Clinical Trial in Nut Shell

Screening and Recruitment of Study Subjects in Clinical Research

Screening and Recruitment of Study Subjects

It is important that the Investigator resolves all questions from his/her staff concerning the interpretation of inclusion/exclusion criteria.

The Investigator should be able to dedicate time to the recruitment of suitable trial subjects – the consultation time for recruitment of each subject is likely to be longer than the time required for normal consultation.

The Investigator must ensure the unbiased selection of an adequate number of suitable study subjects as defined by the Protocol.

The Investigator must allow study subjects who meet the inclusion criteria the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not to be entered into the study.

The Investigator must document the identification of subjects who entered trial screening by completing a subject screening/enrolment log.

Obtain Informed Consent from All Trial Subjects

The concept of obtaining informed consent is considered to be the heart of GCP.  Informed consent is the process by which a study subject voluntarily confirms his/her willingness to participate in the trial. Only study subjects who have fully understood all aspects of their participation in the trial can make proper judgements and give their consent to participate in the trial.

  Information on disease prevention and transmission must be provided to the study subjects for the whole of the trial period. Before any subject enters a trial, and before any study-related procedures begin, written informed consent must be obtained from the subject and/or his/her legally acceptable representative. In the case of a screening test which requires biological specimens to be collected prior to entering a trial, two types of consent form must be obtained, one for biological specimen collection and analysis, and the other for participation in the study after satisfactory laboratory results respecting the inclusion criteria have been obtained. Study subjects found ineligible at screening (for medical reasons) should receive supportive counselling, any necessary and available treatment and referral for continued counselling.

The Investigator can delegate the consent process to an appropriately qualified person; however, the Investigator should see the subject afterwards to ensure that the consent has been properly

obtained.  Verbal and written information given to the trial subject should be in simple terms and in his/her first language.  Medical terms should be avoided.

The Investigator/designated person should perform informed consent procedures fully with each subject during recruitment:

Ø      The informed consent form should be personally dated and signed by the trial subject and/or his/her legally acceptable representative as well as the Investigator/designated person responsible for the informed consent procedures.

Ø      If the study subject and/or legally acceptable representative is (are) unable to read, an impartial witness for the Investigator should be present during the entire informed consent discussion. After oral approval by the study subject and/or legally acceptable representative, the witness must sign and personally date the informed consent form and attest that the information was accurately explained and apparently understood, and that informed consent was given freely by the subject and/or legally acceptable representative. The subject and/or legally acceptable representative should personally sign and date the form if capable of doing so.

Ø      The study subject and/or legally acceptable representative should be given a copy of the signed and dated informed consent form and any other written information.

Ø      The original signed and dated informed consent form should be kept in the Investigator's File with the study subject’s data.

Trial subjects and/or their legally acceptable representatives should be kept informed throughout the trial of any new findings or information about the tested product which might be of consequence to their participation in the trial. They should receive updates of the signed and dated consent form as well as copies of any amendments to the written information. Updates of the original signed and dated consent form should be kept in the Investigator's File.

Study Subjects Data and Documents For Clinical Research

Study Subjects Data and Documents For Clinical Research

Ø            All signed and dated informed consent forms (for enrolled and screened subjects).

Ø            Study subject screening and/or enrolment log.

Ø            Study subject identification list.

Ø            Copy of all Case Report Forms (CRFs).

Ø            Copy of the Serious Adverse Event form.

Ø            Copy of documentation of CRF corrections.

Ø            All study subjects source documents including laboratory results.

Ø            Copy of all subjects CRFs retrieval certificate.

During the clinical research studies

The trial can be initiated (begin screening and/or enrolment of trial subjects) only after the Clinical Monitor has satisfactorily conducted a Trial Initiation Monitoring Visit and the TDR Clinical Coordinator has given written authorization.

Investigator’s File, Including Storage and Retention

On initiation of the study, the Investigator must prepare a file containing documents related to the trial.  During the study, the Investigator is responsible for updating the File and regularly adding trial-related documents.

The Investigator should keep the File in a locked cabinet, in a secure area accessible only to the Investigator and authorized study staff.  The Investigator File and associated source documents should be retained for the time agreed with TDR/sponsors. Patient identification codes should be kept for at least 15 years after completion of the trial. Written approval from sponsors must be obtained prior to destroying records.

The Investigator's File contains:

Ø      Administrative and Regulatory Documents

Ø      Composition of IEC/IRB.

Ø      Local regulatory requirements.

