PERTH, Australia – It's likely that Australia will not draft separate guidance or regulations for software applications that use artificial intelligence or machine learning (AI/ML) for drug development or medical devices. Instead, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will classify AI and ML under software as a medical device (SaMD) when it is intended for diagnosis, prevention, monitoring or treatment or alleviation of disease.

PERTH, Australia – The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has unveiled final guidance that details how the Australian regulator considers cybersecurity risks over the life of a medical device, including whose responsibility it is to assess and communicate risk, as well as the expectations for manufacturers under the Essential Principles. Industry had voiced concerns in reaction to the draft version of the guidance – released last December – that related to proposed changes to the Essential Principles and the use of standards. The TGA had proposed two separate guidances – one for device and in vitro diagnostic manufacturers and those that develop software for medical devices and another guidance for users.

PERTH, Australia – The majority of comments were positive for the Therapeutics Goods Administration's proposal for regulating in vitro companion diagnostics (IVD CDx) to ensure the devices receive appropriate premarket scrutiny.

PERTH, Australia – The majority of comments were positive for the Therapeutics Goods Administration's proposal for regulating in vitro diagnostic companion diagnostics (IVD CDx) to ensure the devices receive appropriate premarket scrutiny. Currently, Australia does not have a framework for companion diagnostics. Until now, the TGA has assessed the associated therapy and companion diagnostic separately, which does not always allow comprehensive evaluation of the benefits and risks of using the therapy and device together, the TGA said.

PERTH, Australia – Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) received mixed comments from stakeholders on whether it was necessary to implement a formal good clinical practices inspections program in Australia. Many comments questioned how inspectional findings from a proposed pilot program would be released, but most agreed that a formal inspections program would raise compliance and enhance international competitiveness.