MEDLINE INDIA - GOOD CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Wherever relevant, the Act means Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 (23 of 1940) and the Rules made thereunder.

Adverse Event (AE)

Any untoward medical occurrence (including a symptom / disease or an abnormal laboratory finding) during treatment with a pharmaceutical product in a patient or a human volunteer that does not necessarily have a relationship with the treatment being given. Also see Serious Adverse Event

Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)

(a) In case of approved pharmaceutical products: A noxious and unintended response at doses normally used or tested in humans

(b) In case of new unregistered pharmaceutical products (or those products which are not yet approved for the medical condition where they are being tested): A noxious and unintended response at any dose(s)

The phrase ADR differs from AE, in case of an ADR there appears to be a reasonable possibility that the adverse event is related with the medicinal product being studied.

In clinical trials, an untoward medical occurrence seemingly caused by overdosing, abuse / dependence and interactions with other medicinal products is also considered as an ADR.

Adverse drug reactions are type A (pharmacological) or type B (idiosyncratic). Type A reactions represent an augmentation of the pharmacological actions of a drug. They are dose-dependent and are, therefore, readily reversible on reducing the dose or withdrawing the drug. In contrast, type B adverse reactions are bizarre and cannot be predicted from the known pharmacology of the drug.

A systematic verification of the study, carried out by persons not directly involved, such as:

(a) Study related activities to determine consistency with the Protocol

(b) Study data to ensure that there are no contradictions on Source Documents. The audit should also compare data on the Source Documents with the interim or final report. It should also aim to find out if practices were employed in the development of data that would impair their validity.

Blinding / Masking

A method of “control experimentation” in which one or more parties involved are not informed of the treatment being given. Single blind refers to the study subject(s) being unaware, while Double blind refers to the study subject(s) and/or investigator(s), monitor, data analyst(s) are being unaware of the treatment assigned.

Case Record Form (CRF)

A document designed in consonance with the Protocol, to record data and other information on each trial subject. The Case Record Form should be in such a form and format that allows accurate input, presentation, verification, audit and inspection of the recorded data. A CRF may be in printed or electronic format.

Clinical Trial (Clinical Study)

A systematic study of pharmaceutical products on human subjects – (whether patients or non-patient volunteers) – in order to discover or verify the clinical, pharmacological (including pharmacodynamics / pharmacokinetics), and / or adverse effects, with the object of determining their safety and / or efficacy.

Human/Clinical Pharmacology trials (Phase I)

The objective of phase I of trials is to determine the maximum tolerated dose in humans; pharmacodynamic effect, adverse reactions, if any, with their nature and intensity; and pharmacokinetic behaviour of the drug as far as possible. These studies are often carried out in healthy adult volunteers using clinical, physiological and biochemical observations. At least 2 subjects should be used on each dose.

Phase I trials are usually carried out by investigators trained in clinical pharmacology and having the necessary facilities to closely observe and monitor the subjects. These may be carried out at one or two centres.

Exploratory trials (Phase II)

In phase II trials a limited number of patients are studied carefully to determine possible therapeutic uses, effective dose range and further evaluation of safety and pharmacokinetics. Normally 10-12 patients should be studied at each dose level. These studies are usually limited to 3-4 centres and carried out by clinicians specialized on the concerned therapeutic areas and having adequate facilities to perform the necessary investigations for efficacy and safety.

Confirmatory trials (Phase III)

The purpose of these trials is to obtain sufficient evidence about the efficacy and safety of the drug in a larger number of patients, generally in comparison with a standard drug and/or a placebo as appropriate. These trials may be carried out by clinicians in the concerned therapeutic areas, having facilities appropriate to the protocol. If the drug is already approved/marketed in other countries, phase III data should generally be obtained on at least 100 patients distributed over 3-4 centres primarily to confirm the efficacy and safety of the drug, in Indian patients when used as recommended in the product monograph for the claims made.

Data on ADRs observed during clinical use of the drug should be reported along with a report on its efficacy in the prescribed format. The selection of clinicians for such monitoring and supply of drug to them will need approval of the licensing authority under Rule 21 of the Act.

Studies performed after marketing of the pharmaceutical product. Trials in phase IV are carried out on the basis of the product characteristics on which the marketing authorization was granted and are normally in the form of post-marketing surveillance, assessment of therapeutic value, treatment strategies used and safety profile. Phase IV studies should use the same scientific and ethical standards as applied in pre-marketing studies.

After a product has been placed on the market, clinical trials designed to explore new indications, new methods of administration or new combinations, etc. are normally considered as trials for new pharmaceutical products.

Comparator Product

A pharmaceutical product (including placebo) used as a reference in a clinical trial.

Maintenance of privacy of study subjects including their personal identity and all medical information, from individuals other than those prescribed in the Protocol. Confidentiality also covers the prevention of disclosure of sponsor’s proprietary information to unauthorised persons.