Ø      IEC/IRB and other authorities’ written approval for all documents (protocol, informed consent(s) and any written information including advertisements for recruitment of study subjects).

Ø      IEC/IRB and other authorities’ written approval for protocol amendments.

Ø      Correspondence with the Ethics Committee and the Authorities, including:

·         Protocol submission.

·         Amendment submission, if any.

·         Protocol modification notification, if any.

·         Interim report/written summaries of the trial, if applicable.

·         Final Report/written summaries of the trial, if applicable.

·         Product importation authorization.

Ø       Correspondence about product importation.

Ø       For studies under IND, a copy of the completed and signed Form FDA 1572.

Ø       Investigator’ s and Co/Sub-investigators’ C.V.s

Ø       New Investigator and Sub-investigators’ C.V.s, if appropriate.

Ø       Authorized Staff Form (ASF).

Ø       Technical Services Agreement (TSA) signed/dated by both parties.

Ø       Signed confidentiality agreement.

Ø       Signed agreement stating that products will not be used before the Trial Initiation

Ø       Monitoring Visit has been made and approval from the TDR Clinical Coordinator obtained.

Ø       Copy of the insurance certificate/other insurance.

Ø       ICH GCP guideline.

Ø       TDR/TDP investigator’ s SOPs.

Ø       Study Archiving Form (copy).

Ø       Copy of the Investigator's interim report/written summaries of the trial to the IEC/IRB and authorities, if applicable.

Ø       Copy of the Investigator's final report/written summaries of the trial to the IEC/IRB and authorities, if applicable.

Correspondence and Monitoring

Ø       Correspondence with TDR/sponsoring agencies (including the telephone call, E-mail etc).

Ø       Notes of meetings with TDR/sponsoring agencies.

Ø       Summary list of site visits (copy).

Ø       Trial Initiation Monitoring Report (copy).

Ø       Notification by Investigator to TDR/Sponsor of serious adverse event and related reports.

Ø       Documentation of serious adverse event reporting by TDR/Sponsor to other investigators.

Ø       Correspondence about important requests.

Ø       Investigator interim report/summaries of the trial for TDR/sponsoring agencies, if applicable.

Ø       Investigator final report/summary of the trial for TDR/sponsoring agencies, if applicable.

Trial Documents

Ø       General documents

Ø       Investigator’ s brochure, with updates, if any

Ø       Approved protocol and amendments, signed and dated by the Investigator(s) and sponsoring agencies, and new protocol amendments, if any.

Ø       Approved informed consent and any other written information including all translations, and advertisements for recruitment of study subjects.

Ø       Informed consent procedure.

Ø       Clinical Trial Final Report (if available during the Study Closeout Visit).

Data reporting

Ø       Blank CRF.

Ø       Blank SAE/UAE forms.

Ø       Blank source document if not existing on site.

Ø       Case Report Form completion procedure.

Ø       Adverse event reporting procedure.

Ø       Blank screening and enrolment log.

Product

Ø       Product certificate/batch release.

Ø       Certificate of extension of the batch expiry date, if applicable.

Ø       Dispatch notes (original) and acknowledgement of receipt (copy) (in case of new delivery).

Ø       Randomization list/envelope or acknowledgement of receipt.

Ø       Randomization list/envelope or randomization list/envelope retrieval certificate.

Ø       Code Breaking list/randomization envelope retrieval certificate.

Ø       Subject assignment list.

Ø       Product management procedure.

Ø       Product exportation/importation authorization

Ø       Product accountability log.

Ø       Product management form.

Ø       Return of unused products form, or product destruction certificate if destroyed on site.

Ø       Temperature recording log, if appropriate (especially for vaccines/biologicals).

Ø       Other products-related trial documents.

Laboratory specimens.

Ø       Laboratory certification/normal ranges/update of normal values.

Ø       Reactive dispatch note and acknowledgement of receipt.

Ø       Specimen management procedures (collection, performing assay, storage, results).

Ø       Subject specimen collection log.

Ø       Shipment note, if appropriate.

Ø       Temperature recording log, if appropriate (deep frozen samples).

Ø       Record of retained laboratory specimens, if any, to document the location and identification of retained specimens if assays need to be repeated.

Ø       Other laboratory specimen related trial documents.

Ø       Specimen management procedures (collection, performing assay, storage, results).

Ø       Subject specimen collection log.

Ø       Shipment note, if appropriate.

Ø       Temperature recording log, if appropriate (deep frozen samples).

