Ich 2019

E8(R1) GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS FOR
CLINICAL STUDIES
This draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the current thinking of the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA or Agency) on this topic. It does not establish any rights for any person and is
not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements
of the applicable statutes and regulations. To discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA staff
responsible for this guidance as listed on the title page. The draft guidance has been left in the original
International Council for Harmonisation format. The final guidance will be reformatted and edited to
conform with FDA’s good guidance practice regulation and style.
For questions regarding this draft document, contact (CDER) Mark Levenson 301-796-2097
or (CBER) Philip Krause 301-796-1862.
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR HARMONISATION OF TECHNICAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR PHARMACEUTICALS FOR HUMAN USE
ICH HARMONISED GUIDELINE
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CLINICAL

STUDIES
E8(R1)
Draft version
Endorsed on 8 May 2019
Currently under public consultation
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procedures
E8(R1)
Document History
Code History Date
E8(R1) Endorsement by the Members of the ICH Assembly 8 May 2019

under Step 2 and release for public consultation
(document dated 25 March 2019).
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ICH HARMONISED GUIDELINE
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CLINICAL

STUDIES
E8(R1)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 OBJECTIVES OF THIS DOCUMENT ......................................................................... 1
2 GENERAL PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................... 2
2.1 Protection of Clinical Study Subjects.......................................................................... 2
2.2 Scientific Approach in Clinical Study Design, Conduct, and Analysis ...................... 2
2.3 Patient Input into Study Design .................................................................................. 3
3 DESIGNING QUALITY INTO CLINICAL STUDIES ............................................... 4
3.1 Quality by Design of Clinical Studies ......................................................................... 4
3.2 Critical to Quality Factors ........................................................................................... 5
3.3 Approach to Identifying the Critical to Quality Factors ............................................. 6
3.3.1 Establishing a Culture that Supports Open Dialogue .......................................... 6
3.3.2 Focusing on Activities Essential to the Study...................................................... 7
3.3.3 Engaging Stakeholders in Study Design .............................................................. 7
3.3.4 Reviewing Critical to Quality Factors ................................................................. 8
4 DRUG DEVELOPMENT PLANNING .......................................................................... 8
4.1 Non-Clinical Studies ................................................................................................... 9
4.2 Quality and Formulations of Investigational Medicinal Products ............................ 10
4.3 Clinical Studies ......................................................................................................... 10
4.3.1 Human Pharmacology (usually referred to as Phase 1) ..................................... 11
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4.3.2 Exploratory and Confirmatory Studies (usually referred to as Phase 2 or Phase 3)
12
4.3.3 Post Approval Studies (usually referred to as Phase 4) ..................................... 13
4.3.4 Additional Development .................................................................................... 13
4.3.5 Consideration in Special Populations ................................................................ 14
4.4 Feasibility .................................................................................................................. 15
5 DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR CLINICAL STUDIES ................................................... 16
5.1 Study Design ............................................................................................................. 16
5.1.1 Study Population ................................................................................................ 16
5.1.2 Intervention ........................................................................................................ 17
5.1.3 Control Group .................................................................................................... 18
5.1.4 Response Variables ............................................................................................ 19
5.1.5 Methods to Reduce or Assess Bias .................................................................... 20
5.1.6 Statistical Analysis ............................................................................................. 21
5.2 Study Data ................................................................................................................. 22
6 CONDUCT AND REPORTING ................................................................................... 24
6.1 Study Conduct ........................................................................................................... 24
6.1.1 Protocol Adherence ............................................................................................ 24
6.1.2 Training .............................................................................................................. 24
6.1.3 Data Management .............................................................................................. 24
6.1.4 Access to Interim Data ....................................................................................... 25
6.2 Subject Safety............................................................................................................ 25
6.2.1 Safety Monitoring .............................................................................................. 25
6.2.2 Withdrawal Criteria ........................................................................................... 25
6.2.3 Data Monitoring Committee .............................................................................. 25
6.3 Study Reporting......................................................................................................... 26
7 CONSIDERATIONS IN IDENTIFYING CRITICAL TO QUALITY FACTORS 26
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ANNEX 1: TYPES OF STUDIES ........................................................................................ 29
ANNEX 2: ICH E FAMILY OF GUIDELINES ................................................................. 31
ANNEX 3: SELECTED EXAMPLES OF CRITICAL TO QUALITY FACTORS ....... 33
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ICH E8(R1) Guideline
1 General Considerations for Clinical Studies
2 1 OBJECTIVES OF THIS DOCUMENT
3 Clinical studies of medical interventions are conducted to provide information that can
4 ultimately improve access to safe and effective drugs with meaningful impact on patients, while
5 protecting those participating in the studies. This document focuses on designing quality into
6 clinical studies, considering the diversity of clinical study designs and data sources used to
7 support regulatory and other health policy decisions.
8 The ICH document "General Considerations for Clinical Studies" is intended to:
9 1. Describe internationally accepted principles and practices in the design and conduct of
10 clinical studies that will facilitate acceptance of data and results by regulatory
11 authorities
12 2. Provide guidance on the consideration of quality in the design and conduct of clinical
13 studies across the product lifecycle, including the identification during study planning
14 of factors that are critical to the quality of the study, and the management of risks to
15 those factors during study conduct
16 3. Provide an overview of the types of clinical studies performed during the product
17 lifecycle, and describe the aspects of those studies that support the determination of
18 which quality factors are critical to ensuring the protection of study subjects, the
19 integrity of the data, the reliability of results, and the ability of the studies to meet their
20 objectives
21 4. Provide a guide to the ICH efficacy documents to facilitate user's access (Annex 2 and
22 3)
23 General principles of clinical study design are described in Section 2 of this document,
24 followed by a discussion of designing quality into clinical studies in Section 3. A broad
25 overview of planning a clinical development programme, the types of studies and study
26 objectives that are important at different points in the programme, and issues of study feasibility
27 from the perspective of sponsors, investigators, regulatory authorities, and patients are
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28 provided in Section 4. In Section 5, the elements composing study design are described. Section
29 6 describes study conduct, ensuring the safety of human subjects, and study reporting. A
30 general discussion of identifying critical to quality factors for a study is provided in Section 7.
31 For the purposes of this document, a clinical study is meant to refer to a study of a medicinal
32 product in humans, conducted at any point in a product’s lifecycle. The term "drug" should be
33 considered synonymous with "medicinal product,” including vaccines and biological products.
34 The term “drug approval” refers to obtaining marketing authorization for the drug.
35 2 GENERAL PRINCIPLES
36 2.1 Protection of Clinical Study Subjects
37 Important principles of ethical conduct of clinical studies and the protection of subjects,
38 including special populations, are stated in other ICH guidelines (ICH E6 Good Clinical
39 Practice, ICH E7 Clinical Trials in Geriatric Populations, ICH E11 Clinical Trials in the
40 Pediatric Population, and ICH E18 Genomic Sampling).
41 These principles have their origins in the Declaration of Helsinki and should be observed in
42 the conduct of all human clinical investigations. The investigator and sponsor share
43 responsibility for the protection of study subjects together with the Institutional Review
44 Board/Independent Ethics Committee.
45 The confidentiality of information that could identify subjects should be protected in

