[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 5]
[Revised as of April 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR312.30]

[Page 67-69]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                           SERVICES--Continued
 
PART 312--INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG APPLICATION--Table of Contents
 
          Subpart B--Investigational New Drug Application (IND)
 
Sec. 312.30  Protocol amendments.

    Once an IND is in effect, a sponsor shall amend it as needed to 
ensure that the clinical investigations are conducted according to 
protocols included in the application. This section sets forth the 
provisions under which new protocols may be submitted and changes in 
previously submitted protocols may be made. Whenever a sponsor intends 
to conduct a clinical investigation with an exception from informed 
consent for emergency research as set forth in Sec. 50.24 of this 
chapter, the sponsor shall submit a separate IND for such investigation.
    (a) New protocol. Whenever a sponsor intends to conduct a study that 
is not covered by a protocol already contained in the IND, the sponsor 
shall submit to FDA a protocol amendment containing the protocol for the 
study. Such study may begin provided two conditions are met: (1) The 
sponsor has submitted the protocol to FDA for its review; and (2) the 
protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) with 
responsibility for review and approval of the study in accordance with 
the requirements of part

[[Page 68]]

56. The sponsor may comply with these two conditions in either order.
    (b) Changes in a protocol. (1) A sponsor shall submit a protocol 
amendment describing any change in a Phase 1 protocol that significantly 
affects the safety of subjects or any change in a Phase 2 or 3 protocol 
that significantly affects the safety of subjects, the scope of the 
investigation, or the scientific quality of the study. Examples of 
changes requiring an amendment under this paragraph include:
    (i) Any increase in drug dosage or duration of exposure of 
individual subjects to the drug beyond that in the current protocol, or 
any significant increase in the number of subjects under study.
    (ii) Any significant change in the design of a protocol (such as the 
addition or dropping of a control group).
    (iii) The addition of a new test or procedure that is intended to 
improve monitoring for, or reduce the risk of, a side effect or adverse 
event; or the dropping of a test intended to monitor safety.
    (2)(i) A protocol change under paragraph (b)(1) of this section may 
be made provided two conditions are met:
    (a) The sponsor has submitted the change to FDA for its review; and
    (b) The change has been approved by the IRB with responsibility for 
review and approval of the study. The sponsor may comply with these two 
conditions in either order.
    (ii) Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, a protocol 
change intended to eliminate an apparent immediate hazard to subjects 
may be implemented immediately provided FDA is subsequently notified by 
protocol amendment and the reviewing IRB is notified in accordance with 
Sec. 56.104(c).
    (c) New investigator. A sponsor shall submit a protocol amendment 
when a new investigator is added to carry out a previously submitted 
protocol, except that a protocol amendment is not required when a 
licensed practitioner is added in the case of a treatment protocol under 
Sec. 312.34. Once the investigator is added to the study, the 
investigational drug may be shipped to the investigator and the 
investigator may begin participating in the study. The sponsor shall 
notify FDA of the new investigator within 30 days of the investigator 
being added.
    (d) Content and format. A protocol amendment is required to be 
prominently identified as such (i.e., ``Protocol Amendment: New 
Protocol'', ``Protocol Amendment: Change in Protocol'', or ``Protocol 
Amendment: New Investigator''), and to contain the following:
    (1)(i) In the case of a new protocol, a copy of the new protocol and 
a brief description of the most clinically significant differences 
between it and previous protocols.
    (ii) In the case of a change in protocol, a brief description of the 
change and reference (date and number) to the submission that contained 
the protocol.
    (iii) In the case of a new investigator, the investigator's name, 
the qualifications to conduct the investigation, reference to the 
previously submitted protocol, and all additional information about the 
investigator's study as is required under Sec. 312.23(a)(6)(iii)(b).
    (2) Reference, if necessary, to specific technical information in 
the IND or in a concurrently submitted information amendment to the IND 
that the sponsor relies on to support any clinically significant change 
in the new or amended protocol. If the reference is made to supporting 
information already in the IND, the sponsor shall identify by name, 
reference number, volume, and page number the location of the 
information.
    (3) If the sponsor desires FDA to comment on the submission, a 
request for such comment and the specific questions FDA's response 
should address.
    (e) When submitted. A sponsor shall submit a protocol amendment for 
a new protocol or a change in protocol before its implementation. 
Protocol amendments to add a new investigator or to provide additional 
information about investigators may be grouped and submitted at 30-day 
intervals.

[[Page 69]]

When several submissions of new protocols or protocol changes are 
anticipated during a short period, the sponsor is encouraged, to the 
extent feasible, to include these all in a single submission.

(Collection of information requirements approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget under control number 0910-0014)

[52 FR 8831, Mar. 19, 1987, as amended at 52 FR 23031, June 17, 1987; 53 
FR 1918, Jan. 25, 1988; 61 FR 51530, Oct. 2, 1996]