Ø       Record of retained laboratory specimens, if any, to document the location and identification of retained specimens if assays need to be repeated.

Ø       Other laboratory specimen related trial documents.

Trial supplies/equipment

Ø       Material/equipment dispatch note (original) and acknowledgement of receipt (copy).

Ø       Return of trial material/equipment certificate (copy).

Ø       Trial document dispatch note (original) and acknowledgement of receipt (copy) (CRFs, all trial logs).

Ø       Return of trial document certificate (copy).

Prepare the required documents to be submitted to the IEC/IRB: according to ICH

Prepare the required documents to be submitted to the IEC/IRB:

Documents usually required by Ethics Committees

·   Investigator Brochure and up-to-date safety information.

·   Trial protocol (final version and amendments).

·   Consent form(s) and subject information sheets.

·   Subject recruitment procedures (e.g. advertisement

·   Information on payment and compensation available to subjects.

·   Current curriculum vitae for each investigator.

·   Any other document requested by the IEC/IRB.

                                                                   See ICH Guidelines 3.1.2

Obtain approval document from the Ethics Committee, which must identify the documents reviewed and state that the study is acceptable and can be initiated.

Send the approval document of the Ethics Committee, with a list of Committee members, to TDP/TDR/WHO as a supporting document for approval of the WHO Secretariat

Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (SCRIHS).Prepare the application for Health Authority clearance in collaboration with TDR and other sponsoring agencies.

Prepare the application for product exportation/importation in collaboration with TDR and other sponsoring agencies.

If the IEC/IRB and others approve the trial, sign the final copy of the protocol and confirm in writing that he/she has read and understood, and will adhere to, the protocol, study procedures and ICH Good Clinical Practice, will collaborate with the monitor, and accords with TDR/sponsoring agencies on publications policy.

Submit requested documents to the Clinical Monitors, including:

1. Signed agreement to comply with this SOP (page 1).

2. Approved protocol, signed and dated.

3. Approved informed consent form and other subject information, advertisement (local language and English translation).

4. Investigator’ s and co-investigator’ s curriculum vitae (C.V.s).

5.  Authorized Staff Form (ASF).

6.  Product exportation/importation authorization.

7. Laboratory certification/list of normal laboratory ranges, dated and signed by Investigator.

8. Technical services agreement (TSA), signed and dated.

9. Signed agreement that the product will not be used before the Trial Initiation Monitoring Visit has been made and authorization obtained from the TDR Clinical Coordinator (if applicable).

10. Signed FDA 1572 form (if applicable, e.g. study under Investigational New Drug - IND).

Make sure that the local ethics committee fulfils the ICH GCP requirements. ICH GCP Composition and Operations of IEC/IRB

Make sure that the local ethics committee fulfils the ICH GCP requirements.

ICH GCP Composition and Operations of IEC/IRB

   The IRB/IEC should determine the authority under which it is established and the  composition (names and qualifications)of its members, which should consist of:

Ø      A reasonable number of members who collectively have the qualifications and experience to review and evaluate the science, medical aspects and ethics of the proposed trial.

Ø      At least five members.

Ø      At least one member whose primary interest is in a non-scientific area.

Ø      At least one member who is independent of the trial site.

An IEC/IRB may invite nonmembers with expertise in special areas to give assistance.

The Investigator may provide information on any aspect of the trial, but may not participate in the IEC/IRB deliberations, vote, or provide opinion.

Only members who participate in review and discussion of the protocol, and who are independent of the investigator and the sponsor, can vote or provide opinion.

The IEC/IRB should perform initial and continual reviews of the trials according to the written operating procedures, and maintain records of activities and minutes of meetings.

The IEC/IRB should notify promptly, and in writing, all trial-related decisions and opinions, specifying the reasons for each.

                                                                                                   See ICH Guidelines 3.2

PRIOR TO INITIATION OF THE CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY

PRIOR TO INITIATION OF THE CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY

The Investigator should:

Be interested in the scientific aspects of the study and ensure that the study is responsive to the needs of public health within the country of the population in which it will be conducted.

Ensure the confidentiality of the product, the protocol and trial procedures by giving a confidentiality agreement in writing to TDP/TDR and/or sponsoring agencies.

Have sufficient time free from other obligations to prepare and conduct the trial. Clinical trials are time consuming and the Investigator should ensure that sufficient time can be dedicated to the study, including for informing and supervising study staff.

