What is an Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS)?
The Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) is a computerized information database designed to support the life sciences, healthcare, biotechnology & FDA agency post-marketing safety surveillance program for all approved drug and therapeutic biologic products. Regulatory authorities and agencies use AERS to monitor new adverse events and medication errors that might occur with these marketed products. Reporting of adverse events from the point of care is voluntary. FDA receives some adverse event and medication error reports directly from health care professionals such as physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and consumers (such as patients, family members, lawyers and others).
Organizations operating in the healthcare domain must have processes and procedures in place to meet the AERS regulations set by authorities
Why is an AERS important?
Adverse Events Reporting System is crucial for detecting, processing & reporting adverse drug & supplement-associated events. Thus, reporting via an AERS is fundamental to detecting subject safety issues and mitigate the relevant risks with planning. This is the reason healthcare and life sciences companies are required to clearly state the method by which the adverse events will be monitored & reported. This also includes stating the provisions to ensure safety, care and medical support for those experiencing unfavourable signs & symptoms during a clinical trial.
How does AERS work?
Safety Database
A safety database is used to manage safety reports incoming from multiple research & study centres where the clinical trials are conducted. This database or repository of all the adverse cases can be analyzed together to flag potential trends amongst the cases. The review and analysis of the safety of a given healthcare product is given by the safety committee, which is composed of a group of experts in the field.
Recording Adverse Events
To efficiently evaluate safety information pertaining to a clinical trial, the safety reports of an organization must satisfy the reporting threshold set by regulatory agencies like the FDA. In the case of a large volume of independent adverse event reports that lack context and clarity, evaluating the safety information becomes impossible.
Thus, to maintain the integrity of the safety process and protect human counterparts, the following things must be considered while recording an adverse clinical trial event;
- Severity or intensity (mild, moderate or severe)
- Study intervention relationship
- Action taking as per the study intervention
- Outcome of the adverse event
- Whether the adverse event is serious or non-serious
The above AERS compliance requirements determine the reporting procedures that must be followed.
Need adverse event reporting system planning?
PSC Biotech will assist you in creating a strategic roadmap for determining what data should be collected and what processes need to be in place to ensure compliance with regulations, including definitions and approaches to define the roles, responsibilities, processes, forms, the communication of adverse events and the follow-up activities to ensure that complete information is obtained.
Get in touch with PSC Biotech today!