Home / Guidelines & Products

S1A – Need for Carcinogenicity Studies of Pharmaceuticals

Guideline number: S1A
Status: Implementation (Step 5)
Adopted (Step 4): 29 November 1995

The ICH Harmonised Guideline was finalised under Step 4 in November 1995. This document provides a consistent definition of the circumstances under which it is necessary to undertake carcinogenicity studies on new drugs. These recommendations take into account the known risk factors as well as the intended indications and duration of exposure.

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

-

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

-

Implemented; Date: 9 October 2024; Reference: Guideline on The Need For Carcinogenicity Studies of Pharmaceuticals
EC, Europe

-

Implemented; Date: 1 July 1996; Reference: CPMP/ICH/140/95
EDA, Egypt

-

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

-

Implemented; Date: 1 March 1996; Reference: Vol. 61, p. 8153
HSA, Singapore

-

Implemented; Date: 1 January 2008; Reference: HSA, Singapore webpage: Guidance documents for clinical trials
Health Canada, Canada

-

Implemented; Date: 23 December 2002; Reference: File #: 02-122028-691
JFDA, Jordan

-

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

-

Implemented; Date: 1 December 1999; Reference: Regulation on Pharmaceuticals Approval, Notification and Review Article 7 [MFDS, Republic of Korea Notification]
MHLW/PMDA, Japan

-

Implemented; Date: 1 April 1997; Reference: PAB/PCD Notification No.315
MHRA, UK

-

Implemented; Date: 14 December 1995;
NAFDAC, Nigeria

-

Not yet implemented;
NMPA, China

-

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

-

In the process of implementation;
SFDA, Saudi Arabia

-

Implemented; Date: 7 January 2024;
Swissmedic, Switzerland

-

Implemented; Date: 29 November 1995; Reference: ICH Guidelines apply in Switzerland automatically upon reaching Step 4: Swissmedic Journal 05/2006, p. 504
TFDA, Chinese Taipei

-

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

-

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

Q+A

Q+A Status: Implementation (Step 5)