Free Pharmacovigilance Tool

PSUR / PBRER Checklist

Prepare a Periodic Safety Update Report / Periodic Benefit-Risk Evaluation Report per ICH E2C(R2). Track every required section - progress auto-saves locally.

PSUR Progress

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The checklist and progress tracking are free. Generating and printing the finished PSUR is a one-time unlock of USD 15 for your account. Sign in to unlock.

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About this checklist

This checklist follows the ICH E2C(R2) structure for Periodic Benefit-Risk Evaluation Reports (PBRERs). PPB accepts PBRER-format PSURs for products registered in Kenya. Reporting frequency depends on the MAH approval conditions - typically 6-monthly for the first 2 years, annually for years 3-5, then 3-yearly thereafter.

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What is a PSUR / PBRER and Why It Matters

A Periodic Safety Update Report (PSUR) is a structured pharmacovigilance document that a Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) submits to regulators at defined intervals to summarise the worldwide safety experience of a medicinal product. Under ICH E2C(R2), the modern format is the Periodic Benefit-Risk Evaluation Report (PBRER), which keeps the safety analysis but adds a formal evaluation of benefit against risk. The goal is to confirm that the product's benefit-risk balance remains favourable in the populations and indications for which it is authorised.

A PSUR is not a simple list of adverse events. It pulls together cumulative and interval data on exposure, individual case safety reports (ICSRs), signals, literature, completed and ongoing studies, and any regulatory or MAH-initiated actions taken for safety reasons. From that evidence the report draws a single conclusion: whether the reference safety information (the SmPC or company core data sheet) still reflects the known risks, or whether label changes, new studies, or risk minimisation measures are needed.

In Kenya, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) requires periodic safety reporting as a condition of marketing authorisation and accepts PBRER-format PSURs aligned with ICH E2C(R2). For local MAHs and Local Technical Representatives acting on behalf of foreign manufacturers, a complete, well-structured PSUR is the main way to demonstrate ongoing pharmacovigilance compliance and to keep a product registration in good standing. A missing or incomplete section is a common cause of queries and delays, which is exactly what this checklist helps you avoid.

Related pharmacovigilance tools: complete a structured ADR report for the individual case safety reports that feed your tabulations, score suspected reactions with the Naranjo ADR causality calculator, or see our full pharmacovigilance services.

PSUR Writing: How This Tool Helps You Write a PBRER

PSUR writing is easier when the report is planned around a fixed structure before you draft a single paragraph. This page works as a PBRER writing tool in two stages. First, the free checklist and progress tracker lay out every ICH E2C(R2) section in the exact order a reviewer expects, so you always know what to write next and what remains outstanding at the data lock point. Second, our paid PSUR generation feature turns that completed structure into the finished report, ready for pharmacovigilance review.

If you are learning how to write a PBRER, the quickest way to avoid queries is to follow the ICH E2C(R2) running order rather than inventing your own. The steps below map the checklist sections to the writing task at each stage, so you can write a PSUR section by section without losing the thread of the benefit-risk argument.

1. Set the frame

Write the introduction, worldwide authorisation status, and reference safety information sections first. These fix the product, the data lock point, the reporting interval, and the SmPC or company core data sheet that the rest of the report is measured against.

2. Lay out the data

Draft the exposure estimates, summary tabulations of individual case safety reports, and the summaries of significant findings from studies and literature. This is the factual evidence base every conclusion later in the PSUR has to rest on.

3. Evaluate the evidence

Write the signal and risk evaluation and the benefit evaluation. Characterise each risk by frequency, severity, and reversibility, and record the effectiveness of any risk minimisation measures already in place.

4. Reach the conclusion

Finish with the integrated benefit-risk analysis, conclusions and actions, and appendices. State plainly whether the benefit-risk balance stays favourable and whether the reference safety information needs to change.

Once every section is drafted and ticked off, our PSUR generation feature produces the finished PBRER document from your completed structure. Signed-in accounts can unlock it with the Generate PSUR button at the top of the page. The checklist and progress tracking stay free; only generating and printing the completed report is a one-time paid unlock. For MAHs that would rather hand the whole job over, our team can write a PSUR or PBRER for you end to end through our pharmacovigilance service.