A person legally qualified to be an investigator, to whom the Investigator delegates a part of his responsibilities.

Co-ordinating Investigator

See Principal Investigator

Clinical Research Organisation (CRO)

An organisation to which the sponsor may transfer or delegate some or all of the tasks, duties and / or obligations regarding a Clinical Study. All such contractual transfers of obligations should be defined in writing. A CRO is a scientific body – commercial, academic or other.

A written, dated and signed document describing the agreement between two or more parties involved in a biomedical study, namely Investigator, Sponsor, Institution. Typically, a contract sets out delegation / distribution of responsibilities, financial arrangements and other pertinent terms. The “Protocol” may form the basis of “Contract”.

All records (including written documents, electronic, magnetic or optical records, scans, x-rays etc.) that describe or record the methods, conduct and results of the study, and the actions taken. The Documents include Protocol, copies of submissions and approvals from the office of the Drugs Controller General of India, ethics committee, investigator(s)’ particulars, consent forms, monitor reports, audit certificates, relevant letters, reference ranges, raw data, completed CRFs and the final report. Also see: Essential Documents

Escape Treatment

A supplementary treatment, usually given to alleviate pain in placebo-controlled trials, to relieve the trial subject of the symptoms caused by the investigated disease in a study.

Essential Documents

The Documents that permit evaluation of the conduct of a study and the quality of the data generated. See Appendix V.

Ethics Committee

An independent review board or committee comprising of medical / scientific and non-medical / non-scientific members, whose responsibility is to verify the protection of the rights, safety and well-being of human subjects involved in a study. The independent review provides public reassurance by objectively, independently and impartially reviewing and approving the “Protocol”, the suitability of the investigator(s), facilities, methods and material to be used for obtaining and documenting “Informed Consent” of the study subjects and adequacy of confidentiality safeguards.

A complete and comprehensive description of the study after its completion. It includes description of experimental and statistical methods and materials, presentation and evaluation of the results, statistical analyses and a critical ethical, statistical and clinical appraisal. The Investigator’s declaration closing the study is a part of the Final Report.

Good Clinical Practice (GCP)

It is a standard for clinical studies or trials that encompasses the design, conduct, monitoring, termination, audit, analyses, reporting and documentation of the studies. It ensures that the studies are implemented and reported in such a manner that there is public assurance that the data are credible, accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of the subjects are protected. GCP aims to ensure that the studies are scientifically authentic and that the clinical properties of the “Investigational Product” are properly documented.

Impartial Witness

An impartial independent witness who will not be influenced in any way by those who are involved in the Clinical Trial, who assists at the informed consent process and documents the freely given oral consent by signing and dating the written confirmation of this consent.

Informed Consent

Voluntary written assent of a subject’s willingness to participate in a particular study and in its documentation. The confirmation is sought only after information about the trial including an explanation of its status as research, its objectives, potential benefits, risks and inconveniences, alternative treatment that may be available and of the subject’s rights and responsibilities has been provided to the potential subject.

An official review/ examination conducted by regulatory authority(ies) of the documents, facilities, records and any other resources that are deemed by the authority(ies) to be related to the study. The inspection may be carried out at the site of the trial, at the sponsor’s / or CRO’s facilities in order to verify adherence to GCP as set out in these documents.

Any public or private medical facility where a clinical study is conducted.

A person responsible for the conduct of the study at the trial site. Investigator is responsible for the rights, health and welfare of the study subjects. In case the study is conducted by a team of investigators at the study site then the designated leader of the team should be the Principal Investigator. Also see Principal Investigator, Sub-investigator.

Investigational Labelling

Labelling developed specifically for products involved in the study.

Investigational Product

A pharmaceutical product (including the Comparator Product) being tested or used as reference in a clinical study. An Investigational Product may be an active chemical entity or a formulated dosage form.

Investigator’s Brochure

A collection of data (including justification for the proposed study) for the Investigator consisting of all the clinical as well as non-clinical information available on the Investigational Product(s) known prior to the onset of the trial. There should be adequate data to justify the nature, scale and duration of the proposed trial and to evaluate the potential safety and need for special precautions. If new substantially relevant data is generated during the trial, the information in the Investigator’s Brochure must be updated. See Appendix IV.

A person appointed by the Sponsor or Contract Research Organisation (CRO) for monitoring and reporting the progress of the trial and for verification of data. The monitor ensures that the trial is conducted, recorded and reported in accordance with the Protocol, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and the applicable regulatory requirements.

Multi-Centric Study

A clinical trial conducted according to one single protocol in which the trial is taking place at different investigational sites, therefore carried out by more than one investigator.

Non-Clinical Study

Biomedical studies that are not performed on human subjects.

