In this blog post, we explain why we use ATC Codes, how we use them and what the future holds for the lists of pharmaceutical substance translations.

The role of ATC

Handy classification for extraordinary coverage

ATC Codes are a universally recognized list of terms for medicinal products that should contain all, or at least most, of the approved active substances used in medicinal products.

The ATC Code list is constantly updated with new entries, and it is relatively easily available. We use “relatively” here, because while the codes are easily available in English and many other languages, acquiring a full updated list of ATC Codes is not that easy.

ATC Codes are maintained by the Norwegian collaboration center of WHO. The terms are in English, but there are local language translations in several languages. The local language translations are used by the authorities of different countries, and they can be used in several different places.

Coverage and local language translations are the main reasons Tepsivo uses the ATC codes in Tepsivo Literature. In the future, the ATC Codes used in automated monitoring of literature can probably be replaced by the substance management service (SMS) list of the EU data management service SPOR. We have reason to hope that this future is not that far.

SMS is the next step

The SMS list of terms and translations available for download is already quite comprehensive. Besides the timeline for the availability of the full SMS list through SPOR API, there is another question that needs to be answered if SMS would be a replacement for the ATC Codes and their translations: What about the other languages that are not officially spoken in the EU countries?

This would include some of the most spoken languages such as Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, Yue Chinese, Vietnamese etc. that cover by population large parts of the global pharmaceutical market.

Tepsivo Literature

Translation first, search second

Tepsivo Literature uses automated translation of text before any keyword searches are performed. This means that it could be sufficient to search the text (original language and English translation) with the English keywords. Another point to consider is that the substance terms of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) have quite similar translations in most languages. The substance terms are often identical in many languages.

The way to fast implementation

When setting up literature screening that covers both global and local literature sources, it is beneficial to have a list of all the products, substances, and substance translations ready, and that way setting up both global and local literature screening can be finished within minutes instead of days and the setup does not require support from local language experts.

Centralized product data

Using terms of the ATC classification system in Tepsivo Literature has another reason, that is not directly related to literature screening. Tepsivo Platform contains several other features in addition to the automated literature screening.

Besides the general PV System management and pharmacovigilance activities, there are features for regulatory affairs, regulatory intelligence, and study data management. The regulatory affairs features use the substance terms of ATC to build and maintain product information. The pharmaceutical product information maintenance works the same as in XEVMPD or in any other database solution that is used to maintain and share product data.

Ready for the future

In the product data area, SPOR and its SMS and product management service (PMS) are about to replace ATC Codes and XEVMPD, but currently it looks like this will still take a while.

In any case, Tepsivo Platform and Tepsivo Literature are ready for the IDMP related improvements and their features will only become better once the data synchronization with the authority systems fully commences.

Conclusion

So, in short, why we use ATC codes for literature automation:

1) Wide coverage and language translations
Enabling Tepsivo Literature to identify keywords in tens of thousands of local language sources.

2) Fast and easy setup
Letting Tepsivo Literature users establish both global and local searches within minutes

3) Central management
Ensuring Tepsivo Literature can be fully maintained by a central PV person or PV team with no need for local language experts

4) Integration with overall product management
Allowing for streamlined operations and complete management of medicinal product life cycle from one central place within Tepsivo Platform and its other modules for regulatory affairs