46 accordance with the applicable regulatory and legal requirement(s).
47 Before initiating a clinical study, sufficient information should be available to ensure that the
48 drug is acceptably safe for the planned study in humans. Emerging clinical and non-clinical
49 data should be reviewed and evaluated, as they become available, by qualified experts to assess
50 the potential implications for the safety of study subjects. Ongoing and future studies should
51 be appropriately adjusted as needed, to take new knowledge into consideration and to protect
52 study subjects.
53 2.2 Scientific Approach in Clinical Study Design, Conduct, and Analysis
54 Clinical studies should be designed, conducted, and analysed according to sound scientific
55 principles to achieve their objectives, and should be reported appropriately. The essence of
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56 clinical research is to ask important questions and answer them with appropriate studies. The
57 primary objective of any study should be clear and explicitly stated.
58 Quality of a clinical study is considered in this document as fitness for purpose. The purpose
59 of a clinical study is to generate reliable information to answer key questions and support
60 decision making while protecting study subjects. The quality of the information generated
61 should therefore be sufficient to support good decision making.
62 Quality by design in clinical research sets out to ensure that the quality of a study is driven
63 proactively by designing quality into the study protocol and processes. This involves the use
64 of a prospective, multidisciplinary approach to promote the quality of protocol and process
65 design, and clear communication of how this will be achieved.
66 Across the product lifecycle, different types of studies will be conducted with different
67 objectives and designs. Depending on the study objectives and the position of the study in the
68 overall development plan, the data sources may vary. For purposes of this guideline, the
69 development plan is considered to cover the entire product lifecycle and include non-clinical,
70 clinical, and post-approval studies (Section 4). Annex 1 provides a broad categorisation of
71 study type by objective within the different stages of drug development.
72 The cardinal logic behind serially conducted studies is that the results of prior studies should
73 inform the plan of later studies. Emerging data will frequently prompt a modification of the
74 development strategy. For example, results of a confirmatory study may suggest a need for
75 additional human pharmacology studies.
76 2.3 Patient Input into Study Design
77 Consulting with patients and/or patient organisations in the design, planning and conduct of
78 clinical studies helps to ensure that all perspectives are captured. Patients’ views can be
79 requested on all phases of drug development. Involving patients at the early stage of study
80 design is likely to increase trust in the study, facilitate recruitment, and promote adherence,
81 which should continue throughout the duration of the study. Patients also provide their
82 perspective of living with a condition, which contributes to the determination of endpoints that
83 are meaningful to patients, selection of the right population, duration of the study, and use of
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84 the right comparators. This ultimately supports the development of medicines that are better
85 tailored to patients’ needs.
86 3 DESIGNING QUALITY INTO CLINICAL STUDIES
87 The quality by design approach to clinical research (section 3.1) involves focusing on critical
88 to quality factors to ensure the protection of study subjects, the generation of reliable and
89 meaningful results, and the management of risks to those factors (section 3.2). The approach is
90 supported by the establishment of an appropriate framework for the identification and review
91 of critical to quality factors (section 3.3).
92 3.1 Quality by Design of Clinical Studies
93 Quality is a primary consideration in the design, planning, conduct and analysis of clinical
94 studies and a necessary component of clinical development programmes. The likelihood that a
95 clinical study will answer the research questions posed in a reliable manner, meaningful for
96 decision makers and patients, while preventing important errors, can be dramatically improved
97 through prospective attention to the design of all components of the study protocol, procedures
98 and associated operational plans.
99 Quality should rely on good design and its execution rather than overreliance on retrospective
100 document checking, monitoring, auditing or inspection. These activities are an important part
101 of a quality assurance process but are not sufficient to ensure quality of a clinical study.
102 Good planning and implementation of a clinical study derive from attention to well-established
103 principles of clinical research, which include the protection of the rights, safety and wellbeing
104 of study subjects and scientific criteria, such as:
105 • the need for clear pre-defined study objectives that address the primary scientific
106 question(s);
107 • selection of appropriate subjects that have the disease, condition, or molecular/genetic
108 profile that is being studied;
109 • use of approaches to minimize bias, such as randomisation, blinding or masking, and/or
110 control of confounding;
111 • endpoints that are well-defined and measurable, and methods of assessment of those
112 endpoints that are accurate and able to be implemented with minimal reporting or
113 measurement bias.
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114 Operational criteria are also important, such as ensuring a clear understanding of the feasibility
115 of the study, selection of suitable investigator sites, quality of specialised analytical and testing
116 facilities and procedures, and processes that ensure data integrity.
117 3.2 Critical to Quality Factors
118 A basic set of factors relevant to ensuring study quality should be identified for each study.
119 Emphasis should be given to those factors that stand out as critical to study quality. These
120 critical to quality factors are attributes of a study whose integrity is fundamental to the
121 protection of study subjects, the reliability and interpretability of the study results, and the
122 decisions made based on the study results. These quality factors are considered to be critical
123 because, if their integrity were to be undermined by errors of design or conduct, the reliability
124 or ethics of decision-making would also be undermined.
125 The design of a clinical study should reflect the state of knowledge and experience with the
126 drug; the condition to be treated, diagnosed or prevented; the underlying biological mechanism
127 (of both the condition and the treatment); and the population for which the drug is intended. As
128 research progresses, knowledge increases and uncertainties about the safety and efficacy of a
129 drug decrease.
130 This state of knowledge has a clear influence on the regulatory and ethical controls that apply
131 to the authorisation, supervision, and conduct of clinical studies. Knowledge of the drug at the
132 point in development when the study is designed or reviewed will therefore inform the
133 identification of critical to quality factors and control processes used to manage them.
134 The sponsor and other parties designing quality into a clinical study should identify the critical
135 to quality factors. Having identified those factors, it is important to determine the risks that
136 threaten their integrity, the probability and impact of those risks and to decide whether they
137 can be accepted or should be mitigated. Where it is decided that risks should be mitigated, the
138 necessary control processes should be put in place and communicated, and the necessary action
139 taken to mitigate the risks. The term risk is used here in the context of general risk management
140 methodology to all factors of a study.
141 Proactive communication of the critical to quality factors and risk mitigation activities will
142 support understanding of priorities and resource allocation by the sponsor and investigator
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143 sites. Proactive support (e.g., broad training to all relevant site staff and description in the
144 protocol or in the case report form) will enhance correct implementation of study protocol,
145 procedures, and associated operational plans and process design.
146 Perfection in every aspect of an activity is rarely achievable or can only be achieved by use of
147 resources that are out of proportion to the benefit obtained. The quality factors should be
148 prioritized to identify those that are critical to the study, at the time of the study design, and
149 study procedures should be proportionate to the risks inherent in the study and the importance
150 of the information collected. The critical to quality factors should be clear and should not be
151 cluttered with minor issues (e.g., due to extensive secondary objectives or processes/data
152 collection not linked to the proper protection of the study subjects and/or primary study
153 objectives).
154 3.3 Approach to Identifying the Critical to Quality Factors
155 A key aspect of a quality approach to study design is to ask whether the objectives being
156 addressed by the study are clearly articulated; whether the study is designed to meet the need
157 it sets out to address; whether these needs are meaningful to patients; and whether the study
158 hypotheses are specific, timely and scientifically valid. The approach should consider whether
159 those objectives can be met, well and most efficiently, by the chosen design and data sources.
160 Study designs should be operationally feasible and avoid unnecessary complexity and
161 unnecessary data collection. Patient consultation early in the study design process contributes
162 to these factors and would be likely to result in fewer protocol amendments. Protocols and case
163 report forms/data collection methods should enable the study to be conducted as designed.
164 Identification of critical to quality factors will be enhanced by approaches that include the
165 following elements:
166 3.3.1 Establishing a Culture that Supports Open Dialogue
167 Create a culture that values and rewards critical thinking and open dialogue about quality and
168 that goes beyond sole reliance on tools and checklists.
169 Choose quality measures and performance indicators that are aligned with a proactive approach
170 to design. For example, an overemphasis on minimising the time to first patient enrolled may
171 result in devoting too little time to identifying and preventing errors that matter through careful
172 design.
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173 Encourage proactive dialogue about what is critical to quality for a particular study or
174 development programme and, when needed, the development of innovative methods for
175 ensuring quality.
176 Discourage inflexible “one size fits all” approaches that undermine creation of specific
177 strategies and actions intended to effectively and efficiently support quality in a given study.
178 Gather and synthesise evidence in a transparent manner, acknowledge gaps in data and
179 conflicting data where present and known, and anticipate the possible emergence of such gaps
180 or conflicts.
181 3.3.2 Focusing on Activities Essential to the Study
182 Focus effort on activities that are essential to the reliability and meaningfulness of study
183 outcomes for patients, and the safe, ethical conduct of the study for study subjects. Consider
184 whether nonessential activities may be eliminated from the study to simplify conduct, improve
185 study efficiency, and target resources to critical areas.
186 Rigorously evaluate the study design to verify that planned activities and choice of data to be
187 collected are essential.
188 Deploy resources to identify and prevent or control errors that matter.
189 3.3.3 Engaging Stakeholders in Study Design
190 Clinical study design is best informed by input from a broad range of stakeholders, including
191 patients and treating physicians. It should be open to challenge by subject matter experts and
192 stakeholders from outside, as well as within, the sponsor organisation.
193 The process of building quality into the study may be informed by participation of those
194 directly involved in successful completion of the study such as clinical investigators, study
195 coordinators and other site staff, and patients/patient organisations. Clinical investigators and
196 potential study subjects have valuable insights into the feasibility of enrolling subjects who
197 meet proposed eligibility criteria, whether scheduled study visits and procedures may be overly
198 burdensome and lead to early dropouts, and the general relevance of study endpoints and study
199 settings to the targeted patient population (See Section 4.4). They may also provide insight into
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200 the value of a treatment in the context of ethical issues, culture, region, demographics, and
201 subgroups within a targeted patient population.
202 When a study has novel elements considered critical to quality (e.g., defining patient
203 populations, procedures, or endpoints), early engagement with regulatory authorities should
204 also be considered.
205 3.3.4 Reviewing Critical to Quality Factors
206 Build on accumulated experience and knowledge with periodic review of critical to quality
207 factors to determine whether adjustments to risk control mechanisms are needed, since new or
208 unanticipated issues may arise once the study has begun.
209 Pay special attention to studies designed to include adaptations and/or interim decision points
210 during the study. These will require proactive planning and ongoing review and adjustment of
211 critical to quality factors, and risk management.
212 4 DRUG DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
213 This section provides general principles to consider in planning a drug development
214 programme. Efficient drug development usually requires appropriately planned interactions
215 with regulatory authorities throughout development, both in relation to planning early as well
216 as later studies including post-approval studies. This is particularly important for multiregional
217 studies to ensure the study design is aligned with regional regulatory requirements.
218 A drug development plan describes all aspects of the development of a product from the target
219 product profile through post-approval activities. The plan is usually prepared prospectively and
220 updated as the development progresses and new information becomes available. The plan
221 generally includes characterisation of formulation development, non-clinical studies required
222 to support the evaluation of the product in human clinical studies and to support product
223 approval, clinical studies designed to support the demonstration of efficacy and safety in the
224 relevant patient population, studies in special populations (e.g., paediatric populations),
225 regional considerations for product commercialisation (e.g., health technology assessments),
226 and post-approval studies.
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227 It is important to ensure that the experiences, perspectives, needs, and priorities of stakeholders
228 relating to the development and evaluation of the drug throughout its lifecycle are captured and
229 meaningfully incorporated into the development programme.
230 With increased globalisation of drug development programmes there is a need to consider
231 factors that impact quality of a protocol when it is conducted in more than one region (see ICH
232 E17 Multi-Region Clinical Trials). Early engagement with regulatory authorities to understand
233 local/regional requirements is encouraged and will facilitate the ability to design quality into
234 the study protocol. The results of a study are often used in regulatory submissions in multiple
235 regions, and the design should also consider the relevance of the study results for regions other
236 than the one(s) in which the study is conducted.
237 Clinical development programmes may also feature requirements for co-development of
238 validated biomarkers, diagnostic testing, or devices that facilitate the safe and effective use of
239 a drug.
240 An overview of the types of studies that may contribute to a development programme is
241 provided in the table in Annex 1.
242 4.1 Non-Clinical Studies
243 In preparing a development plan, the non-clinical information that is required for the drug
244 should be addressed. Non-clinical information may include toxicology, carcinogenicity,
245 pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics to support clinical trials (e.g., ICH Safety (S) Guidelines
246 and M3 Nonclinical Safety Studies). Important considerations for determining the necessary
247 non-clinical studies, and their timing with respect to clinical studies, depend on the
248 physiological and toxicological characteristics of the drug. These characteristics can include
249 the drug’s chemical or molecular properties (e.g., small-molecule, biologic/cellular/gene
250 therapy, complex drug, and vaccine); pharmacological basis of principal effects (mechanism
251 of action); route(s) of administration; absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
252 (ADME); physiological effects on organ systems; dose/concentration-response relationships;
253 half-life; duration of action; and indication. Use of the drug in special populations (e.g.,
254 pregnant or breast-feeding women, children, elderly) may require additional toxicological
255 assessments.
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256 Before proceeding to studies in humans, there should be sufficient information to support
257 selection of the initial human dose and safe duration of exposure, and to provide a preliminary
258 assessment of physiological and toxicological effects of the drug.
259 4.2 Quality and Formulations of Investigational Medicinal Products
260 Quality of investigational medicinal products is an important consideration in planning a drug

