Earlier this week, FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) published two separate draft guidance documents to advance the dual goals of FDA and industry to provide pathways for medical devices to reach the market quickly while ensuring the safety and efficacy of the product.
The first guidance, entitled Balancing Premarket and Postmarket Data Collection for Devices Subject to Premarket Approval, clarifies FDA’s current thinking on creating an effective means to achieve “the right balance of premarket and postmarket data collection facilitates timely access to important new technology without undermining patient safety.” Greater reliance on postmarket data collection can help a new product reach the market – and patients – sooner. One key factor FDA considers when determining whether postmarket data collection is appropriate is the device’s potential impact on public health. For example, and as discussed more thoroughly in the separate guidance discussed below, FDA may accept greater pre-approval uncertainty regarding specific benefits and risks of devices where there is demonstrated potential to address unmet medical needs.
The second guidance, Expedited Access for Premarket Approval Medical Devices Intended for Unmet Medical Need for Life Threatening or Irreversibly Debilitating Diseases or Conditions, proposes a new expedited review program for medical devices that address unmet medical needs and are subject to premarket approval (PMA) applications. The program laid out in the draft guidance establishes opportunities for earlier and more active engagement between sponsors and FDA staff, including earlier involvement of senior management to ensure more consistency in messaging to industry. The early interactions aim to establish better plans for efficient collection of the scientific and clinical data necessary to support FDA’s approval determinations. The guidance also describes the criteria an applicant must meet in order to obtain an expedited access PMA designation.
FDA will be accepting comments regarding the draft guidances until July 23, 2014.
This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.
