IWG on Signal Detection & Management holds launch call

The launch teleconference for the International Working Group (IWG) on Signal Detection and Management in Pharmacovigilance took place last week. The key points raised included:

• The advantages of involving artificial intelligence in signal detection
• The role of risk-benefit assessment in the lifecycle of signal detection
• Issues with definitions that need to be resolved: such as what is our definition of a signal?
• The need to include clinical aspects in signal detection/ the need to always be mindful of how the drug is going to be used

The call was attended by 38 of the IWG’s 50 signal detection experts from the pharma industry, medicines regulators and academia including those from Australia and the US. Discussion also concerned the modus operandi of the IWG and short listing of the topics, each of which will be worked on by a subgroup of the IWG. Members of the IWG will meet remotely to define the science and issues around their given objective and propose ideas and guidance for improvement. These topics include:

• use of big data, real world data and artificial intelligence in signal detection
• linking multiple data sources to extend current signal detection methods
• signal detection methods for biological products, advanced products and products with small usage
• the relationship between the genotype and phenotype in terms of adverse drug reactions, signal detection, evaluation and management

The IWG on Signal Detection and Management in Pharmacovigilance is managed under the auspices of the DSRU Centre for Methods and Evidence in Pharmacovigilance (MEP), which was created in 2018 to undertake methodological work to improve and enhance pharmacovigilance.

For further information, please visit the IWG webpage.