Description
We (FDA or Agency) are providing guidance intended to assist applicants and manufacturers of certain licensed biological products in determining which reporting category is appropriate for a change in chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) information to an approved biologics license application (BLA) as specified in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations 601.12 (21 CFR 601.12) (i.e., post-approval changes) (Refs. 1 and 2). The guidance describes general and administrative information on evaluating and reporting changes and recommendations for reporting categories based on a tiered-reporting system for specific changes under 21 CFR 601.12. This guidance finalizes the draft guidance, “Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls Changes to an Approved Application: Certain Biological Products” dated December 2017, and supersedes the guidance entitled “Guidance for Industry: Changes to an Approved Application: Biological Products” dated 1997 (July 1997 guidance).
Scope & Applicability
Product Classes
8Requires analytical comparability per ICH Q5E
Term included under Drug Product for this guidance
Extension of the shelf life of cell seeds
Additional considerations may exist for cellular therapies.
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
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.
A type of ATMP involving recombinant nucleic acids or viral vectors.
Devices facilitated by enforcement policies
Stakeholders
4Entity submitting development data and knowledge; Entity performing the work process for change
The specific regulatory body sponsors should consult
Entity responsible for submitting NDINs
Responsible for ensuring the overall quality of the final drug product.
Regulatory Context
Attributes
6Identity, strength, quality, purity, and potency of a product
Determined based on stability data; Established through stability testing; also called dating period.; Established through formal stability studies; Establishing the period during which a drug product is expected to remain within specifications; Period for drug products; The period during which a drug product is expected to remain within specifications; Duration product remains within acceptance criteria; Period during which product remains within specifications; Established for intermediates pu
intended storage conditions throughout the proposed shelf-life
Manufacturing variables affecting drug release
specifications for the purity, strength, and composition of dietary supplements
Measurement of potency for biological products
Identified Hazards
Hazards
3Microorganism inadvertently introduced into production
Risk associated with construction, traffic flow, and shared equipment.; Risk from raw food to RTE food or from insanitary objects; Personnel handling RTE foods touch contaminated surfaces
Risk associated with changing excipient source from plant/synthetic to animal
Related CFR Sections (8)
- 21CFR601.12§ 601.12 Changes to an approved application.
(a) General.Read full regulation →
- 21CFR314.70§ 314.70 Supplements and other changes to an approved NDA.
(a) Changes to an approved NDA.Read full regulation →
- 21CFR600.11§ 600.11 Physical establishment, equipment, animals, and care.
(a) Work areas. All rooms and work areas where products are manufactured or stored shall be kept orderly, clean, and free of dirt, dust, vermin and objects not required for manufacturing. Precautions shall be taken to avoid clogging and back-siphonage of drainage systems. Precautions shall be taken Read full regulation →
- 21CFR600.3§ 600.3 Definitions.
As used in this subchapter:Read full regulation →
- 21CFR207.1§ 207.1 What definitions and interpretations of terms apply to this part?
The definitions and interpretations of terms in sections 201 and 510 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act apply to the terms used in this part, if not otherwise defined in this section. The following definitions apply to this part:Read full regulation →
- 21CFR601.2§ 601.2 Applications for biologics licenses; procedures for filing.
(a) General. To obtain a biologics license under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act for any biological product, the manufacturer shall submit an application to the Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research or the Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (see mailing aRead full regulation →
- 21CFR201.57§ 201.57 Specific requirements on content and format of labeling for human prescription drug and biological products described in § 201.56(b)(1) .
The requirements in this section apply only to prescription drug products described in § 201.56(b)(1) and must be implemented according to the schedule specified in § 201.56(c) , except for the requirement in paragraph (c)(18) of this section to reprint any FDA-approved patient labeling at the end oRead full regulation →
- 21CFR601.20§ 601.20 Biologics licenses; issuance and conditions.
(a) Examination—compliance with requirements. A biologics license application shall be approved only upon examination of the product and upon a determination that the product complies with the standards established in the biologics license application and the requirements prescribed in the regulatioRead full regulation →
Related Warning Letters (10)
- 2025-12-23
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated
SV Labs Corporation
- 2025-12-23
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated
Guangdong Renhe Guozhuang Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
- 2025-12-23
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated
Medinatura New Mexico, Inc.
- 2025-12-16
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated
Sklar Personal Care Inc.
- 2025-12-16
CGMP/Deviations/Biologics License Application (BLA)
Microvascular Tissue, Inc.
- 2025-12-16
Deviations/CFR/Regulations for Human Cells, Tissues & Cellular Products (HCT/Ps)
Green Valley Fertility Partners
- 2025-12-11
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated
Catalent Indiana, LLC
- 2025-12-09
Unapproved New Drug/Unlicensed Biological Product/Biologics License Application (BLA)
BioXtek LLC
- 2025-12-09
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated
DeVere Manufacturing Inc.
- 2025-12-09
CGMP/Finished Pharmaceuticals/Adulterated
CDL Services, Inc. DBA Technichem
See Also (8)
- Safety Labeling Changes—Implementation of Section 505(o)(4) of the FD&C Act: Draft Guidance for Industry (Status: Draft)
- Demonstration of Comparability of Human Biological Products, Including Therapeutic Biotechnology-derived Products (Status: Final)
- Promotional Labeling and Advertising Considerations for Prescription Biological Reference Products, Biosimilar Products, and Interchangeable Biosimilar Products: Questions and Answers: Guidance for Industry (Status: Final)
- Changes to an Approved Application for Specified Biotechnology and Specified Synthetic Biological Products (Status: Final)
- Environmental Assessment of Human Drug and Biologics Applications: Guidance for Industry (Status: Final)
- For the Submission of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls and Establishment Description Information for Human Blood and Blood Components Intended for Transfusion or for Further Manufacture and For the Completion of the Form FDA 356h: Guidance for Industry (Status: Final)
- Container Closure Systems for Packaging Human Drugs and Biologics: Guidance for Industry (Status: Final)
- Use of Sterile Connecting Devices in Blood Bank Practices: Guidance for Industry (Status: Final)