Phase 3 Drug Clinical Trials in India

Outsourcing clinical trials, especially the enormous administrative parts of research and the regulatory steps, can significantly reduce time and cost. Due to its large domestic market, product development skills, and scientific workforce, India is well-positioned for the conduct of clinical trials.


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Phase 3 Drug Clinical Trials in India

Clinical trials – One of the final milestones in drug development

A clinical trial is one of the final milestones of a long and tedious research process that starts with drug discovery, formulation development and several preclinical toxicology studies.

Clinical trial means a systematic study of any new drug(s) in human subject(s) to generate data for discovering and/or verifying the clinical, pharmacological (including pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic), and/or adverse effects with the objective of determining safety and/or efficacy of the new drug.

Strategically planned clinical trials are the safest and best way to find therapies that work in people. For any company considering trial of a new drug, it's vital that the risks or benefits of the drug are thoroughly researched and that the chosen trial option is scientifically sound and ethically justified.

Phases of clinical trial

Most clinical trial for a new drug progresses through a series of steps, called phases during which various research questions are asked. Each phase builds on the results of previous phases. Most clinical trials consist of four phases – I, II, III and IV.

Phase I trials are conducted to estimate the safety and tolerability with the initial administration of an investigational new drug into humans. Phase I trials are conducted in healthy subjects or specific groups of patients.

Phase II trials evaluate the effectiveness of a drug for a particular indication in patients with the condition. This help to identify the common short-term side-effects and other risks associated with the drug. Patients in these studies are selected by following relatively narrow criteria, and hence the study population comprises a reasonably homogeneous population. The dose and regimen of the drug for Phase III trials are also determined in phase II trials.

Phase III trials are designed to confirm drug safety and potential efficacy established in prior studies. Phase III trials are thus also known as confirmatory trials.

Phase IV or post-marketing trial of new drugs are performed after the drug's approval and are related to the approved indication.

The primary purpose of Phase III trials is the confirmation of the therapeutic benefits of the given drug. Phase III trials studies should be planned in such a way as to provide an adequate basis for marketing approval.

Apart from confirming the safety and efficacy of the new drug, Phase III trials may also be used to establish the dose-response relationships. These trials may also be used to test the drug in broader populations and in different stages of a disease. The drug's safety and efficacy in combination with other drugs can also be established in phase III trials.

The New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, the following applies to conducting Phase III trials in India:

  • For new drugs approved outside India, Phase III trials may need to be carried out if scientifically and ethically justified, primarily to generate evidence of efficacy and safety of the drug in Indian patients when used as recommended in the prescribing information.
  • Before the conduct of Phase III trials in Indian subjects, Central Licencing Authority may require pharmacokinetic studies to be undertaken to verify that the data generated in the Indian population conforms with the data already generated abroad.
  • In case of an application of a new drug already approved and marketed in another country, where local clinical trial in India is waived off or not found scientifically justified for its approval for manufacturing first time in the country, the bioequivalence studies of such drug, as appropriate, is required to be carried out and the test batches manufactured for the purpose shall be inspected before its approval.

Outsourcing clinical trials to improve efficiency

The need to improve efficiency and reduce research and development costs are the most important drivers for the observed increase in outsourcing clinical trials. Outsourcing allows a company to leverage the Clinical Research Organization's therapeutic area and operational expertise, geographic reach and well-established processes and tools.

CliniExperts can help you through the numerous regulations and steps involved in clinical trial management. Our services are tailored to ease the process of getting your products ready for the market. We provide end-to-end services covering every aspect of clinical development. We can help you with clinical project management, clinical site management, clinical trial vendor management, clinical data management, medical writing and medical monitoring.

Summary

For new drugs approved outside India, Phase III trials needs to be carried out if scientifically and ethically justified. Before conducting Phase III trials in Indian subjects, Central Licencing Authority may require pharmacokinetic studies.

In case of an application of a new drug already approved and marketed in other country, where local clinical trial in India is waived off or not found scientifically justified for its approval for manufacturing first time in the country, the bioequivalence studies of such drug is required to be carried out.

References

  1. New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, Ministry of Health & Fam. Welfare, Notification, G.S.R. 227(E), (March 19, 2019).