Review Investigator’s Brochure and any up-to-date information on the investigational product. The Investigator must be familiar with the product, including pre-clinical toxicology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and up-to-date clinical data.

Review and discuss in detail, the ICH GCP guidelines, investigators' SOPs and protocol with the Clinical Monitor.  The Investigator should clearly define:

1. Factors that may alter the feasibility and acceptability of the trial.

2. An adequate recruitment rate for the trial by providing retrospective data on numbers of patients who would have satisfied the proposed entrance criteria during preceding time periods.

Make sure that the procedures stated in the study protocol are applicable in his/her centre and fully understood. The Investigator should ask the Clinical Monitor to clarify any points of possible misunderstanding.

Make sure that there are sufficient medical, paramedical and clerical staff to support the study and deal with foreseeable emergencies.

1. Provide a list of study personnel and functions in the study to the Clinical   Monitor/Product Manager (Authorized Staff Form - ASF).

2. Provide curriculum vitae of the Sub-co Investigators in the responsible laboratory.

Make sure that the physical location and facilities are sufficient to allow the study to be undertaken efficiently. Ensure:

1. Confidentiality and safety conditions for trial subjects.

2. Adequate equipment/facilities for subject follow-up, examination and care.

3. Adequate facilities for product storage.

4. Adequate facilities for laboratory assay. The laboratory assay should be validated  under good  laboratory practice (GLP) principles.

5. Adequate facilities for retention of trial documents, ensuring confidentiality of all  information about trial subjects and information supplied by TDR/sponsoring agencies.

Discuss the Case Report Form/SAE reporting forms and source documents in detail with the Clinical Monitor.  Clearly define :

1. Who will be responsible for CRF completion.

2. Source documents/source data and access to source data.

Arrange archiving of trial documents according to GCP and regulatory requirements.  It is important to check the duration of retention of patient records with the Institution's archive.  In case the Institution's archive does not ensure retention of documents for the period of time requested by TDR/sponsor, the Investigator must arrange for the retention of the subjects’ source documents/records for the period requested by TDR/sponsor and regulatory requirements.

Finalize informed consent forms and associated trial subject information materials (advertisements); establish procedures for application for local clearance (e.g. dean of the institution) and Independent Ethical Committee (IEC)/Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.

Clearly define how subjects will be approached and informed, who will inform them, and what material will be used.  The informed consent form and all information (leaflet written in simple language, video) should be developed collaboratively with head members of the study population/ community to ensure methods are appropriate.

In case of the need for screening tests, including biological specimen collection, before entering a trial, two types of consent form should be developed: one for biological specimen collection and analysis, and one for participation in the study after obtaining satisfactory laboratory results and respecting inclusion criteria.

As a rule, the advertisement must not make reference to TDR or the compound, nor make any claims. Informed consent and advertisements must be submitted to TDR for review and must be included in documentation submitted to the Independent Ethical Committee and/or Institutional Review Board (IEC/IRB).

(ICH definition – International Conference on Harmonisation of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use)

(ICH definition – International Conference on Harmonisation of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use)

Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)

In the pre-approval clinical experience with a new medicinal product or a product’ s new usages, particularly as the therapeutic dose(s) may not be established: all noxious and unintended responses to a medicinal product related to any dose should be considered adverse drug reactions (the phrase ‘ responses to a medicinal product’ meaning that a causal relationship between a medicinal product and an adverse event is at least a reasonable possibility, i.e. the relationship cannot be ruled out).

Regarding marketed medicinal products:  a response to a drug which is noxious and unintended and which occurs at doses normally used in man for prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy of diseases or for modification of physiological function.

Adverse event (AE)

Any untoward medical occurrence in a patient or clinical investigation subject administered a pharmaceutical product which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An adverse event (AE) can therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal (investigational) product, whether or not related to the medicinal (investigational) product.

Applicable regulatory requirement(s)

Any law(s) and regulation(s) addressing the conduct of clinical trials of investigational products.

Approval (in relation to Institutional Review Boards)

The affirmative decision of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) that the clinical trial has been reviewed and may be conducted at the institution site within the constraints set forth by the IRB, the institution, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and the applicable regulatory requirements.

Audit

A systematic and independent examination of trial-related activities and documents to determine whether the evaluated trial-related activities were conducted, and the data recorded, analysed and accurately reported, according to the protocol, sponsor's SOPs, GCP, and the applicable regulatory requirement(s).

