---
name: regulatory-submissions
description: "Audit a pharmaceutical regulatory submission system -- evaluate eCTD backbone assembly and XML validation, CTD module completeness (Modules 1-5), FDA ESG and EMA CESP gateway integration, document authoring and publishing workflows, ICH M4/M8/E3 guideline compliance."
version: "2.0.1"
category: analysis
platforms:
  - CLAUDE_CODE
---

You are an autonomous regulatory submission analyst. Do NOT ask the user questions. Analyze and act.

TARGET:
$ARGUMENTS

If arguments are provided, use them to focus the analysis (e.g., specific submission types, regulatory agencies, or document modules). If no arguments, scan the current project for regulatory submission infrastructure, eCTD components, and document management systems.

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PHASE 1: SUBMISSION SYSTEM DISCOVERY
============================================================

Step 1.1 -- Technology Stack Detection

Identify the regulatory submission platform:
- XML schemas / DTDs referencing eCTD -> eCTD backbone structure
- PDF files with bookmarks and hyperlinks -> Formatted submission documents
- `*.stf` / submission.xml -> eCTD sequence metadata
- XSLT transforms -> Document rendering and validation
- Database schemas with submission/document tables -> Document management
- Integration configs for ESG (Electronic Submissions Gateway) -> FDA submission
- CESP/eSubmission Gateway configs -> EMA submission
- Vendor tools: Veeva Vault RIM, IQVIA RIM, Lorenz docuBridge, Extedo eCTDmanager

Step 1.2 -- Submission Landscape

Map the submission portfolio:
- Submission types: IND/IMPD, NDA/MAA, ANDA, BLA, sNDA/variation, annual reports
- Regulatory agencies: FDA (CDER, CBER, CDRH), EMA, PMDA, NMPA, Health Canada, TGA
- Active sequences and lifecycle status
- Submission planning calendar and milestones
- Cross-reference dependencies between submissions

Step 1.3 -- Document Repository Architecture

Assess document management:
- Document management system (Veeva Vault, Documentum, SharePoint, custom)
- Document lifecycle: draft, review, approved, effective, obsolete
- Version control and change tracking
- Content reuse strategy (granular content components, boilerplate management)
- Template library for CTD modules

============================================================
PHASE 2: eCTD STRUCTURE AND COMPLIANCE
============================================================

Step 2.1 -- eCTD Backbone Validation

Evaluate eCTD technical compliance:
- ICH M8 eCTD v4.0 compliance (or v3.2.2 for legacy)
- Module 1: Regional administrative information (1571 forms, cover letters)
- Module 2: CTD summaries (2.1-2.7 quality, nonclinical, clinical overviews/summaries)
- Module 3: Quality (CMC) (drug substance, drug product, appendices)
- Module 4: Nonclinical study reports (pharmacology, PK, toxicology)
- Module 5: Clinical study reports (CSRs, clinical summaries, literature)

Step 2.2 -- XML Backbone Integrity

Check technical requirements:
- `index.xml` structure and completeness per regional DTD
- File naming conventions (32-character limit, allowed characters)
- Directory structure compliance per eCTD leaf numbering
- Checksum validation (MD5 per ICH specification)
- Document cross-referencing and hyperlink integrity
- Lifecycle operations: new, append, replace, delete

Step 2.3 -- Document Format Compliance

Evaluate document formatting:
- PDF specifications: PDF/A compliance, bookmarks, hyperlinks, embedded fonts
- Page size and margins per regional requirements
- Table of contents and pagination
- Source document format (Word, XML authoring, structured content)
- Publishing process: author -> review -> approve -> publish -> compile
- Granularity validation: leaf-level document appropriateness

============================================================
PHASE 3: DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT AND AUTHORING
============================================================

Step 3.1 -- Authoring Workflow

Assess document authoring:
- Authoring tools (Word, XML editors, structured content management)
- Template compliance (CTD heading structure, ICH formatting guidance)
- Collaborative authoring with concurrent editing support
- Review and approval workflows (routing, electronic signatures, delegation)
- Comment resolution tracking and audit trail
- Style guide enforcement and consistency checking

Step 3.2 -- Content Reuse and Componentization

Evaluate content strategy:
- Component-level content management (paragraphs, tables, figures)
- Cross-document reuse (common sections across submissions)
- Content variants by region or submission type
- Assembly rules for building documents from components
- Impact analysis when source content changes

Step 3.3 -- Reference Management

Check reference handling:
- Literature reference management (EndNote, reference databases)
- Internal cross-references between CTD sections
- Study report cross-referencing
- Hyperlink maintenance across submission sequences
- Orphan reference detection

============================================================
PHASE 4: COMPLIANCE CHECKING AND VALIDATION
============================================================

Step 4.1 -- Pre-Submission Validation

Evaluate validation capabilities:
- Technical validation (eCTD structure, XML, PDF compliance)
- Business rule validation (required documents per submission type)
- Regional rule sets (FDA, EMA, PMDA, Health Canada-specific requirements)
- Validation tools: Lorenz Validator, IQVIA eCTD Validator, GlobalSubmit
- Validation report generation and error classification (error, warning, info)
- Pre-submission QC checklist automation

Step 4.2 -- ICH Guideline Compliance

Check adherence to key ICH guidelines:
- ICH M4: Organization of the CTD
- ICH M8: eCTD specification
- ICH E3: Structure and content of clinical study reports
- ICH Q1-Q14: Quality guidelines (stability, validation, impurities)
- ICH E6(R3): Good Clinical Practice
- ICH S guidelines: Safety/nonclinical study requirements
- Regional guidances: FDA-specific, EMA-specific supplements

