MHRA’s new International Recognition Procedure (IRP) goes live from 1 January 2024
In partnership with other global regulators, IRP is expected to further help bring life-saving new medicines to UK patients.
From 1 January 2024, developers of new medicines can now submit applications via the MHRA’s new, International Recognition procedure (IRP).
The IRP will help bring life-saving medicines to UK patients and has been developed by the MHRA following the UK’s departure from the European Union. It allows the Agency to take into account the expertise of trusted regulatory partners in other countries when authorising medicines.
As a sovereign regulator, the MHRA retains ultimate authority to accept or reject applications submitted under the IRP – but the shared, global expertise inherent in the IRP process is designed to result in a more rapid, efficient, and cost-effective process for applicants.
Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:
With this new application procedure fully live, we are delighted to have created a further, innovative route for bringing new medicines to UK patients.
IRP allows us to access the expertise of trusted regulatory partners, who have already authorised products. In return, our partners can consider applications based on MHRA authorisations, creating a ‘win-win’ for regulators, developers of innovative treatments, and patients.
Health Minister, Andrew Stephenson, said:
Today’s announcement shows how organisations can maximise Brexit freedoms, accelerating patient access to new medicines on the NHS and putting the UK on the forefront of medical innovation.
We’re making it easier than ever for patients to receive the life-saving medicines they may need, faster.
This new international recognition procedure will speed up the licensing process by allowing access to the expertise of other trusted regulatory partners, including those in Australia, Canada and Switzerland.
At launch, the MHRA will partner with regulators in Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the USA, as well as the European Medicines Agency, individual EU member states and those in the EEA (European Economic Area).
Applications under IRP can be received via the MHRA website under one of two recognised routes. Time horizons for authorisations are set at 60 to 110 days – considerably shorter than the current 150-day time horizon for applications.
To further streamline the IRP application process, the MHRA launched an ‘Eligibility Checker’ tool on 20 November 2023. Six weeks prior to making a full submission under IRP, applicants should use this tool to determine whether their Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) is suitable and to identify which route (A or B) to follow.
Further information
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- MHRA News story - 26 May 2023: MHRA announces new recognition routes to facilitate safe access to new medicines
- MHRA News story - 20 November 2023: MHRA launches online Eligibility Checker tool
- Access the online Eligibility Checker tool here:
- MHRA Guidance on IRP
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
- The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
- For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk.