§ 02 — Comparison

Compare regulatory pathways side-by-side

Benchmark MAHMAH, GMPGMP, HTAHTA and pathway requirements across up to three markets.

Country A

Country B

Country C

Highlight differences

Criterion	🇪🇺European Union	🇺🇸United States	🇬🇧United Kingdom
Authority & dossier
Regulatory authority	EMA	FDA	MHRA
English submissions	Yes	Yes	Yes
CTD accepted	Yes	Yes	Yes
eCTD accepted	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reliance pathway	Available	None	Available
Reference agencies	—	—	FDA, EMA, Health Canada, Swissmedic +4
Lead pathway (timeline & fees) — Centralised Procedure · New Drug Application — 505(b)(1) · International Recognition Procedure (IRP)
Pathway name	Centralised Procedure	New Drug Application — 505(b)(1)	International Recognition Procedure (IRP)
Approval timeline	210–277 days	304–365 days	60–110 days
Application fee	EUR 358,800	USD 4,310,002	GBP 35,305
Annual renewal	EUR 122,500	USD 416,734	GBP 0
Local representative	Required	Not required	Not required
Local manufacturing	Not required	Not required	Not required
GMP inspection	Required	Required	Not required
MAH & local presence
Local entity required	Yes	No	Yes
Local responsible person	Yes	Yes	Yes
RP role	Qualified Person Responsible for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) — must reside and operate in the EU/EEA — is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the pharmacovigilance system. A Qualified Person (QP) in the EU/EEA performs batch certification under Article 51 of Directive 2001/83/EC. Local Contact Person for pharmacovigilance required in each Member State where the product is marketed (since 2012 GVP).	US Agent: a person residing or maintaining a place of business in the US, designated to act on behalf of the foreign establishment for FDA communications, including notification of inspections.	Qualified Person (Pharmacovigilance) — QPPV — must reside in the UK or EEA. UK Responsible Person (Import) for batch certification of products imported into GB. Local pharmacovigilance contact in the UK required for risk minimisation activities.
Accelerated pathways
Designations available	6 designations	6 designations	4 designations
Examples	Accelerated Assessment, Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +3	Priority Review, Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Accelerated Approval — Subpart H/E +3	Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS), Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +1
Post-approval lifecycle
Variations framework	Commission Regulation (EC) 1234/2008 establishes four categories: Type IA (minor — Do and Tell, 12-month notification), Type IAIN (minor — immediate notification), Type IB (minor — Tell, Wait, and Do, 30-day default), Type II (major — prior approval, 60–90 days), and Extensions (Annex I changes — full review). Worksharing procedures consolidate variations across multiple authorisations.	FDA classifies post-approval changes as: Annual Reportable, Changes Being Effected (CBE-0 immediate, CBE-30 with 30-day pre-implementation notice), and Prior Approval Supplements (PAS) — the most significant changes requiring FDA approval before implementation. Major manufacturing or labelling changes typically require a PAS.	Variations classified per UK Variations Regulations (mirroring EU Reg 1234/2008): Type IA, IAIN, IB, II, and Extensions. MHRA Worksharing available for grouped variations across multiple authorisations.
Renewal cycle	Initial 5-year renewal — application 9 months before expiry. After the first renewal, MA is granted for unlimited duration unless the CHMP/NCA, on justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance, decides on one additional 5-year renewal.	FDA does not require periodic renewal of NDAs or BLAs — approvals remain in effect indefinitely subject to compliance, payment of annual program fees, and post-marketing requirements. Annual reports are required.	Initial 5-year renewal; thereafter MA is granted for unlimited duration unless MHRA determines on PV grounds that one further 5-year renewal is justified.
Pharmacovigilance	Comprehensive PV framework under Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation (EU) 1235/2010, codified in Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP). Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) required. Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) on EU-harmonised birth-date list. Risk Management Plans for all new MAs and significant variations. Suspected serious ADR reporting to EudraVigilance within 15 days. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring of selected products.	Mandatory expedited reporting of serious unexpected ADRs within 15 calendar days; periodic safety reports (PADERs/PAERs) for the first 3 years post-approval, then annually. PSURs in ICH E2C(R2) format accepted in lieu of PADERs by agreement. FAERS database receives spontaneous reports. Post-Marketing Requirements (PMRs) and Commitments (PMCs) tracked publicly.	MHRA operates the Yellow Card Scheme for ADR reporting. PSURs follow the EU Reference Date list pre-Brexit, with MHRA UK-specific PSUR list since 2021. RMPs required for new MAs and significant variations. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring.
Unlicensed access
Named Patient Supply	Available	Available	Available
Compassionate Use	Available	Available	Available
Emergency Import	Available	Available	Available
Parallel Import	Permitted	Not permitted	Permitted
Clinical trials
CTA approval	Required	Required	Required
Ethics approval	Yes	Yes	Yes
CTA timeline	60–106 days	30–30 days	30–60 days
GCP standard	ICH E6(R3) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2748 transposing R3, applicable from 23 July 2025	ICH E6(R3) (adopted via FDA guidance January 2025); 21 CFR 312, 314, 50, 56	ICH E6(R3) (MHRA adopted via Good Clinical Practice Guide; UK statutory instruments 2004/1031 as amended)
Pricing & reimbursement
Price regulation	Regulated	Free pricing	Regulated
Reference pricing	Yes	No	No
HTA required	Yes	No	Yes
HTA body	EU HTA Coordination Group (EUnetHTA legacy); national HTA bodies (NICE, HAS, G-BA/IQWiG, AIFA, AEMPS, etc.)	ICER (Institute for Clinical and Economic Review) — independent, non-binding	NICE (England, Wales, NI), SMC (Scotland), AWMSG (Wales)