  2. Saxena P, Saxena R. Clinical trials: changing regulations in India. Indian J Community Med. 2014;39(4):197-202. doi:10.4103/0970-0218.143018

  3. Secondary IDs (if any) - Secondary ID includes any Protocol Number or any other Trial Registry Number, registered in a registry other than the CTRI (for example ClinicalTrials.gov).

  4. Manavalan S, Sinfield C.Conducting Clinical Trials In India: Opportunities And Challenges. 2017. Clinical Leader. Available at: https://www.clinicalleader.com/doc/conducting-clinical-trials-in-india-opportunities-and-challenges-0001. Accessed on: 26 February 2021.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Drug Clinical Trial be initiated after two years of approval by CLA?

No. A CLA approved clinical trials shall be initiated by enrolling the first subject within a period of 2 year from the date of grant of permission, failing which the sponsor or investigator should get prior permission from CLA before initiating the trial. The permission to initiate clinical trial granted in Form CT-06 or automatic approval in Form CT 4A shall remain valid for a period of 2 years from the date of its issue, unless extended by the CLA.

Yes. The status of enrolment of the trial subjects shall be intimated to the CLA on quarterly basis or as appropriate as per the duration of treatment in accordance with the approved clinical trial protocol, whichever is earlier. Further, six monthly status report of each clinical trial, as to whether it is ongoing, completed or terminated, shall be submitted in SUGAM portal. In case of termination of any clinical trial the detailed reasons for such termination shall be communicated to CLA.

A three-tier mechanism has been established for granting approval for research and development activities on recombinant DNA products and monitoring and evaluation of research activities involving recombinant DNA technology.

SUGAM portal is an e-Governance solution for CDSCO. SUGAM enables online submission of applications requesting for permissions related to drugs, clinical trials, ethics committee, medical devices, vaccines and cosmetics. SUGAM has facility for users to possess multiple roles on the same registered ID. Applicant can register with different purposes with the assigned roles and forms.

A “clinical trial” in relation to a new drug or investigational new drug means any systematic study of such new drug or investigational new drug in human subjects to generate data for discovering or verifying its, clinical or; pharmacological including pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics or; adverse effects, with the objective of determining the safety, efficacy or tolerance of such new drug or investigational new drug

For drugs that are discovered in India, or research and development of the drug are being conducted in India, and if the drug is intended to be manufactured and marketed in India, the applications to conduct clinical trials will be considered approved if there are no queries raised by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) within 30 days of the application. However, the sponsor will still have to notify the DCGI prior to initiation of the clinical trial in Form CT-4A.

Any person who intends to manufacture a biological product as well as substance for CT shall submit application in CT-10 for obtaining permission from the CLA to manufacture such biological product. Any person who intends to manufacture a formulation of a biological product after obtaining biological substance from an approved source for CT shall submit application in CT-10 for obtaining permission from the CLA in Form CT-11 to manufacture such biological product. Any person who intends to manufacture a biological product after obtaining biological substance from an unapproved source for shall submit application in CT-12 for obtaining permission from the CLA in Form CT-14 to manufacture such biological product. In such case, the biological substance manufacturer is also required to submit application to CLA in Form CT-13 for obtaining permission in Form CT-15 to manufacture and supply the unapproved biological substance to the formulator for development of the biological product. Any person who intends to manufacture an investigational biological product after obtaining the unapproved biological substance from another manufacturer for CT shall submit application in CT-12 for obtaining permission from the CLA in Form CT-14 to manufacture such investigational biological product. In such case the biological substance manufacturer is also required to submit application to CLA in Form CT-13 for obtaining permission in Form-CT15 to manufacture and supply the unapproved biological substance to the formulator for development of the investigational biological product.

As per the new provision of pre-submission meetings, applicants can discuss their projects with the regulators and subject experts by paying a certain fee, before making actual submission to the regulator, for seeking guidance about the requirements of law and procedure applicable for their projects.

After evaluating the Form CT-16 and documents, if satisfied, that the requirements of these rules have been complied with, grant the licence to import the biological product for CT in Form CT-17 within a period of 90 working days from the date of receipt of the application.

No fee shall be chargeable in respect of application for conduct of clinical trial for orphan drugs as defined in clause (x) of rule 2 of the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019. The Rules exempt local clinical trials for orphan drugs permitted to be imported for sale or distribution. The phase IV study requirement could also be reduced in case of orphan drugs.


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