How to Use This PSUR Checklist

1

Work Through Each Section

The checklist mirrors the ICH E2C(R2) structure, from the introduction and worldwide authorisation status through signal evaluation to the integrated benefit-risk analysis and appendices.

2

Tick Off Completed Items

Check each item once that content is drafted and verified in your report. Your progress saves automatically in your browser, so you can return later without losing your place.

3

Track Your Progress

The progress bar shows how complete your PSUR is across all sections. Aim for 100 percent before you finalise the data lock point version for review.

4

Print or Save as PDF

Use Print / Save PDF to keep a dated record of the completed checklist for your quality and pharmacovigilance files, or to hand off to a reviewer or QPPV.

Frequently Asked Questions

About PSURs, PBRERs, and this checklist

What is a PSUR (Periodic Safety Update Report)?+
A Periodic Safety Update Report is a pharmacovigilance document that a Marketing Authorisation Holder submits to regulators at set intervals to summarise the worldwide safety experience of a medicinal product. It brings together exposure estimates, individual case safety reports, signals, literature, and any safety-related actions to confirm whether the product's benefit-risk balance remains favourable. Regulators use it to decide whether labelling, studies, or risk minimisation measures need to change.
What is the difference between a PSUR and a PBRER?+
PBRER stands for Periodic Benefit-Risk Evaluation Report and is the format introduced by ICH E2C(R2) to replace the older PSUR format. The PBRER keeps the detailed safety analysis of the traditional PSUR but adds a structured evaluation of the product's benefits alongside its risks, ending in an integrated benefit-risk assessment. In practice the term PSUR is still widely used as a label for the periodic report, while PBRER describes the current ICH-aligned content and structure.
What sections must a PSUR contain under ICH E2C(R2)?+
An ICH E2C(R2) report covers the introduction, worldwide marketing authorisation status, actions taken for safety reasons, changes to reference safety information, estimated exposure and use patterns, data in summary tabulations, summaries of significant findings from studies and literature, signal and risk evaluation, benefit evaluation, integrated benefit-risk analysis, conclusions and actions, and appendices. This checklist lists each of these sections with their key sub-items so nothing is missed. Completing every item produces a report that matches the expected regulatory structure.
How often must a PSUR be submitted in Kenya?+
Reporting frequency is set in the product's marketing authorisation conditions rather than being identical for every product. A common pattern, in line with international practice, is 6-monthly reports for roughly the first two years after authorisation, annual reports for the next few years, and then 3-yearly reports once the safety profile is well established. In Kenya the Pharmacy and Poisons Board can also request a PSUR at any time, for example when a new safety concern arises, so always confirm the interval that applies to your specific registration.
What is the data lock point (DLP) in a PSUR?+
The data lock point is the cut-off date up to which data is included in a given PSUR. All cumulative and interval information, such as case tabulations and exposure estimates, is compiled as of the DLP, and the report is then written and submitted within a defined window after that date. Using a clear, consistent DLP keeps successive reports comparable and ensures the safety picture reflects a fixed snapshot rather than a moving target.
Does the PPB accept PBRER-format PSURs?+
Yes. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board accepts periodic safety reports prepared in the PBRER format aligned with ICH E2C(R2) for products registered in Kenya. This means an MAH can prepare one report to the modern international structure and use it to meet the local periodic reporting requirement. Always check the latest PPB pharmacovigilance guidance for any country-specific cover information or submission details before you file.
Is this PSUR checklist free to use? Do I need an account?+
Yes, this checklist is completely free and needs no sign-up or account. Your progress is stored only in your own browser using local storage, so your data stays on your device and is not uploaded anywhere. You can return to the same browser later and pick up where you left off, or reset the checklist at any time.
Can I use this checklist to prepare a PSUR for submission?+
This tool is a content checklist that helps you confirm every required ICH E2C(R2) section and sub-item is present before you finalise a report. It does not write the safety analysis or replace pharmacovigilance expertise, signal detection, or medical review. Use it to structure and quality-check your draft, then have a qualified pharmacovigilance professional or QPPV review the report before submission to the PPB.

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