Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Product Development and Compliance

In the medical device industry, where precision and compliance are paramount, staying ahead of regulatory changes is critical. With FDA finalizing the alignment of its Quality System (QS) regulation with ISO 13485 by February 2026, medical device companies need to act now. This alignment has been expected as the international standards and FDA regulations have been converging for Quality System expectations for years. Since FDA announced its intent to align with ISO 13485 in 2018, the change should not be a surprise to medical device companies, but the implementation still requires careful and detailed attention to specifics. Fortunately, solutions like Cognition Corporation’s Compass MED provides a proactive way for companies to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and stay compliant from the start.

How a risk-based design approach provides safer and ultimately better quality products to market. Product designs are stronger when risk is inherently considered. Not everyone has the experience and instincts to naturally consider the critical factors required in a comprehensive approach. A solid process ensures risk is addressed consistently throughout product development by all of the stakeholders. It is not enough to intuitively consider risk when designing a product; decisions need to be articulated and documented - this documentation is used to support the design choices throughout the product's life.

Imagine developing a medical device or drug that could be claimed to work without any evidence….

There are many inputs to consider when designing a new medical device product: user needs, regulatory requirements, and internal and external customer requirements, to name a few. Finding harmony and documenting everything is not a simple paperwork exercise. This can be overwhelming to even the most seasoned medical device professional. How do you make sure the user needs are linked to actionable requirements, and ensure that all requirements have been addressed?