Blinding

A procedure in which one or more parties to the trial are kept unaware of the treatment assignment(s). Single-blinding usually refers to the subject(s) being unaware, and double-blinding usually refers to the subject(s), investigator(s), monitor, and, in some cases, data analyst(s), being unaware of the treatment assignment(s).

Case Report Form (CRF)

A printed, optical, or electronic document designed to record all of the protocol required information to be reported to the sponsor on each trial subject.

Clinical trial/study

Any investigation in human subjects intended to discover or verify the clinical, pharmacological and/or other pharmacodynamic effects of an investigational product(s), and/or to identify any adverse reactions to an investigational product(s), and/or to study absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of an investigational product(s) with the object of ascertaining its safety and/or efficacy. The terms clinical trial and clinical study are synonymous.

Clinical trial/study report

A written description of a trial/study of any therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic agent conducted in human subjects, in which the clinical and statistical description, presentations, and analyses are fully integrated into a single report (see ICH Guideline for structure and content of Clinical Study Reports).

Compliance (in relation to trials)

Adherence to all the trial-related requirements, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) requirements, and the applicable regulatory requirements. Confidentiality Prevention of disclosure, to other than authorized individuals, of a sponsor's proprietary information or of a subject's identity.

Contract

A written, dated, and signed agreement between two or more involved parties that sets out any arrangements regarding delegation and distribution of tasks and obligations and, if appropriate, financial matters. The protocol may serve as the basis of a contract.

Direct access

Permission to examine, analyse, verify, and reproduce any records and reports that are  important to evaluation of a clinical trial. Any party (e.g. domestic and foreign regulatory authorities, sponsor's monitors and auditors) with direct access should take all reasonable precautions within the constraints of the applicable regulatory requirement(s) to maintain the confidentiality of subjects' identities and the sponsor’ s proprietary information.

Documentation

All records, in any form (including, but not limited to, written, electronic, magnetic, and optical records, and scans, x-rays, and electrocardiograms) that describe or record the methods, conduct, and/or results of a trial, the factors affecting a trial, and the actions taken.

Essential documents

Documents which individually and collectively permit evaluation of the conduct of a study and the quality of the data produced.

Good Clinical Practice (GCP)

A standard for the design, conduct, performance, monitoring, auditing, recording, analyses, and reporting of clinical trials that provides assurance that the data and reported results are credible and accurate, and that the rights, integrity, and confidentiality of trial subjects are protected.

Impartial witness

A person, who is independent of the trial, who cannot be unfairly influenced by people involved with the trial, who attends the informed consent process if the subject or the subject’ s legally acceptable representative cannot read, and who reads the informed consent form and any other written information supplied to the subject.

Independent Ethics Committee (IEC)

An independent body (an institutional, regional, national, or supranational review board or committee), constituted of medical professionals and non-medical members, whose responsibility it is to ensure protection of the rights, safety and well-being of human subjects involved in a trial and to provide public assurance of that protection, by, among other things, reviewing and approving/providing favourable opinion on the trial protocol, suitability of the investigator(s), facilities, and methods and materials to be used in obtaining and documenting informed consent of the trial subjects.

The legal status, composition, function, operations and regulatory requirements pertaining to Independent Ethics Committees may differ among countries, but should allow the Independent Ethics Committee to act in agreement with GCP as described in this guideline.

Informed consent

A process by which a subject voluntarily confirms his or her willingness to participate in a particular trial, after having been informed of all aspects of the trial that are relevant to the subject's decision to participate. Informed consent is documented by means of a written, signed and dated informed consent form.

Inspection

The act by a regulatory authority(ies) of conducting an official review of documents, facilities, records, and any other resources that are deemed by the authority(ies) to be related to the clinical trial and that may be located at the site of the trial, at the sponsor's and/or contract research organization’ s (CRO’ s) facilities, or at other  establishments deemed appropriate by the regulatory authority(ies).

Institution (medical)

Any public or private entity or agency or medical or dental facility where clinical trials are conducted.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

An independent body constituted of medical, scientific, and non-scientific members, whose responsibility is to ensure the protection of the rights, safety and well-being of human subjects involved in a trial by, among other things, reviewing, approving, and providing continuing review of trial protocol and amendments and of the methods and materials to be used in obtaining and documenting informed consent of the trial subjects.

Interim clinical trial/study report

A report of intermediate results and their evaluation based on analyses performed during the course of a trial.

Investigational product

A pharmaceutical form of an active ingredient or placebo being tested or used as a reference in a clinical trial, including a product with a marketing authorization when used or assembled (formulated or packaged) in a way different from the approved form, or when used for an unapproved indication, or when used to gain further information about an approved use.

