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Cross-Center Master Files: Where to Submit: Draft Guidance for Industry

DraftOffice of the Commissioner,Office of the Chief Medical Officer,Office of Combination Products Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Center for Devices and Radiological Health Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Center for Veterinary Medicine11/25/2025

Description

The draft guidance provides recommendations to master file holders, regarding where (i.e., to which FDA center) to submit a master file that is referenced in and intended to support more than one regulatory submission for which the lead center may vary or where the information may need to be reviewed by more than one center to support review of the referencing submission(s).  The recommendations apply to master files submitted to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), and certain types of master files submitted to the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

5
Combination Product

Products combining drug, device, or biological constituents; Generally recommended for Enhanced Documentation; Requires 14971-based framework incorporating ICH Q9; A drug-device combination where the device constituent part detects ingestion.

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

drug-filled autoinjector

CDER-led drug-device combination product

drug-device combination product

regulatory submission will reference an MF

drug-eluting stent

CDRH-led drug-device combination product

Stakeholders

3
Master File Holder

Entity responsible for maintaining the DMF

Sponsor

Entity responsible for submitting applications under section 524B

Applicant

Entity submitting development data and knowledge; Entity performing the work process for change

Related CFR Sections (3)

See Also (8)