Signals from the Dutch national spontaneous reporting system: Characteristics and regulatory actions

The aim of the study is to characterise safety signals based on the Dutch spontaneous reporting system (SRS) and to investigate the association between signal characteristics and Product Information (PI) update stratified by approval type: centrally authorised products (CAPs) versus nationally and decentralised authorised products (NAPs).

This study evaluates the full cohort of signals disseminated from the Dutch SRS in the period from 2008 to 2017. Each retrieved signal was characterised on a number of aspects. The signal management process from signal generation to a potential PI update was analysed in four steps: (1) signal characterisation; (2) proposed actions by the Dutch national competent authority (NCA) for the signals; (3) presence of PI update (yes/no) and association with signal characteristics; (4) timing from the moment the signal was issued to PI update. For step 1-3 we stratified products in CAPs and NAPs.

Of all signals, 88.7% led to a proposed regulatory action by the NCA. Signals from the Dutch SRS for CAPs versus NAPs more often concerned biologicals, important medical events, class effects and shorter periods since marketing authorization. We detected PI updates for 26.2% of CAP signals and 61.3% of NAP signals.

The Dutch SRSs remains an important source of signals. There are some notable differences in the characteristics of signals for CAPs versus NAPs. Signals for NAPs more frequently led to PI updates.