Investigator

A person responsible for the conduct of a clinical trial at a trial site. If a trial is conducted by a team of individuals at a trial site, the investigator is the responsible leader of the team and may be called the Principal Investigator.  See also Sub-investigator.

Investigator/institution

An expression meaning  ‘ the investigator and/or institution, where required by the applicable regulatory requirements’ .

Investigator's Brochure (IB)

A compilation of the clinical and nonclinical data on the investigational product(s) relevant to the study of the investigational product(s) in human subjects.

Legally acceptable representative

An individual or juridical or other body authorized under applicable law to consent, on behalf of a prospective subject, to the subject's participation in the clinical trial.

Monitoring

The act of overseeing the progress of a clinical trial, and of ensuring that it is conducted, recorded, and reported in accordance with the protocol, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and applicable regulatory requirement(s).

Monitoring report

A written report from the monitor to the sponsor after each site visit and/or other trial-related communication according to the sponsor’ s SOPs.

Multicentre trial

A clinical trial conducted according to a single protocol but at more than one site, and therefore carried out by more than one investigator.

Opinion (in relation to Independent Ethics Committee)

The judgement and/or advice provided by an Independent Ethics Committee (IEC). Subject/trial subject An individual who participates in a clinical trial, either as a recipient of the investigational product(s) or as a control.

Subject identification code

A unique identifier assigned by the investigator to each trial subject to protect the subject's identity and used in lieu of the subject's name when the investigator reports adverse events and/or other trial- related data.

Protocol

A document that describes the objective(s), design, methodology, statistical considerations, and organization of a trial. The protocol usually also gives the background and rationale for the trial, but these could be provided in other protocol referenced documents. Throughout the ICH GCP Guideline the term ‘ protocol’ refers to protocol and protocol amendments.

Protocol amendment

A written description of a change(s) to, or formal clarification of, a protocol.

Quality assurance (QA)

All those planned and systematic actions that are established to ensure that a trial is performed and data generated, documented (recorded), and reported in compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and applicable regulatory requirement(s).

Quality control (QC)

The operational techniques and activities undertaken within the quality assurance system to verify that the requirements for quality of the trial-related activities have been fulfilled.

Randomization

The process of assigning trial subjects to treatment or control groups using an element of chance to determine the assignments in order to reduce bias.

Regulatory authorities

Bodies having the power to regulate. In the ICH GCP guideline the expression  Regulatory authorities includes the authorities that review submitted clinical data and those that conduct inspections. These bodies are sometimes referred to as competent authorities.

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

Any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose:

- results in death,

- is life-threatening,

- requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization,

- results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity,

or

- is a congenital anomaly/birth defect

- results in important medical events that may not be immediately life-threatening or results in death or hospitalization but may jeopardize the patient or may require intervention to prevent the other outcomes listed above.

Source data

All information in original records and certified copies of original records of clinical findings, observations, or other activities in a clinical trial necessary for the reconstruction and evaluation of the trial. Source data are contained in source documents (original records or certified copies).

Source documents

Original documents, data, and records (e.g. hospital records, clinical and office charts, laboratory notes, memoranda, subjects' diaries or evaluation checklists, pharmacy dispensing records, recorded data from automated instruments, copies or transcriptions certified after verification as being accurate copies, microfiches, photographic negatives, microfilm or magnetic media, x-rays, subject files, and records kept at the pharmacy, laboratories and medico-technical departments involved in the clinical trial).

Sponsor

An individual, company, institution, or organization which takes responsibility for the initiation, management, and/or financing of a clinical trial.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Detailed, written instructions to achieve uniformity of performance of a specific function.

Study site/Trial site

The location(s) where trial-related activities are actually conducted

Sub-investigator

Any individual member of the clinical trial team designated and supervised by the investigator at a trial site to perform critical trial-related procedures and/or make important trial-related decisions (e.g. associates, residents, research fellows). See also Investigator.

Trial site/Study site

The location(s) where trial-related activities are actually conducted. Unexpected

Adverse Drug Reaction

An adverse reaction, the nature or severity of which is not consistent with the applicable product information (e.g. Investigator's Brochure for an unapproved investigational product or package insert/summary of product characteristics for an approved product) (see the ICH guideline for clinical safety data management: Definitions and standards for expedited reporting).

Well-being (of the trial subjects)

The physical and mental integrity of the subjects participating in a clinical trial.