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E9 – Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials

Guideline number: E9
Status: Implementation (Step 5)
Adopted (Step 4): 5 February 1998

The ICH Harmonised Guideline was finalised under Step 4 in February 1998. This document sets out the principles of statistical methodology applied to clinical trials for marketing applications submitted in the ICH regions. The principles outlined in this guidance are primarily relevant to clinical trials conducted in the later phases of development, many of which are confirmatory trials of efficacy.

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

Annexes

Annexes

Guideline implementation

ANMAT, Argentina

-

Not yet implemented;
ANVISA, Brazil

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Implemented; Date: 1 May 2019; Reference: Roteiro de Análise de Eficácia e Segurança para Avaliação de Registro de Medicamentos Sintéticos, RDC 413/2020
COFEPRIS, Mexico

-

Not yet implemented;
EC, Europe

-

Implemented; Date: 1 September 1998; Reference: CPMP/ICH/363/96
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 September 1998; Reference: Vol. 63, No. 179, p. 49583
HSA, Singapore

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Implemented; Date: 1 January 2008; Reference: Reference made to these guidelines can be found in the ASEAN Guideline for the Conduct of Bioequivalence Studies, which is adopted and published on HSA, Singapore website
Health Canada, Canada

-

Implemented; Date: 10 February 2003; Reference: File #: 03-102451-780
JFDA, Jordan

-

Implemented; Date: 7 January 2008;
MFDS, Republic of Korea

-

Implemented; Date: 22 August 2016; Reference: Guideline on the Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials [Guideline-0249-01]
MHLW/PMDA, Japan

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Implemented; Date: 1 November 1998; Reference: PMBS/ELD Notification No. 1047
MHRA, UK

-

Implemented; Date: 1 March 1998;
NAFDAC, Nigeria

-

Not yet implemented; Date: 5 May 2025; Reference: DER-GDL-009-01
NMPA, China

-

Implemented; Date: 12 May 2020; Reference: NMPA, China Announcement No. 88 (2019)
SAHPRA, South Africa

-

In the process of implementation;
SFDA, Saudi Arabia

-

Implemented; Date: 10 August 2023;
Swissmedic, Switzerland

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Implemented; Date: 1 February 1998; Reference: ICH Guidelines apply in Switzerland automatically upon reaching Step 4: Swissmedic Journal 05/2006, p. 504
TFDA, Chinese Taipei

-

Implemented; Date: 19 January 2012; Reference: Points to Consider on Efficacy and Safety for NCE Application
TITCK, Türkiye

-

Implemented; Date: 27 May 2023; Reference: Regulation on Clinical Trials of Medicinal Products for Human Use: Official Gazette numbered 32203 on 27 May 2023

Q+A

Q+A Status: Implementation (Step 5)