Summary
This accredited course (ECTS 5), offered in collaboration with University of Copenhagen, covers the principles of pharmacoepidemiology, data sources, post-approval safety studies (PASS) and related international legislation and guidelines. The regulations, practices and processes related to PASS are also included, covering both the pharmaceutical industry and the role of the regulatory authorities (EMA, PRAC and CHMP, FDA).
At this five day course, you will acquire an understanding of the different types of evidence produced by pharmacoepidemiological studies of adverse drug effects, and of the strengths and weaknesses of different study designs and methods. Additionally, you get a basic understanding of how to apply these skills in pharmacovigilance and risk management.
After completing the course, you will be able to choose the design and data sources that best fit the purpose of a given study and to critically evaluate published literature on drug safety. You will also know how to integrate results from drug safety surveillance.
At the course, lectures are supplemented with group discussions based on real and simulated safety scenarios and scientific literature. Prior to the course there will be some online theory exercises.
This course is an elective course for students at University of Copenhagen's Master of Industrial Drug Development (MIND). The course is open to single course students and students from other master's programmes.
Keywords
- Pharmacoepidemiology
- Risk management
- Healthcare databases
- Evidence
- Post-authorisation safety studies (PASS)
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Do you need help choosing the right course?
We are ready to help you at +45 39 27 60 60 or contact@atriumcph.com
Please note:
As this course is offered in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen, you apply via the joint Atrium and University of Copenhagen application form. This means that you will be enrolled at both Atrium and the University of Copenhagen, and that your data will be registered at both institutions. If you are not enrolled as a master student, you will be registered as a single course student at the University of Copenhagen.
Course fee includes examination. By default, you pay the full amount to the University of Copenhagen regardless of whether you take the exam or not. If you decide not to take the exam, you can apply for a refund of the exam fee by contacting Atrium – please see contact details below. You must apply for a refund no later than two weeks after completion of the course.
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Course leader & lecturers
- Betina Østergaard EriksenCourse leaderVice President Safety Surveillance
Novo Nordisk A/S - Morten AndersenCourse leaderProfessor in Pharmacovigilance
University of Copenhagen - Tine KvistLecturerScientific Vice President
Novo Nordisk A/S - Mia AakjærLecturerPostdoc, MSC Pharm, PhD. University of Copenhagen
Københavns Universitet, SUND - Marcus SchartauLecturerSafety Surveillance Risk Management Specialist
Novo Nordisk A/S - Lene Hammer-HelmichLecturerDirector, Real World Evidence&Epidemiology
H. Lundbeck A/S - Lars Christian LundLecturerClinical Pharmacology
Syddansk Universitet - Jesper HallasLecturerProfessor in Clinical Pharmacology
Syddansk Universitet - Janne PetersenLecturerHead of Copenhagen Phase IV Unit and Section for Data, Biostatistics and Pharmacoepidemiology
Region Hovedstaden - Francesca BlytheLecturerSenior Managing Associate
Sidley Austin LLT - David DoreLecturerPrincipal Scientist
Exponent - Atheline Major-PedersenLecturerSafety Surveillance Principal Specialist, Global Safety
Novo Nordisk A/S - Zeljana Margan KoleticLecturerHead of Pharmacovigilance Dept
Agency for Medical Products and Medical Devices (HALMED) - Martin Zahle LarsenLecturerRegulating authorities
Lægemiddelstyrelsen
Watch the video
Is this course for you?
This course is relevant for alle pharmacovigilance professionals, e.g. safety surveillance advisers, safety scientists, and patient safety associates.
What you will learn
- How to explain and discuss the pharmacoepidemiological methods used to generate evidence on drug safety.
- How to account for central pharmacoepidemiological concepts.
- How to understand and discuss the role of PASS in pharmacovigilance and risk management.
- How to explain and discuss relevant legislation and guidelines covering PASS.
What your company will get
- An employee who is familiar with pharmacoepidemiological evidence and the scientific and regulatory aspects of PASS.
- An employee who can critically evaluate published literature on drug safety.
Course calendar
Online module
Intro webinar
More details coming up
Day 1
- Measures of occurrence and effect
- Cohort Studies
- Sources of error, bias and confounding
- Drug utilization studies
- Workshop: cohort Study
Day 2
- Analysis of epidemiological studies
- Basic statistical concepts and interpretation
- Case-control and other study designs
- Workshop: case control study
Day 3
- Data sources for post-approval studies
- Data protection regulation, ethics and confidentiality
- Multi database studies
- Effectiveness studies
- Pragmatic trials, incl. workshop
Day 4
- The role of pharmacoepidemiological studies in pharmacovigilance
- Regulatory processes, legislations, and guidelines
- The connection between pharmacoepidemiological studies and risk management plan
- Safety Reporting in PASS studies
- Workshop: PASS
Day 5
- Authority initiatives for safety analysis using RWD
- PRAC
- Use of RWD during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The framing of pharmacoepidemiology in society
- Workshop: design a study to evaluate a potential risk
Registration
Registration deadline20 Oct 2025
Lersø Parkallé 101
2100 København Ø
Course information
Literature
The syllabus comprises selected chapters from Strom’s Pharmacoepidemiology, 6th edition, relevant legislation (including EU directives, EMA guidelines), good pharmacoepidemiology practice guidelines, other book chapters, scientific papers and review papers. During the course, further material consisting of lecture handouts, notes, articles, and case studies will be distributed.
Prior to the course you get access to mandatory and optional readings via your personal Atrium log-in. Please familiarise yourself with the mandatory readings before starting the course. The mandatory readings are also part of the examination syllabus.
Prerequisites
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- A relevant BA degree or equivalent
- A minimum of 2 years of relevant job experience
Examination
The exam for this course is a written assignment (3 hours). The examination will be held on “Digital Exam” (the online examination platform of the University of Copenhagen) approximately two weeks after completion of the course.
Course leaders
Novo Nordisk A/S
University of Copenhagen
Lecturers
Novo Nordisk A/S
University of Copenhagen
Københavns Universitet, SUND
Novo Nordisk A/S
H. Lundbeck A/S
Syddansk Universitet
Syddansk Universitet
Region Hovedstaden
Sidley Austin LLT
Exponent
Novo Nordisk A/S
Novo Nordisk A/S
Agency for Medical Products and Medical Devices (HALMED)
Lægemiddelstyrelsen
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