In pharmacology, ICH stands for "International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use." It is a global organization that brings together regulatory authorities and the pharmaceutical industry to develop and promote guidelines and standards for the development, registration, and post-approval of pharmaceutical products.
The primary goal of the ICH is to achieve greater harmonization in the technical requirements for pharmaceutical products among regions (such as the United States, Europe, Japan, and others) to facilitate the global development and registration of drugs. Harmonization of guidelines ensures that the process of drug development and approval is more efficient, streamlined, and consistent across different regulatory authorities.
The ICH develops guidelines covering various aspects of drug development, including quality, safety, efficacy, and multidisciplinary topics, to promote the understanding and acceptance of new or revised regulatory requirements by the industry and regulators.
These guidelines are not legally binding, but they serve as recommendations and are widely adopted by regulatory agencies around the world, making the drug approval process more predictable and consistent for pharmaceutical companies.