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S7A – Safety Pharmacology Studies for Human Pharmaceuticals

Guideline number: S7A
Status: Implementation (Step 5)
Adopted (Step 4): 8 November 2000

The ICH Harmonised Guideline was adopted under Step 4 in November 2000. This document provides a definition, general principles and recommendations for safety pharmacology studies. This Guideline generally applies to new chemical entities and biotechnology-derived products for human use. It can be applied to marketed pharmaceuticals when appropriate (e.g., when adverse clinical events, a new patient population, or a new route of administration raises concerns not previously addressed).

The ICH Harmonised Guideline was finalised under Step 4 in July 1997. This document covers the preclinical safety testing requirements for biotechnological products. It addresses the use of animal models of disease, determination of when genotoxicity assays and carcinogenicity studies should be performed, and the impact of antibody formation on duration of toxicology studies.

An addendum was proposed to provide clarification on S6 and an update of the following topics discussed in the original ICH S6 Guideline: species selection, study design, immunogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity and assessment of carcinogenic potential. The Harmonised addendum provides further complementary guidance to the S6 Guideline and helps to define the current recommendations and reduce the likelihood that substantial differences will exist among regions.

The addendum reached Step 4 of the harmonisation process in June 2011 and was integrated as part II in the core Guideline that was then renamed S6(R1).

Guideline
WG Presentations / Trainings

Annexes

Annexes

Guideline implementation

ANMAT, Argentina

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Not yet implemented;
ANVISA, Brazil

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Implemented; Date: 1 January 2013; Reference: Guideline for Toxicological Non-Clinical Studies and Pharmacological Safety required for the development of medicines
COFEPRIS, Mexico

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Implemented; Date: 9 October 2024; Reference: Guideline on Safety Pharmacology Studies for Human Pharmaceuticals
EC, Europe

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Implemented; Date: 1 June 2001; Reference: CPMP/ICH/539/00
EDA, Egypt

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Implemented; Date: 1 January 2010; Reference: Regulatory Guide for mechanisms, procedures and rules of implementing the Decree of Egyptian Drug Authority No.343 of 2021
FDA, United States

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Implemented; Date: 1 July 2001; Reference: Vol. 66, No. 135, p. 36791-92
HSA, Singapore

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Implemented; Date: 1 November 2011; Reference: HSA, Singapore webpage: Guidance documents for clinical trials
Health Canada, Canada

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Implemented; Date: 31 March 2006; Reference: File #: 06-104501-828
JFDA, Jordan

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Implemented; Date: 1 March 2008;
MFDS, Republic of Korea

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Implemented; Date: 31 May 2012; Reference: Regulation on Pharmacology Study for Pharmaceutical Drugs, etc. Article 6 [MFDS, Republic of Korea Notification]; Guideline on Safety Pharmacology Studies for Human Pharmaceuticals [Guideline-0186-01]
MHLW/PMDA, Japan

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Implemented; Date: 1 June 2001; Reference: PFSB/ELD Notification no 902
MHRA, UK

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Implemented; Date: 26 December 1995;
NAFDAC, Nigeria

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Not yet implemented;
NMPA, China

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Implemented; Date: 1 May 2020; Reference: NMPA, China Announcement No. 89 (2019)
SAHPRA, South Africa

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In the process of implementation;
SFDA, Saudi Arabia

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Implemented; Date: 14 March 2021;
Swissmedic, Switzerland

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Implemented; Date: 8 November 2000; Reference: ICH Guidelines apply in Switzerland automatically upon reaching Step 4: Swissmedic Journal 05/2006, p. 504
TFDA, Chinese Taipei

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Implemented; Date: 7 July 2014; Reference: 1. Guidance on Pharmacetutical Non-clinical Safety V5 2. Safety Pharmacology Studies for Human Pharmaceuticals
TITCK, Türkiye

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Implemented; Date: 11 December 2021; Reference: Good Clinical Practice and Regulation on the Marketing Authorization of Medicinal Products for Human Use

Q+A

Q+A Status: Implementation (Step 5)