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Gene Therapy Legislation in the US
Another DHHS agency, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), oversees the conduct of federally funded clinical trials through a series of guidelines that add additional requirements to those specified in the CFR.
NIH - NExTRAC
The Novel and Exceptional Technology and Research Advisory Committee (NExTRAC) is a federal advisory committee that provides recommendations to the NIH Director and a public forum for the discussion of the scientific, safety, and ethical issues associated with emerging biotechnologies like gene therapy. NExTRAC proceedings and reports are posted to the OSP Web site to enhance their accessibility to the scientific and lay public.
FDA - CBER
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary government agency charged with protecting the health of U.S. citizens by ensuring that drugs, medical devices and biological products are safe and effective before they are used by doctors, nurses, other health care professionals, hospitals and consumers.
FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) regulates human gene therapies, which fall under the legal definition of a "biologic." Manufacturers of gene therapy products must test their products extensively and meet FDA requirements for safety, purity and potency before they can be sold in the United States. A manufacturer who is considering selling a gene therapy product in the United States first must tell FDA of its intentions, and then must test the product in a laboratory and then in research animals. When a manufacturer is ready to study the gene therapy product in humans, it must obtain a special permission exemption from FDA before starting. This exemption is called an investigational new drug application or (IND). In the IND, the manufacturer explains how it intends to conduct the study, what possible risks may be involved and what steps it will take to protect patients, and provides data in support of the study. As part of the IND process, the manufacturer also must get approval from a committee of scientific and medical advisors and consumers (called an Institutional Review Board), which focuses on protecting persons who may participate in the study. Researchers also must inform the persons who may be part of the study about the study's potential risks and benefits, and obtain their consent.
When FDA's scientists receive an IND application for gene therapy, they review it carefully before permitting the manufacturer or researcher to begin the study. FDA may ask the study sponsor to do more laboratory tests and include more safeguards to ensure the safety of patients, such as giving patients smaller doses. As discussed in the next section, if unexpected problems arise, FDA may tell the manufacturer to change the study or stop it altogether.
FDA has not yet approved for sale any human gene therapy product.
Info US Legislation
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FDA - CBER News
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What’s New for Biologics
19 April 2024Latest news from the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
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Octaplas
19 April 2024Product approval information is indicated for Replacement of multiple coagulation factors in patients with acquired deficiencies
o due to liver disease
o undergoing cardiac surgery or liver transplant
Plasma exchange in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP. -
Providing Lot Release Protocol Submissions to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) in Electronic Format
19 April 2024This is the Guidance for Industry, Providing Lot Release Protocol Submissions to the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) in Electronic Format, CBER, Biologics
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OTP Events, Meetings, and Workshops
18 April 2024Office of Therapeutic Products Events, Meetings, and Workshops
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OTP Town Hall: CMC Readiness for Gene Therapy BLAs - 06/04/2024
18 April 2024The FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) Office of Therapeutic Products (OTP) is hosting its next virtual town hall on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, to answer stakeholder questions regarding the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) information submitted with biologics license applications (BLAs) for gene therapy products. Expe