Verdict colours indicate lower, moderate, or higher regulatory burden — they're not value judgements on a market.

Authority & dossier

Regulatory authority

European UnionEMA
United StatesFDA
United KingdomMHRA

English submissions

European UnionYes
United StatesYes
United KingdomYes

CTD accepted

European UnionYes
United StatesYes
United KingdomYes

eCTD accepted

European UnionYes
United StatesYes
United KingdomYes

Reliance pathway

European UnionAvailable
United StatesNone
United KingdomAvailable

Reference agencies

European Union—
United States—
United KingdomFDA, EMA, Health Canada, Swissmedic +4

Lead pathway (timeline & fees) — Centralised Procedure · New Drug Application — 505(b)(1) · International Recognition Procedure (IRP)

Pathway name

European UnionCentralised Procedure
United StatesNew Drug Application — 505(b)(1)
United KingdomInternational Recognition Procedure (IRP)

Approval timeline

European Union210–277 days
United States304–365 days
United Kingdom60–110 days

Application fee

European UnionEUR 358,800
United StatesUSD 4,310,002
United KingdomGBP 35,305

Annual renewal

European UnionEUR 122,500
United StatesUSD 416,734
United KingdomGBP 0

Local representative

European UnionRequired
United StatesNot required
United KingdomNot required

Local manufacturing

European UnionNot required
United StatesNot required
United KingdomNot required

GMP inspection

European UnionRequired
United StatesRequired
United KingdomNot required

MAH & local presence

Local entity required

European UnionYes
United StatesNo
United KingdomYes

Local responsible person

European UnionYes
United StatesYes
United KingdomYes

RP role

European UnionQualified Person Responsible for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) — must reside and operate in the EU/EEA — is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the pharmacovigilance system. A Qualified Person (QP) in the EU/EEA performs batch certification under Article 51 of Directive 2001/83/EC. Local Contact Person for pharmacovigilance required in each Member State where the product is marketed (since 2012 GVP).
United StatesUS Agent: a person residing or maintaining a place of business in the US, designated to act on behalf of the foreign establishment for FDA communications, including notification of inspections.
United KingdomQualified Person (Pharmacovigilance) — QPPV — must reside in the UK or EEA. UK Responsible Person (Import) for batch certification of products imported into GB. Local pharmacovigilance contact in the UK required for risk minimisation activities.