261 development programme and is addressed in the ICH quality guidelines. Of particular
262 importance in transitioning from non-clinical to clinical studies is the quality of the product
263 formulation to be taken into clinical development. Formulations should be well characterised
264 in the drug development plan, including information on bioavailability. The formulation should
265 be appropriate for the stage of drug development. Ideally, the supply of a formulation will be
266 adequate to allow testing in a series of studies that examine a range of doses. During drug
267 development, different formulations of a drug may be tested. Links between formulations,
268 established by bioequivalence studies or other means, are important in interpreting clinical
269 study results across the development programme. Age-appropriate formulation development is
270 a consideration when clinical studies are anticipated in paediatric populations (ICH E11).
271 4.3 Clinical Studies
272 Clinical drug development, defined as studying the drug in humans, is conducted in a sequence
273 that builds on knowledge accumulated from previous studies. Although clinical drug
274 development is often described as consisting of four temporal phases (Phase 1-4), it is
275 important to appreciate that the phase concept is a description, not a set of requirements. Studies
276 may be better categorized by other design elements such as study objective (see Annex I and
277 Section 5). It is also important to realise that the temporal phases do not imply a fixed order of
278 studies. Drug development is ideally a logical, step-wise process in which information from
279 small early studies is used to support and plan later larger, more definitive studies. To develop
280 new drugs efficiently, it is essential to identify characteristics of the investigational medicine
281 in the early stages of development and to plan an appropriate development based on this profile.
282 Initial studies provide an early evaluation of short-term safety and tolerability and can provide
283 pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic information needed to choose a suitable dosage range
284 and administration schedule for initial exploratory studies. Later confirmatory studies are
285 generally larger and longer and include a more diverse study population. Dose response
286 information may be obtained at any stage of development, from early tolerance studies, to
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287 studies of short-term pharmacodynamic effect, to large efficacy studies (ICH E4 Dose-
288 Response Studies). Throughout development, new data may suggest the need for additional
289 studies.
290 4.3.1 Human Pharmacology (usually referred to as Phase 1)
291 Clinical development begins with human pharmacology studies and includes the initial
292 administration of an investigational new drug to humans.
293 Studies in this phase of development may be conducted in healthy volunteer subjects or in a
294 selected population of patients who have the condition or the disease, depending on drug
295 properties and the objectives of the development programme.
296 Studies typically address one or a combination of the following aspects:
297 4.3.1.1 Estimation of Initial Safety and Tolerability
298 The initial and subsequent administration of an investigational new drug to humans is usually
299 intended to determine the tolerability of the dose range expected to be evaluated in later clinical
300 studies and to determine the nature of adverse reactions that can be expected. These studies
301 typically include both single and multiple dose administration.
302 4.3.1.2 Pharmacokinetics
303 Characterisation of a drug's absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion continues

