What is Aggregate Reporting?

What is Aggregate Reporting in Pharmacovigilance?

Aggregate reporting is a critical process that involves the collection, analysis, and submission of cumulative pharmacovigilance data to regulatory agencies. Aggregate reports provide a comprehensive overview of global safety data for a given pharmaceutical product which is crucial in understanding its safety profile and assessing the benefit-risk ratio.

Key Aspects of Aggregate Reporting:

The key components of aggregate reporting include the following:

Data Collection: Obtaining and gathering product safety-related information from various sources, including but not limited to clinical trials, post-marketing safety surveillance, spontaneous reports, literature, etc.

Data Analysis: Analyzing the data to try and identify any patterns or trends, and emerging potential safety issues associated with the use of the product in patients.

Submission of Reports: Compiling the analyzed data into comprehensive reports and submitting them to global agencies as per their requirement (including structure & content) and stringent timelines.

There are many different types of aggregate reports each with their own specific requirements based on the regulatory agency. Some of these include Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs)/Periodic Benefit-Risk Evaluation Reports (PBRERs). Periodic Adverse Event Reports (PADERs), and Development Safety Update Reports (DSURs).

What are The Challenges in Aggregate Reporting?

Aggregate reporting in pharmacovigilance is associated with several challenges which can affect the monitoring and assessment of the product’s safety profile. First and foremost, a significant challenge is related to the complexity of data collection & management. Indeed, pharmacovigilance systems handle and manage large amounts of data, that too from diverse and various sources. These sources can be spontaneous reports, data from on-going or completed clinical trials, and literature. Here, data standardization and integration into aggregate reporting can be challenging. Secondly, there are challenges related to pharmacovigilance signal detection and assessment for aggregate reports. Identifying meaningful signals from “noise” is important. Furthermore, establishing causality between drugs and adverse events is complicated which requires expertise judgment.

Maintaining regulatory compliance also poses a challenge particularly with respect to meeting reporting requirements and timelines of regulatory agencies. Failure to compliance can pose a burden to marketing authorization holders (MAHs). Indeed, addressing these challenges is crucial for an effective and compliant pharmacovigilance system to detect and respond safety concerns related to a pharmaceutical product.

DDReg’s Capabilities

As a globally reputed pharmacovigilance service provider, DDReg has supported its customers in efficient and timely aggregate reporting to maintain safety and regulatory compliance. The team specializes in addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with aggregate reporting to ensure customers meet global regulatory standards while prioritizing patient safety. With the right blend of global pharmacovigilance knowledge and experience, the team is proficient in data collection, harmonization & integration from diverse sources that streamlines the process of aggregate reporting. We have compiled, reviewed, and submitted PADERs, PSURs/PBRERs, and DSURs to competent authorities across the globe.