Tony Trill started his career in the life sciences working for a series of global multinational pharmaceutical companies. After 18 years, he went on to become an inspector with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom—a position he held for 24 years. He was responsible for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards and inspection guidelines for computerized systems.
His personal support was invaluable in helping me set up the ISPE Supplier Forum with UK government funding in the mid-1990s. This was later incorpo-rated into the main GAMP organization that we know today. I am sure he will be deeply missed by all who remember working with him. I have a vivid memory of his smile, and dry humor with that twinkle in his eye. So long, Tony. Thanks for the memories along our shared GAMP journey.
Guy Win-gate, PhD, VP & Compliance Officer (retired), GlaxoSmithKline
He represented the MHRA during the redrafting of the European Union’s “EudraLex, Volume 4: EU Guidelines for GMPs for Medicinal Products for Human and Veterinary Use. Annex 11: Computerised Systems,” specifically chapter 4. Trill also led the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention (PIC/S) Expert Circle for Computerized Systems, the group that developed the “PIC/S Good Practices for Computerized Systems in Regulated ‘GxP’ Environments” used by regulatory authorities around the world for inspecting computerized systems.
At a meeting at Keele University in April 1989, Trill led a discussion on the new regulatory expectations for computerized systems. This meeting was attended by Tony Margetts of Zeneca Pharmaceuticals (now AstraZeneca), who would go on to form the UK Pharmaceutical Industry Computer Systems Validation Forum (UK PICSVF), with Trill as a member. The UK PICSVF leveraged Zeneca’s internal Validation Management document (VMAN) to create a first draft guidance on computerized systems.
I got a lot of earache from the management about involving Tony [in the original PICSVF], such as, ‘Why are you talking to the inspectors? They are the enemy!’ I am glad I did. Tony was very helpful in the early days as we discussed the type of guidance required by the industry.
Anthony (Tony) Mar-getts, PhD, Principal Consultant, Factorytalk Co., LTD
At the time of the first draft’s launch in London in March 1994, Trill suggested a new name for the initiative, replacing the unpronounceable PICSVF with “GAMP,” then an acronym for Good Automated Manufacturing Practices. The team became the GAMP Forum, and ultimately Tony served on GAMP Steering Committees at both the European and global levels for many years. Although the ISPE Community of Practice and its many high-level good practice guides still use the name GAMP Tony coined, it is no longer an acronym.
He was a great GAMP supporter and instrumental in getting the regulators’ attention. His contribution to GAMP’s global acceptance was enormous. He was very dedicated to the GAMP cause and a very valuable colleague with numerous contributions not only supporting GAMP, but more widely ISPE. He will always be fondly remembered by those who worked with him.
David Selby, PhD, General Site Manager, Glaxo Wellcome Operations, Barnard Castle (retired)
Tony was a huge advocate for GAMP. It’s a big loss for our GAMP community and the industry as a whole. Tony was truly a member of the GAMP hall of fame.
Michael Rutherford, 2024 Interim President and CEO of ISPE
Tony contributed extensively as both author and reviewer in every edition of the GAMP guides up to and including ISPE GAMP® 5: A Risk-Based Approach to Compliant GxP Computerized Systems Guide for Validation of Automated Systems. His long-term dedication to GAMP was hugely instrumental in both its success and its recognition by the regulatory agencies across Europe. His involvement set the precedent for other agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia to interface closely with GAMP. A strong advocate of the practical execution of GAMP principles, Trill was a regular conference speaker at ISPE events, sharing his in-depth knowledge and unique approach to slide animations and presenting.
Trill’s retirement from MHRA in 2009 did not reduce his passion for improvement in the pharmaceutical industry, and he continued to support GAMP and monitor ongoing developments. In 2023, he joined the GAMP Special Interest Group Global Software Automation and Artificial Intelligence, and attended the ISPE GAMP CoP UK Forum event in April 2024 just months prior to his passing.