304 throughout the development plan, but the preliminary characterisation is often a goal of Phase
305 1. Pharmacokinetic studies are particularly important to assess the clearance of the drug and to
306 anticipate possible accumulation of parent drug or metabolites, and potential drug-drug
307 interactions. Some pharmacokinetic studies are commonly conducted in later phases to answer
308 more specialised questions. For many orally administered drugs, especially modified release
309 products, the study of food effects on bioavailability is important. Obtaining pharmacokinetic
310 information in sub-populations such as patients with impaired elimination (renal or hepatic
311 impairment), the elderly, children, and ethnic subgroups should be considered (ICH E5 Ethnic
312 Factors in the Acceptability of Foreign Clinical Data, E7, E11).
313 If a potential for drug-drug interaction is suggested by metabolic profile, by the results of non-
314 clinical studies, or by information on similar drugs, studies on drug interaction during clinical
315 development are highly recommended and may be required to inform safe use and drug
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316 labelling, especially for drugs that are frequently co-administered. This is particularly true for
317 drugs that are known to alter the absorption or metabolism of other drugs, or whose metabolism
318 or excretion can be altered by effects of other drugs. Drug-drug interaction studies are generally
319 performed at later phases of development, but studies in animals and in vitro studies of
320 metabolism and potential interactions may inform the need for earlier studies.
321 4.3.1.3 Pharmacodynamics & Early Measurement of Drug Activity
322 Depending on the drug and the endpoint studied, pharmacodynamic studies and studies relating
323 drug levels to response (PK/PD studies) may be conducted in healthy volunteer subjects or in
324 patients with the target disease. If there is an appropriate measure, pharmacodynamic data can
325 provide early estimates of activity and potential efficacy and may guide the dosage and dose
326 regimen in later studies.
327 Preliminary studies of activity or potential therapeutic benefit may be conducted in Phase 1 as
328 a secondary objective. Such studies are generally performed in later phases but may be
329 appropriate when drug activity is readily measurable with a short duration of drug exposure in
330 patients at this early stage.
331 4.3.2 Exploratory and Confirmatory Studies (usually referred to as Phase 2 or Phase 3)
332 Exploratory studies (Phase 2) support clinical proof of concept for the drug in a selected
333 population of patients who have the condition or disease for which the drug is intended. If the
334 data are promising, then further clinical evaluation follows to confirm the early findings. These
335 evaluations may aim to refine the effective dose(s) and therapeutic regimens (including
336 concomitant medication) for subsequent studies, refine the definition of the target population,
337 provide a more robust safety profile for the drug, and may include evaluation of potential study
338 endpoints for further study. Initial exploratory studies may use a variety of study designs,
339 including concurrent controls, comparisons with baseline status, and adaptive dose-finding.
340 Other studies may involve modelling early or intermediate outcome data to predict clinical
341 outcomes and thereby inform the design of the follow-on, larger confirmatory studies.
342 Confirmatory studies (Phase 3) are designed to confirm the preliminary evidence accumulated
343 in earlier phases that a drug is safe and effective for use for the intended indication and recipient
344 population. These studies are often intended to provide an adequate basis for marketing
345 approval, and to support adequate instructions for use of the drug and official product
346 information. They aim to evaluate the drug in a larger population of patients with or at risk of
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347 the condition or disease. These subjects more accurately represent the population of patients
348 who will receive the drug once approved and may include subgroups of patients with frequently
349 occurring or potentially relevant co-morbidities (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatic
350 and renal impairment) to characterise the safe and effective use of the drug in patients with
351 these baseline conditions.
352 Confirmatory studies may further explore the dose-response relationship or explore the drug's
353 use in different stages of disease or in combination with one or more drugs. If the intent is to
354 administer a drug for a long period, studies involving extended exposure to the drug should be
355 conducted (ICH E1 Clinical Safety for Drugs used in Long-Term Treatment). Irrespective of
356 the duration of administration, the duration of effect of the drug will usually guide the demand
357 for understanding long-term effects and therefore the duration of follow-up in the study.
358 Confirmatory studies often use randomised parallel designs. They may use complex adaptive
359 or innovative designs to realize efficiencies or test assumptions as data accumulate during the
360 study.
361 4.3.3 Post Approval Studies (usually referred to as Phase 4)
362 Post approval studies are studies conducted following drug approval. They may be performed
363 for a variety of reasons, including providing additional information on the efficacy, safety, and
364 use of the drug. For example, in certain circumstances, a drug may be approved based on
365 surrogate endpoints likely to predict clinical outcomes. After such an approval, studies would
366 be conducted to demonstrate effects on clinical endpoints. Studies in special populations, such
367 as paediatric and elderly populations, may be conducted to understand the drug effects in these
368 populations. Safety studies may be conducted after authorization to refine the understanding of
369 potential risks. Studies with long-term follow-up or with comparisons among authorized drugs
370 may provide important information on safety and efficacy to the medical community. Post-
371 approval studies encompass a range of designs and data sources (See Section 5).
372 4.3.4 Additional Development
373 After initial approval, drug development may continue with studies of new or modified
374 indications, new dosage regimens, new routes of administration, or additional patient
375 populations. If a new dose, formulation or combination is studied, additional non-clinical
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376 and/or human pharmacology studies may be indicated. Data from previous studies or from
377 clinical experience with the approved drug may inform these programmes.
378 4.3.5 Consideration in Special Populations
379 Some groups in the general population may require special study because they have unique
380 risk/benefit considerations that need to be taken into account during drug development, or
381 because they can be anticipated to need modification of the dose or schedule of a drug. ICH E5
382 provides a framework for evaluating the impact of ethnic factors on a drug’s effect. Non-
383 clinical safety studies to support human clinical studies in special populations may be needed
384 (see, e.g., ICH S5 Reproductive Toxicology, S11 Nonclinical Paediatric Safety, and M3).
385 Following are examples of special populations to be considered during development planning.
386 • Investigations in pregnant women
387 If a pregnant woman is enrolled in a clinical study, or a woman becomes pregnant while
388 participating in a clinical study, evaluation of the pregnancy, foetus, and child, and reporting
389 of all outcomes in the clinical study report, is often necessary. The same applies for clinical
390 studies that include pregnant women, where the medicinal product is intended for use during
391 pregnancy.
392 • Investigations in nursing women
393 Excretion of the drug or its metabolites into human milk should be examined where applicable
394 and feasible. When nursing mothers are enrolled in clinical studies their babies are usually also
395 monitored for the effects of the drug.
396 • Investigations in children
397 ICH E11 provides an outline of critical issues in paediatric drug development and approaches
398 to the safe, efficient, and ethical study of drugs in paediatric populations.
399 • Investigations in geriatric populations
400 ICH E7 provides an outline of critical issues in geriatric drug development and approaches to
401 the safe, efficient, and ethical study of drugs in geriatric populations.
402 • Investigations in renal and hepatic impaired populations
14
403 Pharmacokinetic studies in patients with renal and hepatic impairment are important to assess
404 the impact of potentially altered drug metabolism or excretion.
405 Particular attention should be paid to the ethical considerations related to informed consent in
406 vulnerable populations (ICH E6 and E11).
407 4.4 Feasibility
408 During drug development, the feasibility of the individual studies should be assessed. The
409 foundation of a successful study is a protocol that is both scientifically sound and operationally
410 viable. A detailed feasibility assessment includes consideration of study design and
411 implementation elements that could impact the successful completion of a clinical development
412 programme or study from an operational perspective in a particular geographical region.
413 Consideration of critical to quality factors relating to study feasibility can inform study design
414 and enhance quality implementation. Feasibility considerations include but are not limited to
415 the availability of qualified investigators/site personnel with experience in conducting a clinical
416 study; availability of equipment and facilities required to successfully conduct the clinical
417 study; availability of the desired patient population; ability to enrol sufficient numbers of
418 participants as determined by the study’s power analysis; the ethical and regulatory
419 considerations, which include informed consent, parental/caregiver consent and patient assent
420 for paediatric studies; and regional standards of care.
421 An important aspect of study feasibility is understanding the view of potential study subjects
422 about protocol elements that could impact their willingness to enrol or continue participation
423 in the study (e.g., impact of study procedures, meaningfulness of the study
424 objectives/outcomes). The retention of study subjects and the follow-up of subjects who have
425 withdrawn from treatment are key critical to quality factors. It is important to not underestimate
426 the value that appropriate and early consultation with patients will have on the feasibility of
427 the study, adherence to the protocol, and, more essentially, relevance (or suitability) for patients
428 of the drug approval based on the accumulated knowledge and experience from the clinical
429 studies.
15
430 5 DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR CLINICAL STUDIES
431 Study objectives impact the choice of study design and data sources, which in turn impact the
432 strength of a study to support regulatory decisions and clinical practice. This section presents
433 important elements that define the design of a clinical study. It is intended to assist in
434 identifying the critical to quality factors necessary to achieve the study objectives and the
435 protection of study subjects, while also enabling flexibility in study design and promoting
436 efficiency in study conduct. This document does not discuss all possible study types that may
437 be included within the drug lifecycle. The elements outlined here are expected to be relevant
438 to study types and data sources in use in clinical studies now, and that may be developed in the
439 future.
440 Clear objectives will help to determine the study design and conversely, the process of
441 specifying the design may help to further clarify the objectives. Objectives may need to be
442 modified as practical considerations and limitations are revealed.
443 5.1 Study Design
444 The fundamental design elements of a clinical study include population, intervention, control
445 group, response variable, methods to reduce or assess bias, and statistical analysis. The protocol
446 brings these elements together with the study objectives, study type, and data sources (see
447 Section 5.2), and should be finalised before the start of the study (see ICH E6).
448 5.1.1 Study Population
449 The population to be studied should be chosen to support the study objectives and is defined
450 through the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study. In practice, the study population is
451 limited to subjects available to participate and for whom consent is available (see ICH E6).
452 Recruitment efforts should ensure that the study subjects reflect the planned population for the
453 study. If objectives include obtaining information on certain subgroups, then efforts should be
454 made to ensure adequate representation of these subgroups.
455 The study population might be narrowly defined to reduce heterogeneity and maximize the
456 sensitivity of the study for detecting a certain effect. Conversely, it may be broadly defined to
457 more closely represent the population for which the drug is intended. In general, studies
458 conducted early in a development programme, when little is known about the safety of the
459 drug, tend to be more homogeneous in study population definitions, and those conducted in the
16
460 later phases of drug development or post-approval tend to be more heterogeneous. Recruitment
461 for a precision medicine study, for example, may target the subgroup of diseased patients with
462 a particular phenotype or genotype, either exclusively or through an enrichment study design.
463 The choice of study population will depend on the study objectives, and the degree to which a
464 study succeeds in recruiting and enrolling the desired population will impact the ability of the
465 study to meet those objectives.
466 For example, a study population representative of clinical practice may be the target of a
467 pragmatic trial conducted within an existing healthcare system. In such a study, recruitment
468 procedures may differ from other types of studies, in that the inclusion and exclusion criteria
469 may be assessed based on existing medical records.
470 Because of the study objectives or because of feasibility or efficiency, there may be situations
471 in which the population unit is not an individual but a group of subjects (known as a cluster).
472 For example, some vaccine studies make use of cluster randomisation to measure their
473 protective effects on communities. The use of a cluster unit has implications for multiple design
474 elements and quality factors (e.g., intervention, analysis, consent).
475 The study should plan to have a sufficient number of subjects to make statistical conclusions
476 based on the findings either by obtaining a certain precision or by controlling the probabilities
477 of making false conclusions (see ICH E9 Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials). A larger
478 database may be needed to establish the safety of a drug (see ICH E1).
479 5.1.2 Intervention
480 An important distinction between studies is whether the choice of the study drug and the health
481 management of the subjects are controlled by the study (with proper regard to human subject
482 protection and regulatory requirements) or merely observed in the study. The former case is
483 referred to as an interventional study and the latter case is referred to as an observational study.
484 Interventional studies often have the potential to control biases better than observational studies
485 (see Section 5.1.5). Factors such as study objectives, feasibility, data sources, and anticipated
486 biases and uncertainty play a role in the choice between interventional and observational
487 studies. Observational studies are usually conducted in the post-approval period.
17
488 There is varying overlap between interventional and observational studies. For example, a
489 pragmatic trial is a mix of the two types in that the intervention is controlled by the study, but
490 health management is controlled to a lesser degree than in other study types.
491 5.1.3 Control Group
492 The drug effect of interest may be the effect relative to not receiving the drug or the effect
493 relative to receiving other therapies. For example, comparisons may be made with placebo, no
494 treatment, active controls or different doses of the drug under investigation. To derive these
495 comparisons, information on a group of subjects not receiving the drug or receiving other
496 therapies is usually needed. This group is known as the control group (see ICH E10). The
497 choice of a control group may be influenced by the study objectives, ethical considerations,
498 and study feasibility.
499 The source of control group data may be internal or external to the study. With use of an internal
500 control group, all subjects in the study are selected by the same processes, and data are acquired
501 by the same procedures at the same time, with the intent that the only differences observed
502 among subjects in the study are due to the treatment they receive. With use of an external
503 control group, subjects are selected from an external source, and the control group subjects
504 may be treated at an earlier time (historical control group) or during the same time but in
505 another setting than subjects in the study.
506 External control subjects may differ from subjects participating in the study with respect to
507 follow-up and measurement of study outcomes and other data elements. In addition, external
508 control subjects may differ from study subjects with respect to some demographic and
509 background characteristics (e.g., medical history, concurrent diseases, etc.), possibly reflecting
510 a somewhat different subject population, which should be taken into account in the design and
511 analysis of the study.
512 It may be possible for a single clinical study to use both internal and external control subjects.
513 For example, conduct of the study may be facilitated by supplementing the internal control
514 group with additional data on an external control group.
515 In some circumstances, rather than using a separate group of control subjects, subjects may
516 function as their own control receiving the drug and control at different points of time. Both
517 interventional and non-interventional studies may make use of such an approach. Examples of
18
518 this approach include crossover designs for interventional studies and case-crossover designs
519 for non-interventional studies.
