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Master Protocols for Drug and Biological Product Development

DraftCenter for Drug Evaluation and Research Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research12/21/2023

Description

This guidance document provides recommendations on the design and analysis of trials 16 conducted under a master protocol as well as guidance on the submission of documentation to 17 support regulatory review.

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

5
Gene Therapy

A type of ATMP involving recombinant nucleic acids or viral vectors.

Drug

Defined in section 201(g) of the FD&C Act; Articles intended for use in diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease; Product classification based on chemical action or specific intended uses like altering pH

Biological Product

Regulated under section 351(i) of the PHS Act; Virus, therapeutic serum, toxin, vaccine, or protein applicable to prevention or treatment; Alternative regulation category for products meeting device definition

Master Protocol

A clinical investigation using a master protocol should be conducted under the master protocol IND only.

Fixed-combination drug products

Products requiring demonstration of component contribution per regulations

Stakeholders

10
Master protocol sponsor

Person or organization who takes responsibility for and initiates the master protocol

IRB

Institutional Review Board providing study approvals

IEC

Independent Ethics Committee listed in eCTD documentation

Clinical Investigator

Veterinarian responsible for selecting anesthetic regimens and conducting field studies

Institutional Review Board

Governs top dose in clinical studies

Data Monitoring Committee

Safety oversight body for interpreting adverse events; Safety oversight body for study design

Individual drug sponsor

Sponsor responsible for the investigation of an individual drug

Sponsor

Entity responsible for submitting applications under section 524B

Steering Committee

Part of the shared oversight infrastructure in a master protocol.

Data Review Committee

Provides shared oversight for master protocols.

Regulatory Context

Attributes

5
Randomization Ratio

The ratio of subjects allocated to control versus drug arms, which may change over time.

Allocation Ratio

1:1 allocation ratio for the pooled placebo arm relative to a given drug

Type I error

Study-wise control recommended for hypothesis testing in subgroups

Concurrent Control

Subjects randomized to the control arm during the same time period as the drug arm.

Nonconcurrent Control

Control data from subjects randomized at a different time than the drug being evaluated.

Related CFR Sections (5)

Related Warning Letters (3)

  • Failure to obtain Investigational New Drug Applications

    Lauren R. Klein, MD, M.S.

    2021-10-19
  • Failure to obtain Investigational New Drug Applications

    Jon B. Cole, MD

    2021-10-19
  • Unapproved and Misbranded Product Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

    Predictive Biotech

    2020-08-19

See Also (8)