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On October 10, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Warning Letter to a clinical investigator due to objectionable conditions observed during a Bioresearch Monitoring (BIMO) Program inspection in 2023. The warning letter addresses multiple violations to Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
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The International Standard ISO 14155 “Clinical Investigation of Medical Devices for Human Subjects – Good Clinical Practice” outlines what is considered good clinical practice for the design, conduct, recording, and reporting of clinical investigations of medical devices in human participants. As we enter 2025, a Draft International Standard (DIS) of ISO 14155 is in the final stages of the approval process and is expected to be released within the coming months to replace the existing ISO
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In November 2024, the CRC press published the first edition of “Good Clinical Practices in Pharmaceuticals” edited by Graham P. Bunn (President of GB Consulting, LLC) and authored by multiple clinical trial professionals, including Clinical Pathways’ own Jennifer Lawyer and Sandra “Sam” Sather. The book is a compendium of information regarding the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines including the standards, methodologies, laws, and regulations.
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The guidance breaks down the roles and responsibilities of the investigator, sponsor, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) in regards to monitoring, mitigating, reporting, and evaluating protocol deviations (PDs). The investigator, who is responsible for the conduct of the trial and protection of the rights, safety, and welfare of the participants must report all PDs to the sponsor, highlighting the important PDs.
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On January 6, 2025, the International Council of Harmonisation’s ICH E6(R3) for Good Clinical Practices (GCP) reached step four of the formal ICH procedure. This means that the ICH E6(R3) draft guidelines, since its release in May of 2023, were submitted to and approved by the ICH Regulatory Members of the ICH Assembly for adoption as an ICH Harmonised Guideline replacing E6(R2).
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On December 30, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the draft guidance for industry titled “Protocol Deviations for Clinical Investigations of Drugs, Biological Products, and Devices” to help trial sponsors, investigators, and institutional review boards (IRB) define, identify, and report protocol deviations.
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On August 20th, 2024 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter as a result of an FDA Bioresearch Monitoring (BIMO) Program inspection. The inspection observation was that improper dosing instructions were given to a pediatric patient. Per 21 CFR 312.60, the investigator is responsible for ensuring the study is conducted according to the protocol.
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The internet is the leading source of health information for most consumers, patients, and healthcare providers, which has led to growing concerns that the spread of misinformation on the internet will put the public at risk of using unsafe or ineffective treatments or therapies. To address the issue the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated the draft guidance “Addressing Misinformation About Medical Devices and Prescription Drugs Questions and Answers - Guidance for Industry” to inform firms about how to voluntarily address misinformation about their medical products.
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In an increasingly digital world, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is adapting its oversight mechanisms to include more technologically advanced approaches. One such adaptation is the use of Remote Regulatory Assessments (RRAs), a practice that has gained momentum, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2024, the FDA released a revised draft guidance titled Conducting Remote Regulatory Assessments–Question and Answers, outlining the role and purpose of RRAs and how they compare to traditional in-person inspections.
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published guidance on “Use of Data Monitoring Committees in Clinical Trials” in February 2024 which, once finalized, will take precedent over the FDA’s previous guide on the subject from 2006. The guidance clarifies data monitoring committees’ (DMC) relevance and importance in clinical trial oversight, and how to determine when utilizing a DMC is practical for certain clinical trials.