520 There are critical to quality factors that are associated with the choice and use of the control
521 group, including study objective, availability and quality of control data, feasibility of
522 conducting the study, ethical considerations, comparability between treatment and control
523 populations, and comparability of outcome ascertainment.
524 Subject level data may not be available for some choices of external control groups, but if
525 summary measures are available from the external source, they may be used to form the basis
526 of comparisons with treated subjects to estimate and test hypotheses about drug effects. In this
527 case, however, the critical to quality factor of comparability between treatment groups is unable
528 to be addressed through adjustment for subject-level covariates.
529 When control data considered adequate to support comparisons are not available, responses to
530 treatment observed in the study may be compared to a relevant and justified target value for
531 the control response rate (e.g., tumour response rate in oncology; cure rate for anti-infectives).
532 Even in cases where comparable control data are available, an external target value may still
533 be useful in evaluating the response rate observed in the study.
534 5.1.4 Response Variables
535 A response variable is a subject-level attribute of interest that may be affected by the drug. The
536 response variable may relate to the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, safety, or
537 use of the drug post-approval including compliance with risk minimisation measures. Study
538 endpoints are the response variables that are chosen to assess drug effects.
539 The choice of primary endpoint is critical to the quality of the study. The primary endpoint
540 should be the variable capable of providing the most clinically relevant and convincing
541 evidence directly related to the primary objective of the study, taking into account feasibility
542 considerations (ICH E9). Secondary variables are either supportive measurements related to
543 the primary objective or measurements of effects related to the secondary objectives. The
544 choice of endpoints should be meaningful for the intended population and take into account the
545 views of patients.
19
546 The definition of each study endpoint should be specific. The specificity should include how it
547 is ascertained and at what time point in a subject’s treatment course of the drug and follow-up
548 it is ascertained. The methods used to ascertain endpoints should be of sufficient accuracy,
549 precision, responsiveness (sensitivity to change), reproducibility, reliability, and validity.
550 Pragmatic trials may make use of existing data from healthcare systems to obtain response
551 variables rather than through study specific data collection, similar to the way healthcare data
552 can be used to select the study population as described above (See Sec 5.1.1).
553 The knowledge of the drug, the clinical context, and the purpose of a given study affect what
554 response variables should be collected. For example, a proof-of-concept study may employ
555 short-term surrogates rather than objective clinical outcomes. Clinical outcomes would then be
556 used to confirm a clinically meaningful effect in a large-scale confirmatory study. In other
557 cases, for example, a post-approval study where the safety profile of the drug is well
558 characterised, the extent of safety data collection may be tailored to the objectives of the study.
559 5.1.5 Methods to Reduce or Assess Bias
560 The study design should address sources of bias that can undermine the reliability of results.
561 Although different types of studies are subject to different sources of bias, this section
562 addresses the more common sources. ICH E9 discusses principles for controlling and reducing
563 bias mainly in the context of interventional studies.
564 In conducting a controlled study, randomised allocation is the preferred means of assuring
565 comparability of test groups, thereby minimising the possibility of bias in treatment
566 assignment.
567 Randomisation addresses differences between the groups at the time of randomisation but does
568 not prevent differences arising after randomisation. Events after randomisation (intercurrent
569 events) may also affect the comparability of the groups. For example, there may be differences
570 in the follow-up patterns between the groups, such as subjects in one group dropping out of the
571 study because of adverse events or lack of efficacy. Careful consideration of the potential
572 impact of intercurrent events will help with the identification of critical to quality factors, such
573 as preventing dropouts, retrieving data for dropouts, and definition of treatment effect in the
574 presence of dropouts.
20
575 Concealing the treatment assignments (blinding or masking) limits the occurrence of conscious
576 or unconscious bias in the conduct and interpretation of a clinical study that may affect the
577 course of treatment, monitoring, endpoint ascertainment, and subject responses. A study where
578 the treatment assignment is not known by the study participant is referred to as a single-blind
579 study. When the investigator and sponsor staff who are involved in the treatment or clinical
580 evaluation of the subjects are also unaware of the treatment assignments, the study is double-
581 blind. Maintaining confidentiality of interim study results also can help to reduce bias.
582 In an open-label study (either single-arm or unblinded comparative), the consequences of the
583 lack of blinding may be reduced through the use of pre-specified decision rules for aspects of
584 study conduct, such as treatment assignment, subject management, safety reporting, and
585 response variable ascertainment.
586 Observational studies pose unique challenges to the control of bias. Multiple design elements
587 are often necessary to address these challenges, including methods to address biases associated
588 with the (1) selection of subjects, (2) differences in prognostic factors associated with the
589 choice of therapies (confounding), and (3) ascertainment of response variables and other
590 important study variables.
591 5.1.6 Statistical Analysis
592 The statistical analysis of a study encompasses important elements necessary to achieving the
593 study objectives. The study protocol should include a statistical methods section that is
594 appropriate for the objectives and study design (ICH E6 and E9). A separate statistical analysis
595 plan may be used to provide the necessary details for implementation. The protocol should be
596 finalised before the conduct of the study, and the statistical analysis plan should be finalised
597 before the unblinding of study data, or in the case of an open-label study, before the conduct
598 of the study. These steps will increase confidence that important aspects of analysis planning
599 were not based on accumulating data in the study or inappropriate use of external data, both of
600 which can negatively impact the reliability of study results. For example, the choice of analysis
601 methods in a randomised clinical trial should not change after examining unblinded study data,
602 and external control subjects should not be selected based on outcomes to be used in
603 comparative analyses with treated study subjects.
21
604 Statistical analyses of primary and secondary endpoints to achieve study objectives with
605 respect to both efficacy and safety should be described, as well as any interim analyses and/or
606 planned design adaptations (E9). The analysis plan should describe the analytical methods for
607 the estimation and tests of hypotheses about the drug effect, addressing the method of treatment
608 allocation, the measurement methods of response variables, the analysis population, and other
609 critical to quality factors relating to the planned analysis strategy appropriate for the study
610 design. The plan should address the handling of intercurrent events, such as treatment
611 discontinuations, use of rescue medication, missed visits, and other protocol violations.
612 The statistical analysis plan should describe how the various sources of bias discussed above
613 will be addressed in the context of the particular study design and data sources (see Section
614 5.1.5).
615 Pre-specification is particularly important for studies that make use of existing data sources
616 rather than primary data collection (see Section 5.2), not only for the statistical analysis planned
617 for the study but also for any feasibility analysis to assess the applicability of the existing data.
618 For example, for a single arm interventional study with an external control, the specifics of the
619 external control should be specified prior to the conduct of the interventional aspect of the
620 study. Assurances and procedures should be in place so that any review of the data prior to the
621 design of the study does not threaten the study integrity.
622 Sensitivity analyses should be planned to test the impact of the assumptions made for the
623 primary analyses on the results of the study. For example, if the primary analysis relies on a
624 particular assumption about the reasons data are missing, sensitivity analyses should be planned
625 to assess the impact of those assumptions on the study results. An example for observational
626 studies might be consideration of additional confounders.
627 5.2 Study Data
628 The study data should reliably contain the necessary information to conduct, monitor, and
629 analyse the study. The study data may be acquired through a variety of methods, including
630 paper-based and electronic capture. Data from the use of technologies (e.g., digital health
631 tools), electronic health record databases and patient registries may contribute to the
632 development of a new investigational drug or for further evaluation of an approved drug.
22
633 Study data can be broadly classified into two types: (1) data generated specifically for the
634 present study and (2) data obtained from sources external to the present study. The distinction
635 between the two types may not always be clear. For example, clinical study data may be
636 collected during scheduled study visits via case report forms, laboratory measurements, and
637 other mechanisms, while also including information obtained from existing medical records.
638 Data from both types of data sources comprise the clinical database in this case.
639 The term primary data collection, refers to data collected for study purposes using processes
640 that ensure a sufficient level of quality. The term secondary data use, refers to the use of data
641 that were collected for other purposes and are not collected just for the study. Note that
642 secondary data themselves may have had careful quality control processes implemented during
643 their acquisition, but those processes were not designed with the objectives of the present study
644 in mind. Examples of secondary data sources that might be used in clinical studies include
645 national death databases, disease and drug registries, claims data, and medical and
646 administrative records from routine medical practice.
647 With secondary data use, the appropriateness of the available data should be considered. For
648 example, when using existing electronic health record data to ascertain the study endpoint
649 rather than through primary data collection, information in the health record about outcomes
650 would need to be converted to the study endpoint. The sensitivity, specificity, and timing of
651 the outcomes in the record should be considered. In some cases, secondary data use may not
652 be sufficient for all aspects of the study and may need to be supplemented with primary data.
653 There are several additional considerations when using secondary data. Concealing the drug
654 name in the measurement and recording of data is typically not present in secondary data use.
655 Absence of affirmative information on a condition or event does not necessarily mean the
656 condition is not present. For example, absence of smoking status in a medical record may not
657 mean the patient is not a smoker. There also may be a delay between events and their presence
658 in existing data sources.
659 The use of data standards for the terminology, storage, exchange, and access of study data
660 promotes the reliability and the proper interpretation of the data. Data standards also facilitate
661 the ease and correctness of the data analysis. International data standards exist for many sources
662 of study data. Data standards should be developed for emerging sources of study data.
23
663 For all data sources, procedures to ensure the confidentiality of personal data should be
664 implemented. The study design should explicitly address the protection of personal data. Local
665 regulations related to privacy of participants’ data should be followed.
666 6 CONDUCT AND REPORTING
667 6.1 Study Conduct
668 The principles and approaches set out in this guideline, including those of quality by design,
669 should inform the approach taken to the conduct and reporting of clinical studies and the
670 proportionality of control measures employed to ensure the integrity of the critical to quality
671 factors. The study should be conducted according to the principles described in this guideline
672 and in accordance with ICH E6 and other relevant ICH guidelines (see Annex 2 and Annex 3).
673 6.1.1 Protocol Adherence
674 Adherence to the study protocol is essential, and many aspects of adherence should be
675 considered among the study’s critical to quality factors. If modification of the protocol becomes
676 necessary, a clear description of the rationale for the modification should be provided in a
677 protocol amendment (ICH E6).
678 6.1.2 Training
679 Study stakeholders, such as sponsors; investigators, coordinators, and other local site staff; site
680 monitors; adjudicators and members of the data monitoring committee; and third-party service
681 providers (e.g., central laboratory or reading centre personnel) should receive thorough training
682 prior to enrolment of the first study subject. Updated training should occur during the conduct
683 of the study to reinforce the importance of adherence to study procedures and to address issues
684 related to critical to quality factors observed during the course of the study.
685 6.1.3 Data Management
686 As discussed in ICH E6, the manner and timelines in which study data are collected and
687 managed are critical contributors to overall study quality. Operational checks and statistical
688 surveillance can identify important data quality issues at a point at which corrective action is
689 feasible. Data management procedures should account for the diversity of data sources in use
690 for clinical studies (see Section 5.2).
24
691 6.1.4 Access to Interim Data
692 Inappropriate access to data during the conduct of the study may compromise study integrity.
693 In studies with planned interim analyses, special attention should be given to which individuals
694 have access to the data and results. Even in studies without planned interim analyses, special
695 attention should be paid to any ongoing monitoring of data to avoid inappropriate access.
696 6.2 Subject Safety
697 Important standards of ethical conduct and the protection of subjects in clinical studies are
698 described in Section 2.1. This section describes safety related considerations during the conduct
699 of the study.
700 6.2.1 Safety Monitoring
701 The goals of safety monitoring are to protect study subjects and to characterize the safety
702 profile of the drug. Procedures and systems for the identification, monitoring, and reporting of
703 safety concerns including the timing of reporting during the study should be clearly specified.
704 The approach should reflect the risks to the study subjects and what is known about the drug
705 and the study population. Guidance is available on reporting of safety data to appropriate
706 authorities and on the content of safety reports [ICH E2 Pharmacovigilance (A, B, and D), and
707 ICH E6].
708 6.2.2 Withdrawal Criteria
709 Clear criteria for stopping study treatment while remaining in the study or withdrawing from
710 the study altogether are necessary to ensure the protection of the subjects; however,
711 consideration could be given to methods that will preserve subjects’ safety and rights while
712 still minimising loss of critical data, if possible.
713 6.2.3 Data Monitoring Committee
714 An important component of safety monitoring in many clinical studies is the use of a data
715 monitoring committee (DMC). A DMC monitors accumulating data while the study is being
716 conducted to make determinations on whether to continue, modify, or terminate a study.
717 During programme planning, the need for an external safety monitoring committee to monitor
718 safety data across studies in a development programme may also be assessed. If a data
719 monitoring committee is needed for either an individual study or the entire development
25
720 programme, procedures governing its operation and, in particular, the review of unblinded data
721 while preserving study integrity (ICH E9) should be established.
722 6.3 Study Reporting
723 Clinical study reports should be adequately documented following the approaches outlined in
724 other ICH guidelines. ICH E3 focuses particularly on the report format for interventional
725 clinical studies. Other types of studies (e.g., observational studies) should use reporting formats
726 appropriate for the type of study and information being reported.
727 The transparency of clinical research in drug development includes the registration of clinical
728 trials on publicly accessible and recognised databases, and the public posting of clinical trial
729 results. Adopting such practices for observational studies also promotes transparency. Making
730 objective and unbiased information publicly available can benefit public health in general, as
731 well as individual patient populations, through enhancing clinical research, reducing
732 unnecessary clinical studies and informing decisions in clinical practice.
733 7 CONSIDERATIONS IN IDENTIFYING CRITICAL TO QUALITY FACTORS
734 The identification of critical to quality factors should be supported by proactive, cross-
735 functional discussions and decision making at the time of study planning, as described in
736 Section 3. Different factors will stand out as critical for different types of studies, following
737 the concepts introduced in Sections 4 through 6.
738 In designing a study, applicable aspects such as the following should be considered to support
739 the identification of critical to quality factors:
740 • Engagement of all relevant stakeholders, including patients, is considered during

