Pediatric Trial Ethical Consideration Guide
FDA has posted a draft guidance entitled Ethical Considerations for Clinical Investigations of Medical Products Involving Children. The draft outlines and explains fundamental concepts for the ethical framework that IRBs, sponsors and industry should consider when reviewing or conducting clinical trials involving children, such as scientific necessity for conducting it and risk categories for interventions or procedures that do not offer a prospect of direct benefit for children. Additionally, the guidance says sponsors should consider how to evaluate whether an intervention or procedure could offer a direct benefit, and to assess risk for interventions or procedures when a direct benefit is possible.
FDA says comments on the draft guidance should be provided within 90 days to ensure that the agency considers them when finalizing it.