Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to main navigation

FDA: 2024 Report on the State of Pharmaceutical Quality

According to the report, FDA’s catalog listed 4,619 manufacturing sites worldwide, 41% of which are based in the United States. Inspection activity continued to rise, with 972 drug quality assurance inspections, a 27% increase from FY2023, and a record 198 inspections conducted under Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA). More than 62% of inspections were carried out at foreign sites – the highest share to date.

The FDA’s product catalog also expanded, now including 14,168 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs), 3,625 New Drug Applications (NDAs), and 383 Biologics License Applications (BLAs), with biosimilars increasing by 47% compared to FY2023. Postmarket quality defect reports decreased slightly to 16,837, with fewer Field Alert Reports but more Biological Product Deviation Reports.

Regulatory actions included 75 new import alerts, mostly for OTC manufacturers (65 %). The largest percentage of these import alert additions were associated with sites in China (39%), India (13%), and Europe (13%).

421 products were recalled, the lowest in five years. Recalls related to CGMP deficiencies represented 24% of the recalls – in contrast to 50% for FY2020-FY2023. Countries with the highest number of sites identified as responsible for FY2024 recalls were the U.S. (48%) and India (41%).

At the same time, FDA issued 105 warning letters, the highest number since FY2019, driven by intensified inspections. The countries with the highest number of warning were the US (41), China (13), and India (12).


Source:

FDA: CDER/Report on the State of Pharmaceutical Quality


Meet the GMP Compliance Adviser

The GMP Compliance Adviser is the world's largest knowledge portal for quality management in the pharma business. 

The demo access is non-binding and ends automatically.

Test it now for free

You may also be interested in the following articles:

Swissmedic Updates Guidance on GMP Compliance of Foreign Manufacturers

Swissmedic Updates Guidance on GMP Compliance of Foreign Manufacturers

Swissmedic has revised its guidance document “GMP compliance by foreign manufacturers”. The new Version 7.0 has been valid since 7 September 2026. In particular, it introduces new provisions for demonstrating the GMP compliance of manufacturers inspected by the US FDA. 
Read more
Swissmedic Updates Requirements for Cooperation with Pre-Wholesalers

Swissmedic Updates Requirements for Cooperation with Pre-Wholesalers

Swissmedic has revised its Technical Interpretation “Market release and distribution in cooperation with a pre-wholesaler”. The document addresses market release and distribution where a Marketing Authorisation Holder works with a pre-wholesaler (logistics and distribution service provider).
Read more
News: Europe

IPEC Updates Two Guides on Pharmaceutical Excipients

The IPEC Federation has updated two key guides on pharmaceutical excipients. The IPEC Composition Guide for Pharmaceutical Excipients (Version 3, 2026) describes an approach for manufacturers to establish excipient composition profiles. The revised version now covers biotechnology- and fermentation-derived excipients, provides further details on component types and physicochemical characterisation, and includes an example composition profile template.
Read more
Applying the FDA’s 7-Step Model for AI/ML Validation in GMP Environments: One Year Later

Applying the FDA’s 7-Step Model for AI/ML Validation in GMP Environments: One Year Later

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in GMP-regulated environments, presenting companies with new regulatory challenges. This article summarizes the latest regulatory developments, introduces a validation framework based on the FDA's seven-step model, and outlines initial practical experience with AI/ML validation.

Read more
Question of the Week | GMP-Verlag

What are the General Requirements for Standard Documents?

Here's the answer:
Read more
News: Europe

EDQM: Revised Guidance on Sister File Applications

The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) has revised its Guidance on applications for “sister files” (PA/PH/CEP (09) 141). The revision is intended to support consistent application of the procedure and provide greater clarity on the classification and assessment of the corresponding CEP applications.
Read more
Previous
Next