741 study planning and design.
742 • The prerequisite non-clinical studies, and where applicable, clinical studies, are
743 complete and adequate to support the study being designed.
744 • The study objectives address relevant scientific questions appropriate for a given
745 study’s role in the development programme, taking into account the accumulated
746 knowledge about the product.
747 • The clinical study design supports a meaningful comparison of the effects of the
748 drug when compared to the chosen internal or external control groups.
26
749 • Adequate measures are used to protect subjects’ rights, safety, and welfare
750 (informed consent process, Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee review,
751 investigator and clinical study site training, pseudonymisation, etc.).
752 • A feasibility assessment is conducted to ensure the study is operationally viable.
753 • The number of subjects included, the duration of the study, and the frequency of
754 study visits are sufficient to support the study objective.
755 • The eligibility criteria should be reflective of the study objectives and be well
756 documented in the clinical study protocol.
757 • Information about study subjects that may be important to understanding the
758 benefit/risk of the drug (e.g., age, weight, sex, co-morbidities, concomitant
759 therapies) is specified in the protocol, captured and incorporated in the design,
760 conduct, and analysis, as appropriate.
761 • The choice of response variables and the methods to assess them are well-defined
762 and support evaluation of the effects of the drug.
763 • Clinical study procedures include adequate measures to minimise bias (e.g.,
764 randomisation, blinding).
765 • The statistical analysis plan is pre-specified and defines the analysis methods
766 appropriate for the endpoints and the populations of interest.
767 • Systems and processes are in place to ensure the integrity of critical study data.
768 • The extent and nature of study monitoring are tailored to the specific study design
769 and objectives and the need to ensure subject safety.
770 • The need for a data monitoring committee is assessed.
771 These considerations are not exhaustive and may not apply to all studies. Other aspects may
772 need to be considered to identify the critical to quality factors for each individual study.
27
773 ANNEX 1: TYPES OF STUDIES
774 Drug development is ideally a logical, step-wise process in which information from small early
775 studies is used to support and plan later larger, more definitive studies. In the table below, types
776 of studies are categorized by objectives. Illustrative examples, not intended to be exhaustive,
777 are provided. Examples appearing under one type may also occur under another.
Type of Study Objective(s) of Study Study Examples
Non-clinical • Assess non-clinical PK4 /PD5 • AMES1 test

