European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) guidance on the pharmacy handling of in vivo gene therapy medicinal products
Joan Vinent Genestar, Sylvain Auvity, Nanna Christiansen, Heidi Ekelund, Liesbeth Huys, Helle Bach Ølgaard McNulty, Marcello Pani, Vera Pires, Bertrand Pourroy, Nicola Stoner
Abstract
Gene therapy is becoming increasingly prevalent, with new gene therapy medicinal products (GTMPs) being approved for use every year. Hospital pharmacists are expected to prepare and dispense these products, but there is substantial heterogeneity in the availability of up-to-date, practical guidance at a national level in Europe. Many institutions have no or very limited experience in handling GTMPs. As such, there is a need for updated, practical guidance to aid hospital pharmacy teams in developing institutional standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the safe handling of GTMPs across the entire workflow. Here, we present the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists' updated guidance on the handling of GTMPs, developed by a team of recognised experts from around Europe. Each aspect of the GTMP handling process is addressed, including receipt and storage, dispensing and reconstitution, transportation, administration, waste disposal, decontamination of spills and accidental exposure. A series of figures are provided to aid the development of practical workflows. This guidance document is intended as a framework to help develop institutional SOPs and should always be used in conjunction with local regulations.