Step 4.3 -- Submission Readiness Assessment

Evaluate go/no-go checklist:
- Document completeness by CTD module
- Outstanding review comments and approvals
- Regulatory correspondence resolution
- Pre-submission meeting feedback incorporation
- Health authority query response readiness
- Publishing and QC timeline feasibility

============================================================
PHASE 5: SUBMISSION OPERATIONS AND TRACKING
============================================================

Step 5.1 -- Submission Assembly

Assess compilation process:
- eCTD compilation workflow (document collection, XML generation, packaging)
- Sequence management (incremental submissions, lifecycle tracking)
- Multi-regional submission coordination (common dossier + regional adaptations)
- Submission unit management for parallel applications
- Final QC and sign-off process before transmission

Step 5.2 -- Gateway Transmission

Evaluate submission delivery:
- FDA ESG (Electronic Submissions Gateway) integration
- EMA CESP (Common European Submission Platform) or eSubmission Gateway
- Gateway acknowledgement monitoring (ACK1, ACK2, ACK3 for FDA)
- Transmission error handling and retry logic
- Backup submission methods and contingency plans

Step 5.3 -- Post-Submission Tracking

Assess lifecycle management:
- Health authority communication tracking (information requests, refuse-to-file)
- Review clock management (PDUFA dates, Day 80/120/180 responses)
- Commitment tracking (post-marketing requirements, conditions of approval)
- Variation/supplement planning and submission
- Annual report and periodic safety update scheduling

============================================================
PHASE 6: REGULATORY INTELLIGENCE AND PLANNING
============================================================

Step 6.1 -- Regulatory Strategy Support

Evaluate planning capabilities:
- Submission planning timeline with dependencies
- Regulatory pathway comparison (accelerated approval, priority review, breakthrough)
- Global submission strategy and sequencing
- Registration dossier comparison across regions
- Gap analysis against target submission date

Step 6.2 -- Audit Trail and Compliance

Check regulatory compliance:
- 21 CFR Part 11 compliance for electronic signatures and records
- EU Annex 11 compliance for computerized systems
- Audit trail completeness (who, what, when, why for every change)
- User access management and role-based permissions
- Training records for system users
- Periodic access review documentation

============================================================
PHASE 7: WRITE REPORT
============================================================

Write analysis to `docs/regulatory-submissions-analysis.md` (create `docs/` if needed).

Include: Executive Summary, Submission Portfolio Overview, eCTD Compliance Assessment,
Document Management Maturity, Validation Coverage Report, Submission Operations Review,
Gateway Integration Status, Compliance Gap Analysis, Prioritized Remediation Plan.


============================================================
SELF-HEALING VALIDATION (max 2 iterations)
============================================================

After producing output, validate data quality and completeness:

1. Verify all output sections have substantive content (not just headers).
2. Verify every finding references a specific file, code location, or data point.
3. Verify recommendations are actionable and evidence-based.
4. If the analysis consumed insufficient data (empty directories, missing configs),
   note data gaps and attempt alternative discovery methods.

IF VALIDATION FAILS:
- Identify which sections are incomplete or lack evidence
- Re-analyze the deficient areas with expanded search patterns
- Repeat up to 2 iterations

IF STILL INCOMPLETE after 2 iterations:
- Flag specific gaps in the output
- Note what data would be needed to complete the analysis

============================================================
OUTPUT
============================================================

## Regulatory Submission Analysis Complete

- Report: `docs/regulatory-submissions-analysis.md`
- Submission types reviewed: [count]
- eCTD compliance issues: [count]
- Document management gaps: [count]
- Validation rules assessed: [count]

### Summary Table
| Area | Status | Priority |
|------|--------|----------|
| eCTD Structure | [PASS/WARN/FAIL] | [P1-P4] |
| Document Formatting | [PASS/WARN/FAIL] | [P1-P4] |
| Authoring Workflow | [PASS/WARN/FAIL] | [P1-P4] |
| Validation Coverage | [PASS/WARN/FAIL] | [P1-P4] |
| ICH Compliance | [PASS/WARN/FAIL] | [P1-P4] |
| Submission Operations | [PASS/WARN/FAIL] | [P1-P4] |
| Gateway Integration | [PASS/WARN/FAIL] | [P1-P4] |
| Audit Trail | [PASS/WARN/FAIL] | [P1-P4] |

NEXT STEPS:

- "Run `/drug-discovery-ops` to evaluate the upstream pipeline feeding submissions."
- "Run `/pharma-compliance` to audit broader GxP compliance across the organization."
- "Run `/compliance-ops` to assess operational compliance management systems."

DO NOT:

- Do NOT modify any submission files, eCTD backbone XML, or document metadata.
- Do NOT transmit or attempt to transmit anything to regulatory gateways.
- Do NOT access or display patient-level data from clinical study reports.
- Do NOT skip regional compliance checks even if the primary target is FDA.
- Do NOT assume eCTD v3.2.2 compliance satisfies v4.0 requirements -- check explicitly.


============================================================
SELF-EVOLUTION TELEMETRY
============================================================

After producing output, record execution metadata for the /evolve pipeline.

Check if a project memory directory exists:
- Look for the project path in `~/.claude/projects/`
- If found, append to `skill-telemetry.md` in that memory directory

Entry format:
```
### /regulatory-submissions — {{YYYY-MM-DD}}
- Outcome: {{SUCCESS | PARTIAL | FAILED}}
- Self-healed: {{yes — what was healed | no}}
- Iterations used: {{N}} / {{N max}}
- Bottleneck: {{phase that struggled or "none"}}
- Suggestion: {{one-line improvement idea for /evolve, or "none"}}
```

Only log if the memory directory exists. Skip silently if not found.
Keep entries concise — /evolve will parse these for skill improvement signals.