testing to • Assess toxicity • ADME2 studies
• Assess developmental toxicity • Animal carcinogenicity
support and
• Assess mutagenicity, • Mechanism of action investigations
supplement carcinogenicity in animal disease models
clinical • Assess immunogenicity and cross- • Animal toxicology
reactivity • Animal PK/PD
investigations • Understand target and mechanism
of action
Human • Assess tolerance and safety • BA/BE3 studies under fasted/fed

Pharmacology • Define/describe clinical PK and conditions
PD • Dose-tolerance studies
• Explore drug metabolism and drug • Single and multiple-rising dose PK
interactions and/or PD studies
• Estimate activity, immunogenicity • Drug-drug interaction studies
• Assess renal/hepatic tolerance • QTc prolongation study
• Assess cardiac toxicity
Exploratory • Explore use for the targeted • Randomized controlled clinical trials
indication of relatively short duration in well-
• Estimate dose/dosing regimen for defined narrow patient populations,
subsequent studies using surrogate or pharmacological
• Explore dose-response/exposure- endpoints or clinical measures
response relationship • Dose finding studies
• Provide basis for confirmatory • Biomarker exploration studies
study design (e.g., clinical • Studies to validate patient reported
endpoints, patient reported outcomes
outcome measures, effect
modifiers, target population, etc.)
Confirmatory • Demonstrate/confirm efficacy • Randomized controlled clinical trials
• Establish safety profile in larger, to establish efficacy in larger, more
more representative patient representative patient populations,
populations commonly employing clinical
• Provide an adequate basis for endpoints but may also use surrogate
assessing the benefit/risk or pharmacological endpoints
relationship to support licensing • Dose-response studies
• Establish dose-response/exposure- • Clinical safety studies
response relationship • Studies of mortality/morbidity
outcomes
29
• Establish safety profile and • Studies in special populations

