informed consent

EMA Releases Guidelines on Inclusion of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Individuals in Clinical Trials

EMA Releases Guidelines on Inclusion of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Individuals in Clinical Trials

08/11/2025

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On June 4, 2025 the European Medicines Agency (EMA) posted a guideline titled: ICH E21 Guideline on inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding individuals in clinical trials. Individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding make up a significant portion of the world’s population, however, the European Union (EU) reports that less than 0.4% of clinical trials currently submitted to the EU include pregnant people and only 0.1% include lactating individuals. This guideline highlights the importance of including these individuals as well as the steps that should be taken in order to ensure their safety during a trial.  

WMA Adopts 2024 Revision of the Declaration of Helsinki

WMA Adopts 2024 Revision of the Declaration of Helsinki

03/24/2025

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In October 2024, the World Medical Association (WMA) announced the adoption of the 2024 revision of the Declaration of Helsinki (DoH) during the 75th WMA General Assembly in Helsinki, Finland, the same location where the Declaration was initially adopted 60 years prior.

FDA Webinar on Improving the Informed Consent Process

FDA Webinar on Improving the Informed Consent Process

02/26/2025

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On November 8, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a virtual public webinar for clinical research stakeholders as well as anyone interested in the informed consent process of clinical trials titled “Informed Consent – More than Just Another Document to Sign?”. As the title suggests, the webinar explores the standards for informed consent in FDA regulated trials, how they are impacting the trial participant’s experience, and how they can be innovated and improved upon.

FDA BIMO Inspection Results in Warning Letter

FDA BIMO Inspection Results in Warning Letter

02/19/2025

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On October 10, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Warning Letter to a clinical investigator due to objectionable conditions observed during a Bioresearch Monitoring (BIMO) Program inspection in 2023. The warning letter addresses multiple violations to Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Improving Clinical Trial Patient’s Comprehension of Informed Consent Forms

04/09/2024

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Informed Consent Forms (ICF) for clinical trials are required to communicate the essential details of a trial to prospective participants including the procedures, the risks of using the investigational product (IP) or device, and actions the participant would be expected to take during the trial (i.e., filling out questionaries, coming in for routine visits, etc.). As clinical trials continue to evolve and become increasingly complex, ICFs must accurately explain these complexities as they can lead to confusion for the intended audience.