Non-Therapeutic Study

A study in which there is no anticipated direct clinical benefit to the Subject(s). Such studies, unless an exception is justified, should be conducted in patient(s) having a disease or condition for which the Investigational Product is intended. Subject(s) in these studies should be particularly closely monitored and should be withdrawn if they appear to be unduly distressed.

Pharmaceutical Product(s)

Any substance or combination of substances which has a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic purpose or is intended to modify physiological functions, and presented in a dosage form suitable for administration to humans.

Principal Investigator

The investigator who has the responsibility to co-ordinate between the different Investigators involved in a study at one site or different sites in case of a multi-center study.

A document that states the background, objectives, rationale, design, methodology (including the methods for dealing with AEs, withdrawals etc.) and statistical considerations of the study. It also states the conditions under which the study shall be performed and managed.

A list of items to be included in the Protocol is compiled in a subsequent chapter.

The content and format of the protocol should take into consideration the adopted SOPs, the regulatory requirements and the guiding principles of GCP.

The term Protocol, unless otherwise specified, relates to the latest amended version of the document, read in conjunction with all its appendices and enclosures.

Protocol Amendment(s)

Any changes or formal clarifications appended to the protocol. All Protocol Amendments should be agreed upon and signed by the persons who were the signatories to the Protocol.

Quality Assurance (QA)

Systems and processes established to ensure that the trial is performed and the data are generated in compliance with GCP. QA is validated through in-process Quality Control and in and post-process auditing of clinical trial process as well as data.

Quality Control (QC)

The operational techniques and activities undertaken within the system of QA to verify that the requirements for quality of the trial related activities have been fulfilled. QC activities concern everybody involved with planning, conducting, monitoring, evaluating, data handling and reporting.

The objective of QC is to avoid exposure of study subjects to unnecessary risks and to avoid false conclusions being drawn from unreliable data.

The process of assigning study subjects to either the treatment or the control group. Randomisation gives all subjects the same chance of being in either group in order to reduce bias.

Regulatory Authority

The Drugs Controller General of India or an office nominated by him is the regulatory authority for the purpose of carrying out Clinical Trials in India. The Regulatory Authority approves the study Protocol, reviews the submitted data and conducts inspections.

It refers to all records or certified copies of the original clinical and laboratory findings or other activities in a clinical study necessary for the reconstruction and evaluation of the trial. Also see Source Data.

Serious Adverse Event (SAE) or Serious Adverse Drug Reaction (SADR)

An AE or ADR that is associated with death, inpatient hospitalisation (in case the study was being conducted on out-patients), prolongation of hospitalisation (in case the study was being conducted on in-patients), persistent or significant disability or incapacity, a congenital anomaly or birth defect, or is otherwise life threatening.

Unless repugnant to the context, the Schedule means Schedule Y to the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules. (Reproduced here at Appendix II)

Original documents (or their verified and certified copies) necessary for evaluation of the Clinical Trial. These documents may include Study Subjects’ files, recordings from automated instruments, tracings, X-Ray and other films, laboratory notes, photographic negatives, magnetic media, hospital records, clinical and office charts, Subjects’ diaries, evaluation check-lists, and pharmacy dispensing records.

An individual or a company or an institution that takes the responsibility for the initiation, management and / or financing of a Clinical Study. An Investigator who independently initiates and takes full responsibility for a trial automatically assumes the role of a Sponsor.

Any Pharmaceutical Product or Comparator Product used in a clinical study.

See Co-Investigator

Subject Files / Patient Files

A file containing demographic and medical information about a study subject. It includes hospital files, consultation records or special subject files allowing the authenticity of the information presented in CRF to be verified and where necessary allowing it to be completed or corrected. The conditions regulating the use and consultation of such documents must be honoured as prescribed under Confidentiality.

Study Subject (Subject)

An individual participating in a clinical trial as a recipient of the Investigational Product.

A Study Subject may be a healthy person volunteering in a trial or a person with a medical condition that is unrelated to the use of the Investigational Product or a person whose medical condition is relevant to the use of the Investigational Product.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

Standard elaborate written instructions to achieve uniformity of performance in the management of clinical studies. SOPs provide a general framework for the efficient implementation and performance of all the functions and activities related to a particular study.

Subject Identification Code

A unique identification number / code assigned by the Investigator to each Study Subject to protect the Subject’s identity. Subject Identification Code is used in lieu of the Subject’s name for all matters related to the study.

Study Management

Steering, supervising, data management and verification, statistical processing and preparation of the study report.

Validation of Study: The process of proving, in accordance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice, that any procedure, process equipment, material, activity or system actually leads to the expected results

Validation of Data: The procedures carried out to ensure and prove that the data contained in the final report match the original observations. The procedure is applied to Raw Data, CRFs, computer software, printouts, statistical analyses and consumption of Study Product / Comparator Product.

Definitions