confirm efficacy in specific
populations (e.g., paediatrics,
elderly)
Post- • Refine understanding of • Comparative effectiveness studies
Approval benefit/risk relationship in general • Long-term follow-up studies
or special populations and/or • Studies of additional endpoints
environments • Large, simple trials
• Identify less common adverse • Pragmatic trials
reactions • Pharmacoeconomic studies
• Refine dosing recommendations • Observational studies
1 AMES: mutagenicity test
2 ADME : Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
3 BA studies - Bioavailability means the rate and extent to which the active ingredient or active moiety is absorbed from a
drug product and becomes available at the site of action.

3 BE studies - Bioequivalence means the absence of a significant difference in the rate and extent to which the
active ingredient or active moiety in pharmaceutical equivalents or pharmaceutical alternatives become available at the site
of drug action when administered at the same molar dose under similar conditions in an appropriately designed study.
4 Pharmacokinetics
5 Pharmacodynamics
778
30
779 ANNEX 2: ICH E FAMILY OF GUIDELINES
780 The ICH Efficacy guidelines are an integrated set of guidance covering the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of clinical studies. ICH E8
781 provides an overall introduction to clinical development, designing quality into clinical studies and focusing on those factors critical to the quality
782 of the studies. The guidelines should be considered and used in an integrated, holistic way rather than one or other guideline or subsection being
783 focussed on in isolation of the others.
31
784
785 *This diagram will be updated as new ICH guidelines are finalized or updated.
32
786 ANNEX 3: SELECTED EXAMPLES OF CRITICAL TO QUALITY FACTORS
Selected Examples of E1 E2A-E2F E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E8 E9 E10 E11 E12 E14 E15 E16 E17 E18
Critical to Quality Factors
Protocol Design
Eligibility Criteria √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Randomisation √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Blinding/Masking √ √ √ √
Types of Controls √ √ √ √ √ √
Data Quality √ √ √ √ √
Endpoints √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Procedures Supporting √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Study Endpoints and Data
Integrity
Investigational √ √
Product
(IP) Handling and
Administration
Feasibility
Study and Site √ √
Feasibility
Accrual √ √ √
Patient Safety
Informed Consent √ √ √
33
Selected Examples of E1 E2A-E2F E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E8 E9 E10 E11 E12 E14 E15 E16 E17 E18
Critical to Quality Factors
Withdrawal Criteria √ √ √ √
and Trial Participant
Retention
Signal Detection and √ (B) √ √ √ √
Safety Reporting
Data Monitoring √ √ √ √
Committee
(DMC)/Stopping
Rules
Study Conduct
Training √ √ √ √
Data Recording and √ (B,C,F) √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Reporting
Data Monitoring and √ (A,B,D) √ √ √ √ √
Management
Statistical Analysis √ √ √ √ √ √
Study Reporting
Dissemination of √ (D,F) √
Study Results
Third-Party Engagement
Delegation of Sponsor √
Responsibilities
Collaborations √
787 *This chart will be updated as ICH guidelines are finalized or updated.
34

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E8(R1) GENERAL

ICH HARMONISED GUIDELINE

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CLINICAL

Currently under public consultation

Code History Date

E8(R1) Endorsement by the Members of the ICH Assembly 8 May 2019

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR CLINICAL

1 OBJECTIVES OF THIS DOCUMENT ......................................................................... 1

2 GENERAL PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................... 2

2.1 Protection of Clinical Study Subjects.......................................................................... 2

2.3 Patient Input into Study Design .................................................................................. 3

3 DESIGNING QUALITY INTO CLINICAL STUDIES ............................................... 4

3.1 Quality by Design of Clinical Studies ......................................................................... 4

3.2 Critical to Quality Factors ........................................................................................... 5

3.3 Approach to Identifying the Critical to Quality Factors ............................................. 6

3.3.1 Establishing a Culture that Supports Open Dialogue .......................................... 6

3.3.2 Focusing on Activities Essential to the Study...................................................... 7

3.3.3 Engaging Stakeholders in Study Design .............................................................. 7

3.3.4 Reviewing Critical to Quality Factors ................................................................. 8

4 DRUG DEVELOPMENT PLANNING .......................................................................... 8

4.1 Non-Clinical Studies ................................................................................................... 9

4.2 Quality and Formulations of Investigational Medicinal Products ............................ 10

4.3 Clinical Studies ......................................................................................................... 10

4.3.1 Human Pharmacology (usually referred to as Phase 1) ..................................... 11

4.3.3 Post Approval Studies (usually referred to as Phase 4) ..................................... 13

4.3.4 Additional Development .................................................................................... 13

4.3.5 Consideration in Special Populations ................................................................ 14

4.4 Feasibility .................................................................................................................. 15

5 DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR CLINICAL STUDIES ................................................... 16

5.1 Study Design ............................................................................................................. 16

5.1.1 Study Population ................................................................................................ 16

5.1.2 Intervention ........................................................................................................ 17

5.1.3 Control Group .................................................................................................... 18

5.1.4 Response Variables ............................................................................................ 19

5.1.5 Methods to Reduce or Assess Bias .................................................................... 20

5.1.6 Statistical Analysis ............................................................................................. 21

5.2 Study Data ................................................................................................................. 22

6 CONDUCT AND REPORTING ................................................................................... 24

6.1 Study Conduct ........................................................................................................... 24

6.1.1 Protocol Adherence ............................................................................................ 24

6.1.2 Training .............................................................................................................. 24

6.1.3 Data Management .............................................................................................. 24

6.1.4 Access to Interim Data ....................................................................................... 25

6.2 Subject Safety............................................................................................................ 25

6.2.1 Safety Monitoring .............................................................................................. 25

6.2.2 Withdrawal Criteria ........................................................................................... 25

6.2.3 Data Monitoring Committee .............................................................................. 25

6.3 Study Reporting......................................................................................................... 26

7 CONSIDERATIONS IN IDENTIFYING CRITICAL TO QUALITY FACTORS 26

ANNEX 2: ICH E FAMILY OF GUIDELINES ................................................................. 31

ANNEX 3: SELECTED EXAMPLES OF CRITICAL TO QUALITY FACTORS ....... 33

1 General Considerations for Clinical Studies

2 1 OBJECTIVES OF THIS DOCUMENT

36 2.1 Protection of Clinical Study Subjects

45 The confidentiality of information that could identify subjects should be protected in

53 2.2 Scientific Approach in Clinical Study Design, Conduct, and Analysis

76 2.3 Patient Input into Study Design

86 3 DESIGNING QUALITY INTO CLINICAL STUDIES

92 3.1 Quality by Design of Clinical Studies