIKON is committed to annually reconfirm the required FDA identification information and will do its utmost to make further improvements to keep up with any new requirements.
Environment
DOTTIKON's environmental protection policy is based on the Responsible Care® and Voluntary Climate Protection program.
As an experienced chemical manufacturer active in the area of Hazardous Reactions, we are convinced that exacting standards are required to protect both human life and nature. Responsible Care® is the chemical industry's global voluntary commitment to continuous improvement in safety, health and environmental performance. Its principles are followed by every employee for the protection of human beings, the environment and all production facilities. DOTTIKON joined the RC program of the Swiss Science Industries in 1992.
The company is aware that its industrial operations and activities can affect the environment. DOTTIKON's policy makes safety, health and environmental protection a top priority. DOTTIKON's aim is to minimize potential risk to the environment by applying the highest technical standards. Efforts in this regard include
- Development of low-waste processes
- In-house treatment of contaminated waste water with a specifically designed activated carbon adsorption process, followed by a final biological treatment in an external municipal waste water treatment plant
- Incineration of toxic waste water incompatible with the activated carbon treatment
- Incineration of waste in compliance with legal requirements in an on-site rotary kiln
- Waste gas treatment in line with chemical, technical and legal requirements
- Water, air and waste monitoring by a specialized in-house laboratory