Accelerated pathways

Designations available

European Union6 designations
United States6 designations
United Kingdom4 designations

Examples

European UnionAccelerated Assessment, Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +3
United StatesPriority Review, Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Accelerated Approval — Subpart H/E +3
United KingdomEarly Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS), Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +1

Post-approval lifecycle

Variations framework

European UnionCommission Regulation (EC) 1234/2008 establishes four categories: Type IA (minor — Do and Tell, 12-month notification), Type IAIN (minor — immediate notification), Type IB (minor — Tell, Wait, and Do, 30-day default), Type II (major — prior approval, 60–90 days), and Extensions (Annex I changes — full review). Worksharing procedures consolidate variations across multiple authorisations.
United StatesFDA classifies post-approval changes as: Annual Reportable, Changes Being Effected (CBE-0 immediate, CBE-30 with 30-day pre-implementation notice), and Prior Approval Supplements (PAS) — the most significant changes requiring FDA approval before implementation. Major manufacturing or labelling changes typically require a PAS.
United KingdomVariations classified per UK Variations Regulations (mirroring EU Reg 1234/2008): Type IA, IAIN, IB, II, and Extensions. MHRA Worksharing available for grouped variations across multiple authorisations.

Renewal cycle

European UnionInitial 5-year renewal — application 9 months before expiry. After the first renewal, MA is granted for unlimited duration unless the CHMP/NCA, on justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance, decides on one additional 5-year renewal.
United StatesFDA does not require periodic renewal of NDAs or BLAs — approvals remain in effect indefinitely subject to compliance, payment of annual program fees, and post-marketing requirements. Annual reports are required.
United KingdomInitial 5-year renewal; thereafter MA is granted for unlimited duration unless MHRA determines on PV grounds that one further 5-year renewal is justified.

Pharmacovigilance

European UnionComprehensive PV framework under Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation (EU) 1235/2010, codified in Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP). Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) required. Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) on EU-harmonised birth-date list. Risk Management Plans for all new MAs and significant variations. Suspected serious ADR reporting to EudraVigilance within 15 days. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring of selected products.
United StatesMandatory expedited reporting of serious unexpected ADRs within 15 calendar days; periodic safety reports (PADERs/PAERs) for the first 3 years post-approval, then annually. PSURs in ICH E2C(R2) format accepted in lieu of PADERs by agreement. FAERS database receives spontaneous reports. Post-Marketing Requirements (PMRs) and Commitments (PMCs) tracked publicly.
United KingdomMHRA operates the Yellow Card Scheme for ADR reporting. PSURs follow the EU Reference Date list pre-Brexit, with MHRA UK-specific PSUR list since 2021. RMPs required for new MAs and significant variations. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring.

Unlicensed access

Named Patient Supply

European UnionAvailable
United StatesAvailable
United KingdomAvailable

Compassionate Use

European UnionAvailable
United StatesAvailable
United KingdomAvailable

Emergency Import

European UnionAvailable
United StatesAvailable
United KingdomAvailable

Parallel Import

European UnionPermitted
United StatesNot permitted
United KingdomPermitted

Clinical trials

CTA approval

European UnionRequired
United StatesRequired
United KingdomRequired

Ethics approval

European UnionYes
United StatesYes
United KingdomYes

CTA timeline

European Union60–106 days
United States30–30 days
United Kingdom30–60 days

GCP standard

European UnionICH E6(R3) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2748 transposing R3, applicable from 23 July 2025
United StatesICH E6(R3) (adopted via FDA guidance January 2025); 21 CFR 312, 314, 50, 56
United KingdomICH E6(R3) (MHRA adopted via Good Clinical Practice Guide; UK statutory instruments 2004/1031 as amended)

Pricing & reimbursement

Price regulation

European UnionRegulated
United StatesFree pricing
United KingdomRegulated

Reference pricing

European UnionYes
United StatesNo
United KingdomNo

HTA required

European UnionYes
United StatesNo
United KingdomYes

HTA body

European UnionEU HTA Coordination Group (EUnetHTA legacy); national HTA bodies (NICE, HAS, G-BA/IQWiG, AIFA, AEMPS, etc.)
United StatesICER (Institute for Clinical and Economic Review) — independent, non-binding
United KingdomNICE (England, Wales, NI), SMC (Scotland), AWMSG (Wales)